New Britain herald., 1924-01-03
"INFANIOIS CRIMES"

INFAMOUS CRIMES"
The man who does not try to
fool himself about himself and
his own virtue does not consider
himself one whit more moral when
he buys liquor than is the man
who sells it TO him. He, the morally
Just purchaser knows that if there is
anything morally wrong in the trans
action he is Just as guilty as the boot
logger He knows that there would
be no bootleggers if there were no
patrons of the bootlegger-and he Is
a patron. The fact that the law makes
the bootlegger a criminal, and fails to
make the purchaser a criminal, does
not make the purchaser feel that he
is relieved from obiquy one whit
provided such purchaser is fair and
Straightforward in his Judgment of
himself aud of his fellows. There is
no need to discuss in this comment
why man otherwise law-abiding and
an encouragcr of obedience to law,
docs in this case discourage law
obedience. That is something quite
apart. The matter here considered is
the wrong of trying to make the sit
uation more unjust than it is, namely
10 add humiliation and greater pun
ishment. to tho yiolators OF the liquor
law who sell liquor by denying them
their franchnse as has been suggested
while the purchasers, just as guilty
in a sense, remain in the position they
are today,
Thern is no greater public insult
possible than dcprivng a man of his
right to vote. As a rule only imprison-
ment in states prison, resulting from
heinous crime, does this. TO sug.
gost that one person who engages IN
an illegal transaction in which both
parties are morally on an equal plane,
be made TO suffer this humiliation in
addition 10 tho punishment already
prescribed by law for him. white the
other party remains guiltless In the
eyes of the law. is TO out-Nolstead
yostead and 10 throw about the pres
ent unfair situation an atmosphere Of
hypocrisy from which the mind Of "A
just person rcvolts.
Law enforcement, Proceed rrac-
tically all people sec its necessity But
practically all thinkers who are able
to see beyond the tips Of their noses
see that law enforcement OF this par
tieular Nolstcad law can not he con-
tinued 10 be preached universally un-
less the law is properly enforced and
unless those fanatics who arc so con-
cerned that the sellers Of liquor-only
a tenth, perhaps of the guilty people
are punished more severely and
Inundated to a greater degree than
now provided Tor by the present laws.
A man was bring examined 10 de-
tcrnine his fitness for Jury duty. Tho
broad minded udgc upon the bench
heard the negative reply or the pros
pective juror to the question Are you
able to forget your prejudice against
capital punishment and give q verdict
OF guilty in this case If tine evidence
eonvinces you the accused IL guilty Of
murder"
MOI can't forget that prejudice "
replied Tho man.
DO sou mean 10 say" reiterated
thu judge. leaning toward him in al
most unbcli,r. that YOU are so mar
row and such a slave to prejudice that
you could not render a fair verdict
on the evidence you hear in this
case p"
Il could not render fair verdict.
I am too preiudiced," was the reply.
The judge turned to the clerk.
Take that mans name of the list
OF Jurors" he said solemnly we
have no use for men 50 governed By
Pre- JUDGE when another's life is at
stake"
This country has little usn for meE
or women who are slaves to prejudice
Enforce the law. but let it be done by
those who will recognize justice with
out narrow, binding pre5udices be-
yond which they cannot see.