The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-09-21
MANS'S OBLIGATIONS
TO COUNTRY POINTED
OUT BY JUDGE BOND

IF we as American citizens. would
think less of our individual rights, and
more OF our patriotic duties, we would
get along a whole lot better" empha-
sized Judge William A. Bond, of the
Wayne circuit court in his talk before
the Kiwanis club Thursday, observ-
ing the one hundred and thirty-fifth
anniversary of the constitution of the
United States.
Our fathers realized the necessity
OF forming themselves into a union"
Judge Bond continued. Those men
knew what they wanted in a general
way. Their ideals in the drawing up
OF the constitution were contrary to
any other nations of those days. In
their constitution, they considered the
individual for a cornerstone of our
government, instead of strictness as
followed by other nations.
Liberty Considered.
The constitution of the United
States was built on the idea of ind!-
vidual liberty, pursuit of happiness
and freedom. On this idea this coun-
try must grow. Only what the con-
stitution provides is the government
Take our foundation. 1t was not
intended that this government be a
pure democracy, but a representative
government. l do not believe that a
pure democracy could live in this
country. We have our individual
rights, but we must not think more
of them than of duty
In referring to the congressional
government, the judge declared that
he did not know man in the national
congress today that measured up to
the members of old He referred to
such men as Daniel Webster.
Must Use Action .
"A constitution is not good unless
put into action. Let US support and
maintain constitutional laws and abide
by court decisions on constitutionalt
ty."
Judge Bond declared that we are
moral and political towards, and that
he hoped to God that the day would
come when men would stand up before
men and declare that this is right and
that is wrong, despite political pow
ers.
In referring to an incident at the re
cent Wayne county fair, the judge
soundly condemned the negligence oil
great many of people living under
the American flag. He said, Il wit
messed one night at the fair, that while
the band was playing the Star Spang
led Banner" several men were sitting
on the ground with their hats on. Any
man who does not stand up and take
his hat off when the national anthem
lis played, is not fit to become a citi
zen of the United States.
Il felt like taking as many of these
men as l could handle and jerk them
to their feet, and would have done sc
if it were not for the fact that would
have been charged with assault and
battery"
In explaining the scene at the fair
Judge Bond said he was not pessim
list
Refused Citizenship.
"A man came to me at the court anC
asked for citizenship to the United
States, but l found that he did not
know the presidents name or the rep
resentative to congress from this dis
trict. / could not give him citizen
ship, even though his actions had beer
of the highest type in his community
1T is our fault that we have such
people in our country. We are willing
to prostitute our country and its ideals
for a political success, as is proven by
the fact that members of the Demo
cratic and Republican parties viii
bring men to the polls to vote, who
have only their first citizenship pa
pers."
The judge referred to the slum dis
tricts and declared that it was the PEG
pies fault that these conditions exist
ed. He declared that it was due t.
the rush for wealth and easy livins
that these conditions were tolerated.
Results of Negligence.
Down at the court now, are Is girl:
not over 16 years of age, who art
about to become mothers" Judge
Bond declared "All this is negli
gence. If you are going to breet
mental detectives, then you will have
them. Let us apply the Golden ru1,
in our actions. Every man has tn,
opportunity to improve the conditions
in our own state"
In closing, the Judge urged that tn
Kiwanis club apply its model to tn
community and Build and Buili
Rightly" then there would be a grea
deal accomplished.
All members of the club were urge
to be at the K. of P. hall next Thurs
day morning at o'clock to go to tn
state convention of Kiwanis clubs a
Anderson.