The Marietta journal. (Marietta, Ga.) 1918-1944, 1922-07-20
TWO JUDGES RAP
LAWLESSNESS AND
MASK ACTIVITIES
Judge S. H. sibley of U. S. Court
and Judge D. w. Blair Ask
That Law be Enforced

Declaring that the law is being
fouted on every side by minority
mass of lawless Individuals" Judge
Samuel H. Sibley, of the United
States court for the northern district
of Georgia, delivered a powerful ar
gument for law enforcement, and
for law observance on the part of
right-thinking men and women, be-
fore the Atlanta Kiwanis club at its
regular meeting Tuesday in the Pea
cock cafe.
Il shall speak on the 'Perils of
the Mass, " said Judge Sibley. "By
the mass l do not mean a majority.
but an aggregate of individuals who
are decidedly in the minority.
Everywhere the law is being
fouted by this minority mass, by
men who know that they are doing
wrong but are willing to go on Such
a state of affairs will make private
life intolerable and government i'm
possible if it is not stopped.
Everybody is doing it now,' has
now become mixim of life. The
power of this mass becomes terri
BILE in matters of law because so
many good men are associated with
the mass.
Take lynching, for instance. No
riaht-thinlsing man would attempt
for moment to justify this means
Of accomplishing what should ap-
pear to be desired end, although
he may have been a member of a
lynching mob.
The K. K. K.
Again, | was approached to Join
the Ku Klux Khan, approached as a
federal judge. l declined. Why?
Because there are features in this
organization which would make nv
membership in it inconsistent with
my duties as judge.
In the case of the K Klux Khan
the great power for harm lies in the
secrecy that shrouds it's every move
ment, If it is not responsible for
acts of lawlessness, it at least lays
itself open to suspicion.
AS to the question Of labor un-
Ions. They are organized for an aim
that IS Justifiable and good. And end
that IS encouraged and recognized
by law. Their activities come to a
mead IN a strike. Every man who
strikes has right to quit work, and
ne can join with others if he sees
Mt. That's the legal aspect.
But man who quits a Job can
not prevent another man from tax
ing 1t. The strikers cannot say:
NO man shall have my job But
tne striker does say mo man shall
nave my job not because he is
supported by law but beacuhe it is
the will of the mass. Is he iusti-
ned No! No one would attempt to
Justify the means used to accom-
pIlsh the desired end.
The evil in this case is not in the
men quitting work, but in prevent
ing others from work and the vio-
Ience Incidental thereto.
-, AS to the prohibition question.
mats getting to be the biggest thing
IN IN lie for me. The mass is putting
OniS thing over, gentlemen.
mere no violence here, but there
Is the same disregard for law.
The better people should take
note OF this. No good citizen should
Try to run over law. If the law
Is wrong, and it may be, take steps
10 change it, but while it is the
law, obey it.
an You say to me, gentlmen: why
vel. .eiI US OF this, you WELD the big
55,lvA; these are your problems? |
nave no confidence in big sticks,
55e"Iiiemen, unless they are backed
~ the good people of the commune
w. And | tell you that an end can
"o' be put to lawlessness unless the
Continued on Ps0e 10Y