The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-07-05
MORALS WEAKER,
PERSHING SAYS
Chief of Staff, Speaking
at Marion, Warns of
New Lawlessness
LOYALTY 'DlSC0NTENT'
Commenting on Herrin He
Says Such Outbreaks Weak
en- Entire Moral Fabric

MARION, ONO, july 4,--M ora
standards throughout the United
states have become materially weak.
ened, and there is a dangerous ten
dency toward disobedience OF tn,
law and an appalling laxity in law
l srfnrcement. General John j. Per.
|4hlng, declared here today in an ad.
dress at the celebration of the 10Oth
anniversary of the citys founda.
ton.
should Fight Lawlcssness
m citizens who cherish the In.
heritance of free government should
assert themselves in an outcry
against lawlessness and immortality
General Pershing said.
Referring indirectly 10 recent riot
ing In the strike area of Illinois
General Pershing said:
Under the constitution every man
Is guaranteed the right to live, en-
iov liberty, and pursue happiness
but there are those who defy these
guarantees and seek to deprive
others of these sacred privileges
Where whole communities openly
sympathize with ruthless murder OF
inoffenslve people in the exercise
Of the right to earn a livelihood and
where wholesale murder goes un-
punished, II Is imperative that public
opinion should demand that the
strong arm of the law, under fear
lesA officials, take positive action
overt and lneNcuseable acts of this
character not only debaee the partic-
ipants. but lower the whole moral
fabric of the nation and strike at
the government. Servants of the
people on whom is imposed the oh
legation of law enforcement must
forosee impending danger. and take
necessary preventative measures or
be regarded as inefficient
Nriminally negligent or worse. II
such outrages are possible In orderly
communities, then loyalty itself Is
at a serious discount. Individuals
or organizations that countenance
such criminal acts, or whose leaders,
in violation of the law advocate the
use OF force against the person or
property of others with whom they
happen 10 disagree, no longer de-
serve recognition or respect from
hw-abiding people. but merit only
unequivocal condemnation and
prompt punishment"
Moral standards have become ma
terially weakened, and the crimi-
nal elements of society are less
cautions in their activities. Pershlng
declared. I'VE must recognize that
there Is a dangerous tendency to-
wards disobedience to law and an
appalling laxity in law enforce
ment." he continued. 1T is time
for all citizens who cherish our heri-
tage Of free government to assert
themselves and cry out against law
lessness and immortality. We must
stand up for prompt enforcement of
the law. or concede that free gov
ernment is n failure. Let us invoke
the high standards OF integrity and
patriotism that prevailed when men
and women by the millions sought
opportunity TO make the supreme
sacrifice for their country. open
adherence 10 lofty ideals Is quite
as essential now in the postwar
days as during tho wartime. when
pending danger inspired every one
to unselflsh devotion and service.
The voice of the Pacifist is again
heard in the land, pershinG de-
clared. The unreasoning. unthink-
ing and those who will not learn
from experience, continue TO ad-