The Coconino sun., 1923-05-25

Sions usually end with the assertion
that the law must and will be enforc-
ed as it is written in the ordinance
books or the statutes of the state or
constitution of the United States.
"Some suggest to increase the num-
Der of judges, to make criminal trials
more speedy, and sentence after con-
viction more severe The theory has
long been exploded that a severe pun
ishment will deter from the commits
sion of crime. 1t is the fear of de-
lection that will so deter, but the
fear of punishment will not.
"An individual naturally has an an
tipathy for the law, particularly when
that individual considers that the par
ticular law which is being enforced
violates what he considers his personal
rights.
"If you receive an order from the
proper officers to remove the snow
from your sidewalk or to remove any
other nuisance, however we'll you be-
lieve in the enforcement of that ordin-
ance, yet you do not ike to be told
to perform that duty and obey the
law.
"You rebel at once, not against the
law, but against being told.
whenever a new law or ordinance
is enacted there is silent referendum
in the minds of men against tiff
the person or individual believes that
he is about to lose what he chooses to
call some of his personal rights.
"It is elementary that an individual
or a community can not defy law IN
one respect without developing a habit
of disregard for all law.
"a concrete example is furnished
by the reported action of the New
York legislature when it repealed all
laws looking toward the enforcement
of the prohibition law.
whether you, as Rotarians, believe
in the 18th amendment or not, or
whether the New York legislature be-
lieves in it or not, you must know and
the legislature must know that SIM
ply withdrawing your support or its
support from that arm of the govern
ment will not repeal the constitutional
amendment.
"On the other hand, the surest way
to repeal an obnoxious law is to en-
force it.
"You can contemplate the results of
the action of the New York legislature
when you stop to think what respect
the growing generation IN that state
will have for all laws when they see
an amendment to the constitution OF
the United States, which is the SUI
preme law of the land, openly violated
without the strong arm of the law OF
that state lifting its hand to punish
the violators.
"As you know large number OF
highly intelligent and morally sensl-
tive people do not obey the 18th
amendment, and there is nc Likelihood
that that amendment will ever be en-
forced no matter at what large ex-
penditure of money or of effort. This
attitude is not confined to one COM
munity but unfortunately IS nation
wide.
"Sometimes an officer trespasses
on the law, and offends the individual
who is arrested His action not only
elicits contempt for law, but disre-
pect for the officers.
sOften an officer in discharge OF
his duty is criticized and condemned
in the presence of individuals who
have no scruples in regard to law
violations.
Gas it is truthfully said: TT IS law
less openly to affront the law-it is
not lawless to agitate for its modifica-
tion or repeal.
"What can you do as Rotarlans, and
what can we do as individuals for the
welfare of. our own community!
"We can live and teach that the IN
fluence of a sound education and a
true religion, if really believed in, IN
stead of being merely talked about,
would in time build up a spirit OF
obedience to law, which no possible
system of law enforcement can ever
bring about.
"To illustrate: Through centuries a
habit of obedience to the Ten Com
mandments may be built up 'among
men. but the Ten Commandments
cannot be- enforced by all the govern
ments and armies in Christendon.
"Whatever may be our individual
ideas upon this subject, | believe that
we can all agree that so far as the
welfare of our community Is concern
ed, we can advocate obedience to all
laws and ordinances.
Oh kllCM blidt tlASAC e~AN i-Se
MANY as there should be who are will
ing to take the risk of being unpop-
ular for the sake of being right"
Mr.. Myers, who last week ATTENDED
a four-day conference In Yosemite
national park, of the 70-odd Boy
Scout executives of California, Ari-
iona, Utah and Nevada, said everyone
he met on the way there and coming
back, had been talked to by Ray Simp-
son, manager of the local Penney
store. while the latter was on his way
horae from the east, and Ray had shot
them so full of good Flagstaff dope
that they all will be happy to come
here and live. Last year more than
2OO.O boys in the United States at
tended summer camp, spending N
registration more than a million dol
lars they had themselves earned. It
is hoped the record will be better this
year. Last year this four-state div
ision led the rest Of the country In
Boy Scout encampment attendance.
Walter showed how broad and all
including the Boy Scout movement is
by citing the fact that one of the fin
est troops in Chicago is composed OF
Jewish boys working under the spon-