San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-08-03
THOSE WHO RULE

Two object lessons for the possible
benefit of other parts of the country are
presented by the recent experiences OF
Ludington, Mich. in attempted enforce
ment of extreme "blue laws" First,
not only did the enterprise fail, as was
inevitable, but even some of the re
formers" became Disguised with it. Ap-
parently they perceived difference be-
tween theory and practice; they were
able to see in the concrete what had
been invisible to them in the abstract
their zeal had outrun their knowledge
of human affairs. Second, the prose-
cutting attorney, who had been leading
\ the "blue-law" drive, suddenly lost in
Fl>s1est in it when members of the Wo-
mans Literary Society of Ludington in
/ dicated, officially, that they would be
pleased to have him do so.
It is the latter feature, perhaps, that
merits the greater attention. Common
enough are examples of the failure of
extremely puritanical laws to achieve the
end for which they are designed. Only
recently such case developed at Aus
tin, the capital of Texas. Efforts were
made to seal that city Theoretically
against normal activities on Sunday.
They failed; they never had chance
of notable success.
But the statement of the prosecuting
attorney of Ludington, Mich, Explain
ing" why "blue-law' enforcement was
"off" so far as he and his office was con-
cerned, represents comparatively new
phase of this general subject. That is,
it is new in special sense. Prosecut-
ing attorneys have "desisted" before, and
people have had their suspicious. But
this is one of the few instances, if not
the first in which prosecuting attor-
ney has frankly confessed that he was
governed by the desires of particular
group. This case is made all the more
notable by the circumstances that the
group which in final analysis exercised
sovereign influence was composed ex-
clusively OF wonderland women de
voted, at least nominally, to literary"
interests.
The long and the short Of it seems
to be that these women were "constit-
uents," with the power of the ballot
not OILY tlldl, Dul luCy WCIS very dClNC
constituents, standing ready on all oc-
casions to carry through their prefer
ences with their votes.
Now, this IS no reflection upon the
members OF the Woman's Literary So
ciety of Ludington, Mich, or Upon their
sisters anywhere. They are to he ap-
plauded rather than berated for making
their wishes "in the premises" known
to the prosecuting attorney.
The vital point to which attention is
invited is that it IS not the complaisant,
passive, silent, procrastinating, do-noth-
ing citizens who really obtain the behe-
fits of self-government in this land OF
the free. Sovereignty. in the most high
" practical sense, belongs &c those who
take an effective interest in public al
fairs.
If lot OF long-haired men and short
haired women, calling themselves "re-
formers" start out to .gain control OF
j community, they can do So provided
, either one OF two conditions ohtains
If they are in the majority, the task is
superlatively easy; it is done before il
IS begun. But in how many communi-
ties is this clement numerically predomi,
nant? If there are any such communi-
ties, the outside world never hears Of
them, naturally; there is no opposition
to create conflict. The alternative con-