New-York tribune., 1922-02-12
Omlnous Disregard for Law
Pf0hbhon Opponents Interpreting Constitutional RIGHTS
to Suit Themselves
To tie Editor OF The Trihuna.

10 1e EDITOR Of The Tribune.
S'; 1our editorial "The Bill Of
h'sa" lphe.d" mas impressed me very
aesps 1t has been said, and not with
cut rason, that these are times of
aseHness, when crime is rampant.
s1sa even the better class of citizens
'n lost some of its respect for the
liT o. the land.
But IS this strange What can be
specied of people at large when the
s5Fest courts or one oe our chief
''sies fail to agree rs to what arc
"rnd avs and what are the constitu-
iona! rights Of citizerso The New
Jersey Court of Errors and Appcals
'ss reversed the decision Of the New
Jersey Supreme Court by declaring the
van Ness enforcement act unconsti.u-
uoNal, and though it did this by a
vote o. to 4, It was really by only
ore vote more than the majority. Why
vas tnis' Can it be that the consti-
'ational rights os the citizens Of this
country are 50 vague and difficult to
e'srmlne' Can government be stable
N"en the foundation on which it is
eu'!t is so uncertain:
c'nce the beginning Of this country
"sa people have been jealous of
''~ We have regarded as our rights.
~ Tines in our history there have been
''S' which even the better element
Nss unwilling TO conform to. In the
'''des IN pre- eRevolutionary days
many good subjects Of the crown snug
'so on principle and religiously evad-
"a laws which they thought England
"'u 10 right TO enforce. Yet for this
.-'' now stand III TO dsreputc Look
a. the matter broadly, were they
+.' 'ne iorerunners. the counterparts,
'ae many present Americans in high
well as lowiy walks o. lifc who
"ssss'e their liquor and obtain it by !
WA or by crook because they believe |
...' the Eighteenth Amendment is an
,,'",nsement on their civic rights IL
,a yes out perhaps justiiiablc.
Il mas frequently been said that all
q, =" should be lived up to or taken off
Nv '00Ss If they arc not good But
80 mas not always been done. Public
~ -"ment has sometimes changed, and
,..,' o'd' narrow laws have been left
ef "s .I and forgotten. Witness some
..,.' VI. old blue laws. which cranks and
;o,s.. 'S are trying now to have en-
b..S' .''' theoretically these should have
a)s repealed =, long since, but practi-
.,.'' '"e opposition has been strong
ssh ~ 10 prevent it.
q. ~. "ey not furnish procedents for
10, ,.n s''ment OF the present prohib-
al. 10 they not suggest line
,.s. .s'on that seems righteous to those
.,,. s'se law abiding citizens who
s.tb. sssn oisgusted with the Tammanv
tyon.N's oi the prohibitionists and the
ss, ,. s1' and weak-kneed ways of
.:pfesentatives in the state and
.srn,.. governments? All this is un
.d.,h,'' out is it not natural and in
ss,l. has history ever shown one
,li,s movement as extreme as this
assct;on and came to a good end -?
A,a Is sure to follow action.
by. ~ ~ reaction is taking place to-
sx i, general disregard for the
lily ,r.a a''n0us. And this is not found
'.liev. ~ criminals and those vho
sshk W. nave right to take
'sea!, ~ zee 1t among government
sr.. Il. we very ones appointed to en- ]
'a.r. to to 'aw' .' some for financial gain.
A':a'n their end. Only the