The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-04-25
MILITARY ORDER NO. II.

Governor Robertson's order calling on all Of
ficers and enlisted men OF tho military estab-
lshment OF Oklahoma 10 either renounca their
allegiance TO secret organizations (which may
come under the ban OF the law and require tho
rerv,ces OF tho guard to suppress" will move
tho public TO both praise and censuro
That the order is baslcly sound. that tho chief
executive of this commonwealth, obligated TO
defend and enforce tho constitution OF the state
and tho United States is right In nis position
and could not in keeping with his oath do less
must bo admitted by every fair-minded
straight-thinking man regardless OF his partisan
or society affiliations.
That there Is imminent need OF such Hepara-
ton OF political agents OF all types from secret
organizations operating IN defiance OF tho con-
stitution and not infrequontly in direct defiance
Of morality and political rights, Ia clearly shown
in tho story from California which appeared on
tho same page OF the press on tho same day
with the governors warning. In Los Angeles
the private home OF citizen was Invaded by
q largo number OF masked men who proceeded
to outrage every right OF that citizen voueh-
safed him by the constitution OF the republic. IL
matters nothing at all that such citizen was
under suspicion OF having committed n mlsde-
meanor. The constitution guarantees every ac-
cused man certain rights. Among them, that
he shall have his day In court. that he shall
have his cause heard by 13 OF his peers who
must be men dslnterested to the extent that
they are free from prejudice and able to give
dispass onate consideration to all evidence.
Whatever the seeming justification for the is-
noring Of these rights by group OF citizens act
ing either as a defiant mob or n secret order,
such justification never exists In fact. Because
if such rights may with impunity bo forfeited
by the action OF one mob the precedent be-
comes one of vast danger to even those declar-
ing the forfeiture The government guarantees
those rights to all citizens, and further presumes
all citizens innocent no matter what the accu-
nation, until proven guilty by n jury OF peers
There ia no safety otherwise. There is no
security for any man excepting under the ad-
ministratlon OF law by legal agents and along
legal lines. II the mob Is permitted to act on
mere suspicion, enforcing Its dictum without
trial-practicing tho doctrine that mere sus-
picion or secret information is sufficient to fix
gut. and earn punishment OF the most archaic
kind, then inevitably retaliation and reprsal
will be INDUCED In on similar evidence, or It
would be better 20 say lack of evidence
In the Los Angeles these masked men
attempted to make themselves appear as law
enforcers. Too tragic TO be comic. yet too
erotesque to be serlousl or course the prop
erly accredited agents of government refused
to recognize them as SUCH Government OF all
the people needs no such aids nor can 1t accept
voluntary services of such nature
When a sworn agent OF the law did appear
on the scene and discovered group of citizens
being outrageously maltreated and manhan'
died, when his own authority. which at tho
moment was equal to the fun military and
naval authority OF tho entire governmental
structure, was questioned. he very promptly
went into action. The result was that severa
of the masked men were shot down, three o.
them instantly being recognized Officers
of the state! Possibly other members OF th'
gang were officers sworn to defend and enforce
the constitution What place for men so OBJ
ligated to find themselvesl
We think Governor Robertson's warning ad
mrably couched. 1t constitutes an appeal 4
the judgment OF men. And It Is to tho judg
ment of men must appeal In n matter o
this nature. Inevitably the hystera will rui
its course, and inevitably men of sound reasoi
must speedily withdraw from a movemen
which puts them on such indefensible ground
The bill OF rights OF the American constitu
tion IS the American citizens richest inner
itance. 1t can neither be amended. abrogatet
nor repealed except by constitutional procedure
And the agents OF this government, both civi
and military, must be absolutely free to faith
fully and zealously execute their oath OF office
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