New-York tribune., 1922-12-30

whether the Eighteenth Amendment
and the Volstesd act are merely regu-
lations for tho poor, or whether they
are laws for the people OF the United
States, applying equally 20 all the peo-
ME. | don't purpose 20 have ~ said
that I prosccuted hundreds. yes thou
sands Of poor, benighted, ignorant peo-
pic whom nobody ever heard of, and
knowingly failed to prosecute the
prominent or influential who had COM
initted exactly tbe same ofenses on
much bigger scale. We must de-
.er1nine In these cases whether there IL
equality before tho law or whether
some people In this city who think
they are above the law ere really m
tina. exalted position.
Paced With selective Anarchy
III people can obey tho laws they
Ike and defy the laws they do not
like or disapprove Of. or hope may be
changed, then we are brought face 70
face with seleetive anarchy. What else
did Debs 90 70 prison for or for what
other offense was Emma Goldman de-
ported7 II obedience 20 Law and gov
ernment By law. the lAw as IL is here
and nov on tho books, sustained By
the Supreme Court. breaks down then
the government itself breaks down and
rule By law necessarily will give way
70 rule by mobs, by clans or b. other
etrong-arm groups. The laws must be
obeyed or repealed. II Is a. lawless 10
defy a law one hopes and expects will
be changed as a law one knows Is per-
mbnent.
"Perhaps the law cannot be enforced
I know OF no one who has seriously
tried 70 enforce II. The various pro-
hibition directors. whose primary duty
~ Is 10 enforce the Law, during their
brief tenures Of office have brought as
Thousands OF eases % elutter UP and
clog our calendars, but few OF any i'm
portance. believe a real man OF char
seter and courage as prohibition d.
rector car get a long way toward en-
foreement. especially II prohibition
agents were paid decent salaries and
given some security Of tenure of once
ave have no agents, no detectives or
other agencies FOR gathering evidence
in nv Office. We have, however most
powerful weapon-the grand jury SUD
pmna-which we have used In this pres
eDt case without fear or favor. and ]
purpose 10 use II in the future IN other
cases as We have IN this one.
"OtherFise respectable citizens may
buy bootleg whisky, but they certainly
cannot commit perjury,
az am not an alarmist. but the CON
ditiors revealed by our investigation
in these cases are certainly ALARMING
I do not believe that tho country can
20 on, hall -obedient and hall law
defiant. OF course, we can 90 on az.
resting people Of all elasfes' but aiVel
all as Burke said: You cannot put :
whole notion in jail On aii slaes one
hears Il said: Either the last must os
enforced or the Law cannot ne en-
forced Instead Of harping 50 E'ueh OF
these propositions, why don't the goo.
people Try obeying the law for swH'ie
Asks Smith to Drop Flight
Il appeal TO Governor Smith not "a
attempt TO nullify the Federal laws by
the repeal OF the state laws support
ing them. and thus take away ron
Colonel Donovan and the rest OF Us
Federal District Attorneys the power
ful support Of tho police.
81 anpeal 20 the clergy. OF all iaiths
for vhatever difference Of opinion they
may hold on prohibition, surely no
worthy man Of God but owes eiea'
duty 10 make his pulpit ring with de'
rnand for obedience 20 law;
81 appeal 70 public officials and lAT'
yers 20 search heir eonseiences ana de'
EIDE whetherkhey made mental reserva'
tion az to/eertain parts Of the Coh-
Stitution/of the United States Wher
they tSN their oath. ,,
"HMbly and prayerfully appeal "a !,
thcAeeent men and women OF THIS
ee%munity TO cease bartering tAeii
Constitution for a cocktail or q ini drlnt
%f bad liquor, and TO make The trivia i,
sacrifice necessary 70 uphold the ,@aN @
and help restore that respect Tor laS