Evening star., 1921-06-12

FORMER Vice President Of the United
States.
TINE only surprising thing
about Haywood's case is
the fact that his own pals
and dupes have acknowl-
edged his villainy instead Of fol-
lowing the customary course Of
trying to cover it up. That his long
record Of hairbreadth escapes from
legal punishment for crimes that
he had committed should culmi-
nate in getaway just when prison
doors were about to receive him
seems almost diabolic.
He is to be compared only with
the man who avoids open conflict
even with a cripple. but sneaks up
from behind in the darkness and
uses a knife; or to one who hires
a man feebler-minded than himself
to plant a bomb. Haywood was
brave only At meetings Of the
faithful before whom he would ex-
pand his chest, proclaim anew his
allegiance to the cause and pose as
the bravest Of its defenders.
~ ~
He is gone; let him remain. The
air Of the penitentiary is sweeter
for his absence. One may have ad-
miration for Ajax defying the
lightning or for a lunatic defying
the law. but even those who fol-
lowed Haywood surely have only
supreme contempt for him now.
Well intentioned persons do not al
ways stop to examine motives nor
follow them to a conclusion in
order to determine whether they
are good or bad. but readily assent
to the doctrine propounded to them
and cheerfully give allegiance to
the self-appointed leader.
Haywood fouted the jurisdiction
Of law. yet he submitted himself to
that jurisdiction; he condemned
courts Of justice. yet in a court he
tried to make it appear that he
was a respecter of law, believer
in the justice of courts. Being con-
NiSSSos nc lOIlClIS uIS pdll, MES
himself to unknown climes and lets
his pupils suffer the consequences
Of his teachings. No wonder they
are cursins him in Hebrew. Chal-
daic and Syriac and in any other
language that holds cuss word.
Men might be moved. maybe not
to the point Of respect. but at least
to the point Of pity. if those who
think they are going to overthrow
organized society should say when
they come in conflict therewith:
1--WE deny your jurisdiction: we re-
fuse to respect your laws; we answer
to none Of your courts: we shall not
plead guilty or not guilty. Your cr-
ganized society may have power to
break our bodies and still our tongues,
but 1t has not power to wiring
from US confessions that we have
violated your laws. for what you call
laws We do not recognize"
Such conduct would inspire a GER
tain degree Of admiration and would
soon bring to conclusion the con-
flict which now seems irrepressible,
and many men who are being fool
ishly led along devious ways might
be saved from that punishment which
Is visited upon the unwary as upon
the vicious and criminal.
1t is utter folly for men to Join the
tot IN, Avn
have no other object than to get
their names in the newspapers and
their bodies in Jail. So open are the
avenues Of redress for all real griev-
ances at the ballot box and SO ap-
parent is 1t that 1t is far better to
endure slight injustice at the hands
of organized society than to dwell
in a wilderness with ravenous beasts
that anarchy will never be able to
do more than irritate the American
people.
Many Of these foolish views are
fostered no doubt by dwelling too
much upon individual grievances. 1
remember that as q college boy
studying psychology became i'm
pressed with the truth of the state
ment Of Sir Henry Maudsley that
every man is a monomaniac. that
there is always some subject upon
which a man cannot argue coolly and
deliberately. Touch that subject and
at once his pulse beats quicker; he
begins to see red. This perhaps
constitutes the dividing line between
prejudice and opinion.
There has been since tho dawn