The Republican., 1927-06-09

sity so that they are not provided
with proper food and shelter. This is
very proper and wise statute, and
if you know of such instances of any
destitute persons when the sons and
daughters are able to provide for
them it will be your duty to give con-
sideration to such cases.
Sections 244 to PSF of article 81
provided against the crime of gamb-
ling, which has gotten to be a very
common offense against the law. 1t
is the duty of constables to investigate
all such cases and to report violations
of this law to the grand jury. l ask
you to look into this subject with care
and also to find out whether the con-
stables of the county are discharging
their duties under the law.
Section 286 and those that follow,
of article 27, provides against the
crime of selling opium, narcotics or
other habit-forming drugs. Especial
ly since the passage of the 18th
Amendment it seems that the use of
drugs is on the increase. There is
nothing that so destroys the mind and
body of the individual as the use of
these narcotics, and l therefore deem
it my duty to call it to your serious
attention.
Article 27 also contains the law
that makes it unlawful to carry con-
cealed weapons. 1t is the duty of the
court to call this statute to the special
attention of the grand jury. Most of
our homicides result directly from the
violation Of this law, and l want to
urge upon you gentlemen, if you know
of any violation of this law in your
own district, or if any witnesses
come before you who can testify to
violations of this law l ask you to
bring indictments against the parties
who under the evidence appear to be
guilty of this offense. We had a
homicide in Cumberland just last
night resulting from nothing else ex-
cept the carrying of concealed weap-
ons in violation of this general stat
ute.
Another matter that l want to men
ton. AS civilization advances and the
population increases, and as the re-
lations of life become more and more
part of his liberty. 1t may be para
dox to say, but it is nevertheless true,
that the more liberties we have the
less we have. No man can be truly
free unless the community and the
members of it are willing to surren-
der large part of their freedom.
When Garrett county was a part of
Allegany or of Frederick county,
when there were fewer people, then
man could have and did have freedom
and liberty to do almost as he pleased
up here in the mountains when he did
not offend against anybody else or do
anybody else any harm, but now that
the population has become greater
and since the means of communication
have been increased, so that instead of
horses we have automobiles and rail-
roads, every man, in making any
movement or in performing any act
must think of the other man; he must
think of his neighbor, or his fellow
man. So we have our motor vehicle
law, which lays down rules and regu-
lations under which it is unlawful, for
instance, to drive beyond a certain
rate of speed; by which it is made un-
lawful to pass a car when you are ap-
preaching a curve, or the summit of
grade; unlawful to drive upon the
left side of the road, and numerous
other provisions are contained in that
statute, all of which are intended for
the safety of the public. Now the
time has come when it almost every
term of court in some of our counties
and states somebody is indicted for
the violation of this law; in many
cases for manslaughter, when life
or lives are taken away because par
ties have neglected their duty as laid
down under this law. | do not know
whether there are any cases of this
kind to be investigated by this grand
jury but | ask you seriously to con-
slider this question in your delibera-
tions.
1t ought not to be necessary, in a
community like this, to call attention
to the statute now in force relating
to the sale and possession for pur-
poses Of sale of intoxicating liquors.
That law has been in force in this
county for many years and since 1921
has been REINFORCED by the 18th
Amendment to the Constitution and
the Volstead Act, passed by Congress
in order to enforce that Amendment.
| think | will read the 18th Amend
ment to the Grand Jury. 1t seems to
me that perhaps some of us may have
forgotten what it is, and it is well,
therefore, for the public to have it
called to their attention. The Amend
ment is as follows:
after one year from the ratifca-
tion of this article the manufacture,
sale or transportation of Intoxicating
liquors within, the importation thereof
into or the expectation thereof from
the United States and all territory
subject to the jurisdiction thereof for
beverage purposes is hereby prohi-
bited."
That is the law, and when anybody
violates the local liquor law of Gar
rett county he violates that provision
of the United States Constitution;
and Article of the Constitution reads
as follows:
The Senators and representatives
before mentioned and the members of
the several state legislatures, and all
executives and judicial officers, both of
the United States and of the several
states, shall be bound by Oath or
Affirmation, to support this Constitu-
ton; but no religious test shall ever
be required as a qualification to any
office or public trust under the United
States.
All members of the state legislature