The Caledonian-record. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1920-current, 1922-03-29
TOO MANY
LAWS ON OUR
STATUTE BOOKS
But Judge E. c. Moore
Says They Should BE
Obeyed

Judge fAuiHuHu (. vi over, pro-
feseor of government and law at
the University Of Vermont and Il
graduate of ST. JohnsburN Acad-
envy, delivered an address on Pop
ular Respect for the Law" ut the
mems class of the Methodist
church in Burlington
Mower spoke of the profound
note of pessimism prevalent in
both public discussion and private
conversation, adding that the
world is facing tremendous crisis
for distrust pelmeates business
and government and return in
faith is necessary TO avoid a fail
ure of civilization. Many writings
and utterances of noted men were
referred to TO show the tone Of
peSsimism prevalent.
One authority on the rise AID
fall OF the nations bordering on the
VI editerrancan sea was referred to
by the speaker as claiming that the
present day civilization was going
through the same stages as seven
nations which had fallen in that
part of the world for the moral
forces OF the world have not kept
up with the intellectual.
There is no doubt at all that
we are living in a lawlcss age, the
speaker said when a large com
pany in New York is teaching its
employees to shoot straight aad
providing an almored car to trans
port its secuitics i'm the streets of
that city.
The fact that the prohibition
amendment is being openly flOuted
IS most sinister, for it indicates an
attitude of the public mind. At
present the attitude of the public
towards this act is such that the
amendment in doing more harm en-
tirely aside from the crits of the
law, because Of the tendency Of
leading people tc believe that if
they can defy one law that they
can defy others, THAI the liquor
business did.
James NJ. Beck, a noted lawyer
was quoting as arraigning this age
as one of revolt against authority
in all lines Of endeavor. Under
meath all these forces is an under.
current to restore and carry our
present day society, according to
the speaker.
The great weaknesses were civ
en- by Judge Mower in the present
order, lack of faith in leadership,
and the tendency of society to split
up into classes. Many lines of en-
deavor are very largely leadelless,
because there is no disposition of
the individual to subordinate hi,
wishes to any one who is qualified
TO lead. Class legislation and con
filct creeping into politics is the
greatest blow that has been dealt
10 democracy.
As the physical laws entering
into the existence of even the
most minute particles OF matter
are necessary for the maintenance
of the universe, civil, moral and
spiritual laws are necessary for
the relationship of people. Society
not founded on law cannot exist.
Business mean should realize
that without laws and the protect
ION of their enforcement they
could not even hold property ex-
cept by force. Laws cannot be laws
in the true sense of the word I'M
less favored by true public opinion
The enforcement of the laws is Il
matter of education Of public opin
/ ion.
Life, liberty and property are
more secure to-day than they have
been for 300 years" declared the
speaker" The moral losses due to
war were greater than the physi-
cal losses"
| "1f we had fewer laws and more
respect for those on the statute
books we would be much better
OFF, The average man today does
not have the respect for laws that
a man had 200 to 300 years ago
when behind the law he felt a pwo-
er TO enforce it. Instead, he sets
himself up a Judge of what the law
should be and if it is distasteful
to him will ignore it as much as
possible.
To have disrespect for law is to
have disrespect for our judiciary
and courts, which is a deadly at
tack on our civilization and results
in force. 1t men feel they cannot
get justice in courts, law means
very little to them.
As remedy to this fouting of
the laws the speaker said that a
change of attitude of mind was
necessary, with out which we shall
lcgislate in vain. If we cannot obey