The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1922-12-12
"a POTATO is WORTH
MORE THAN A WOMAN
Thus II See ms 10 This Case, Argues
the Bachelor, Dr.. Saliba, Who Is
a Close Judge of Values

What is the trouble now" asked
friend who found the sedatc DR..
Saliba putting furiouSly on his pipe,
a frowu on his face.
The world has gone to the dogs"
said the doctor, "and potatoes are
now worth moro than 4 woman
How Gomez"
We'll, see by the evening paper
that q colorNd man who stole n wag-
onload Of potatoes last spring, has
been placed under 81 600 bond, peud-
ing trial. On the same page is the
story of q married man who deserted
his wife and child, brought a young
woman to this town, lived with her
two years and had a child by her;
and now, when he is charged with
the Federal crime Of white slavery,
he is placed under bond Of only
800"
Well" ventured the doctor S
friend, the woman hasn't accused
the man of stealing her honor"
Nor did the potatoes accuse the
negro" said the doctor.
But the owner of the potatoes
did returned the friend. THE law
must protect the property rights Of
the owner. The thief is responsible
! to the owner Of the potatoes and
society as we'll
That's the idea exactly. in the
case of the woman" said the doctor,
not to be outdone. Only this is
a more serious case. The law must
respect the property rights OF So
ciety, and this woman IS the proper
ty of society"
"An true" said the friend, but
in the case of the thief, the rights
were violated without the consent of
the owner. while in the case Of the
woman. the stolen commodity might
have been sn accessory before the
fact"
Bum argument" said the doctor.
Tho woman, perhaps. was no more
an accessory than the potatoes. You
remember the potatoes couldn't talk;
they could not defend the fellow af-
ter he had been apprehcnded, as IN
the case of the woman, who can
speak and is better judge Of
things"
"All true" replied the friend, but
you get away from the main issue.
The negro stole 800 worth of po-
tatocs, which might have represent
cd the entire net income of the farm
or for the season. This loss of po-
tatoes might have brought serious
hardship on the farmer and his fam
lily; the loss OF the money they would
have brought might result in the loss
Of n home on which payments were
due; it might have deprived his chill
drcn and made them burden on the
community. All of these things could
have resulted from.
"Bosh, Let US stop arguing in
terrupted the doctor. acts are
judged by motives. In the case OF
the man who stole the potatoes, the
motive was monetary gain. In the
case OF the man who com
mitted the immoral crime. the mo-
tive was the satisfying of debaSed
passion; and the result was the IN"
ficting of 4 terrible punishment on
the mother. the desertion OF an IN
nocent child, the ruin of young
voman's character, and the placing
of stigma on a newborn babe.
Il can forgive man committing
n cruel act against his fellow IN O
fit of passion, or when under the ln-
fuence of alcoholic intoxication, but
il is hard 10 forgive mau and let
him 90 scot free, after repeating his
criminal acts, hour after hour, day
after day, and even year after year
He must be O well seasoned scoun'
idrel. he must have lost all the feel
incs of response to his conscience
And when such O man faces the pure
innocent, refined noble womanhooc
Of Elizabeth City, and boasts OF thu
saving that they are no better thar
himself. it angers me to such an eX
tent as to call him n damned cad ant
L. Josn;c.bIe scoundrcl; for hI
.baugbtiIy boasts of that for whiel
he should bow his bead in shame :