Putnam patriot., 1924-01-18
OBEDIENCE TOLAW ,
 OUR INITIAL DUTY
Attorney Searls Says Good Citi- zen Will Never Violate
 Laws
Gives Address at Public Meeting In
 Victory Theatre Sunday

That obediance to the law. no mat ter what private opinion one may have in regard to any one statute CT all of them, is the first essential to the good American citizen, was the de- claration made on Sunday afternoon in the Victory Theatre by States Attorney Charles F. Searls of this city, speaking at the mass meeting held under the auspices of the new ly formed Citizens Alliance. Mir. Searls was the principal speaker of the afternoon and gave an address on What Constitutes a Good Citi- zen"
 Rev. John C. Stoddard. pastor of the Baptist church, who played conspicuous part in the formation of the Alliance and arranging for the mass meeting, acted as chairman of the afternoon. There was orchestral music by a group of local musicians under the direction of Samuel Rich and the singing of the gathering was under the leadership of Y. NJ. C. A. Secretary Corbett.
 Explains Aim of Alliance
 Both Mir. and Mrs. Stoddard gave brief talks. Mrs. Stoddard told her hearers of the duties that fall upon woman to be good citizen and Mir. Stoddard discussed the Alliance, it's aims and purposes, it's place in the community. it's power for good, how anyone may become member and the obligations that devolve upon it's members.
 Rev. Simeon F. Cozad, pastor of the Second Congregational church had a share in the meeting by his leading the responsive reading of the Twenty third Psalm and the Lords Prayer, Rev. Nathan B. Burton. pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church, pro nounced benedietion.
 One Must Know History
 In opening his address Mir. Searls said that to be a good citizen. one must know about his government; how it is constituted. how it functions. One should also know the history of his country.
 Attire Mir. Searls had convinced his hearers of these duties of citizenship, he declared that. important as these were, they were subsidiary to obedi- ence to the law. This. he declared, was the prime essential to good citi zenship. For, he said. if one knew all of these things thoroughly, and did not obey the laws of his country, he could not, of necessity, be good eiti- zen.
 Continuing. Mir. Searls asked the question: What is liberty? the ques- ton being one that is often asked in our country where the people are free and equal and liberty is birthright. In explaining his conception of lber ty, Mir Searls spoke of liberty under the law and lawless liberty, and by ex ample showed the difference between the two. He pointed out that lawless liberty was synenimous with anarchy, bolshevism and lynching. while liberty under the law meant the full enjoy ment of the privileges of citizenship, lawfully pursued.
 Personal Opinions Not important
 In this connection Mir. Searls al luded to the all important duty of the good citizen to be law abiding; that because he was not in sympathy with any particular law or group of them, he was not privileged to violate them. IL was his duty to obey the laws and if he doesn't like them. to do what he can to have them modified or repeal ed. Mir. Searls further averred that if people do not like certain laws and won't be obedient to them, they must run the risk of arrest and prosecu- ton; and if they are not content to conduct themselves as good citizens under them, and resent being molested by the police, then they always have the privilege of leaving the country.
 Despite the chaotic condition of world affairs and the little kinks that must be strengthened out in our own government machinery, Mir. Searls sees better government, peaceful and contented times ahead, providing all peoples will do their part as law-abid ing, good citizens.