Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-07-12
Can Only Be Cured From Roots

To the Editor Of the Evening Public Led1cr:
Sr-IIow useless the beating about
the bush IN the vital questions Of pro-
hibitlon and morals. The situation al
The present time is one of such serious
proportions that glnring trail OF moral
destruction seems to b. sweeping head
long great numbers of the younger gen.
Grafton TO n condition Of such utter
and willful lawlessness. assuming at
least the appearance of national men :
are. striking dismay in the hearts OF
law. abiding Americans. true believers
and faithful upholders Of law and JUS
tice. Undoubtedly an apparent condi-
tion dangerous to degree.
In the humble opinion of the writer
the whole of the blame should br nlacod
where II belongs. which Is rightly on
the shoulders Of the men and women
scattered everywhere whose concern is
extremely questionable concerning their
interests fer IT," upbuilhing and general
welfare Of their country. Such have
sirewn and are continuing to strcw the
seed of defiance in their own disregard
o' obedience to legalizrd authority. who
have and still are bOlstcring IN and
pcrpctuating in their mode of thinking
and living n contempt which was second
nature to them oven before prohibition
became the Eighteenth Amendment to
our National Constitution. Any who
50 behave arc traitors to the faith our
forofathcrs zealouslv instituted. which
is the very foundation upon which the
American nation rests and must ever
rest.
Obedience to and for duly authorized
law mus, be insisted upon and upheld
a. at costs. faithfully. consistently and
Loyalty. II W" wish as n people to hc
worthy of being considered civilized. let
alone refined and capable Of intelligent
comprehension Of what national duty
means. For just so sure as there Is
q moral leakage Of digniticd RESPONSE
hlliiy in the thoughts and outward cX-
preston of even u small minority of the
older generation to whom youth mus,
ever look for their guidance and in
sn'ra'ion. let alone n deliberate houting
of our duly constituted laws. 50 there
IL bound to bc with such an example II
continued SNrDing of the moral stamina
inosoning the roots and fraying the
hbcrs which serve to hold together tn,
noble abiding forces which alone have
strength 10 keep and preserve for us. the
american people, II nation composed
OF unlhcd freedom loving, self-respcrt-
's '''iN l'llUlN,
why then and to what end are we
confronted daily by appalling revcla-
mons In the daily newspapers ana cur.
rent magazines of youthful despcradOes
ahd lawbrcakerS. when we know and
must admit that they are but a pitiful
copy and reflex of acquired habits from
their elders? An example copicd from
men and women who are permitting
rondi, ions to exist which prove a veri-
,able hot bed of destruction to the un-
Irled restlcssness of inexperienced
youth.
We have men in our midst today,
public officials who smirk with almost
oNrn satisfaction at conditions as they
'hlSt, men who are accounted American
'NlZ"nS. yet have no more respect or
regard for the wcighty responsibility
theF have been entrusted with than the
m'r'St mentally afflicted rrprobntc who.
nt least. does not seek to pose as one
having au lhority. Today many of these
on'lnlS. lnWbrrakcrs themselves, seek
70 plac" the blame on the weaker and
n ,eSS responsible shoulders of the youth
iu' bollnder and pleasure seeking flap.
per. '
Women we have. too. failing their
sa'r"d trust as protectors of the minds
nhn morals Of the young. Would it not
seem seem until they, the older people who
"a'r IN" authority and who are in the
,noElt'on to control conditions and en-
,Srce obedience to the law, wake up to
tum, t"~ir responsibility and seek to faith
duN d"nN diScihrge their public ANA private
HHu'''S' H we shall go on being distressed
~ lhr dcnlorable knowledge of free
,""'r no. Dhnditry sponsored by forces such
u t,,,,