Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1922-07-13
Respect for Law.
tst. Louis Dispatch J

tSt. Louis Post-Dispatch.)
President Harding made an excel
lent speech at Marion on the Fourth.
1t was sensible and optimistic as to
stability of American institutions and
the ultimate triumph of liberty and
law. In the mass of hopeful general
tiles we select two paragraphs on
specific subjects. One related to the
right of men to work and to be pro-
tected in that right. He said:
ga free American has the right to
labor without any others leave. 1t
would be no less an abridgment to
deny men to bargain collectively.
Government cannot tolerate any class
or grouped domination through force.
1t will be sorry day when group
domination is reflected in our laws.
Government and the laws which Gov
ernment is charged with enforcing,
must be for all the people, ever aim
ing at the common good"
Words, however good, mean moth
ing unless they are translated into
deeds when occasion calls for deeds.
Does the President mean what he says
to the extent of doing what is requir-
ed when occasion arises?
There has been a recent tragic
demonstration of the failure to pro-
tect the right of men to work against
the attempted domination of a group
by force. Near Herrin, ILL.,, men who
were exercising the right to work
without asking leave of domIn ating
group were taken from their jobs and
shot, lawlessly and ruthlessly. No
deadlier blow could be struck at the
right asserted by the President, at
American institutions and at law and
liberty in this country than was struck
in the Herrin mining district. The
Presidents words would have had far
greater force if it had specified tina t
outrage and asserted the duty of the
State OF Illinois, upon the government
of which responsibility rested, to pro-
tect these men and enforce the law
against their murderers, who struck
down law and liberty.
Will the President stand by his
words if, in similar case, the re-
sponsibility should rest upon the
Federal Government? Will he see
that men who want to work will be
protected against group domination
by force and group violence and mur-
der?
Again, the President said:
"The eighteenth amendment denies
to minority a fancied sense of per-
sonal liberty, but the amendment is
the will of America and must be su-
stained by the Government and pub
lie opinion, else contempt for the law
will undermine our very foundations. .
Good. The Presidents words sound
excellent. Whether the eighteenth
amendment and the Volstead enforc-
ing act is the will of majority or q
minority of the people, they are laws
and must be enforced until repealed,
If law is to be respected and not held
in the contempt which will undermine
our very foundations.
The President is the chief executive
of the nation, charged with the duty
OF enforcing Federal law. Why
doesn't he enforce the prohibition
law against the Shipping Board, which
is violating it continually on govern
ment owned ships?
The Governments agents not only
sell liquor on Government ships at
sea, but, according to the evidence
they hold 1t for sale in port and buy
and sell liquor Illegally obtained.
i We submit that the contempt fol
law engendered by individual viola
ton OF law for profit does not com
pare with that engendered by the
i Governments violation of its owr
laws for profit. When the Govern
ment attempts to enforce the prohi
bition laws against individual citizens
/ but itself violate the laws and refuse
to enforce them against its own agent
on it's own ships, it invites the great
est contempt for law. 1t fiouts lay
and becomes leader in lawlessness.
American institutions and the prin
} ciples Of law and liberty can never b
, sustained and perpetuated by mer
words mere sound and fury signify