Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-25
BACKGROUND OF EVENTS
BY PAUL Y. COLLINS.

That fine Italian hand"-not by a
native italian emulating the strong adj
ministration Of law by MuSsolini-not
he-but our own Richard Washburn
Child late Ambassador to Italy. born in
America about the time when Presi-
dent Lincoln was making his Gettys-
burg appeal for support of the Consti-
tuition. He 1t is who now writes to
Presidents Hoover's National Crime
Commission, and he gives his sage adj
vice that the commission of eminent
lawyers and patriots should differentiate
between enforcement of all the acts of
our duly constituted Congress, elected
by the people to give ripe consideration
to law enactment, and the selected laws
which happen to suit the minority.
He calls such laws the expression of
be enforced: others should be nullified.
And a little Child shall lead them!"
President Hoover speaking: "a sur
prising number of our people, otherwise
Of responsibility In the community. have
drifted into the extraordinary notion
that laws are made for those who choose
to obey them"
Il reiterate my belief" responds ex-
should be made between law on the
books and social will as it Is found
in fact"
Murder Is a more popular diversion
in the United States than in any other
civilized nation. Do you refer. then, to
the law against murder as opposed to
our social will'?" Is asked of the wise
Ambassador. He ignores the applica-
ton.
THE President who appointed Jour
commission" writes Mr.. Child to Mr..
Wickersham, chairman Of the crime
commission and former Attorney Cen
eral of the United States. a mar high
in legal knowledge-"has had r UGH ex-
perience in the value Of social will as
distinguished from written law. By
invoking a social will as to limitation
of meat, sugar and gasoline. during the
war. he obtained unity of action and
a rigor of enforcement which no police
force ever could attain"
1t is this same Herbert Hoover. food
administrator Of the war, now President
Of the United States, who appointed this
crime commission with the view TO
studying an effective method-not prag-
matic-for meeting todays increase OF
crime.
Mr.. Child comments: you will ,e-
member that there was no diSsenter
among its founders, that We sh 'uld con-
fine our efforts to tie fields OF crimes
against property and persons. All, so
far as I know, supported 1t because Of
an instructive realization that respect
for law is properly based upon 'socia,
will rather than engrossec words.
1T is our duty not to base our ef-
forts upon any policy which might ex-
tend disrespect for law, by uiSiStence
upon enforcement of laws which per-
haps cannot be enforced. I do rot say
that the eighteenth amendment and Its
resulting congressional comma oorents
persons in the Nation, vet or dry. will
fail to distinguish between this Law
and normal laws"
What is that distinction. Mr.. Child?
Is a law that Is based on a conStitu-
tional provision, adopted and supported
by As out of our 48 States an abnormal
law? What makes it such?"
ITO illustrate" replies Mr.. Child. III
an ardent dry sees a burglar entering
the home Of his friend he telephones
the police; II he sees bootlegger en-
tering the home OF his friend and
neighbor. he may telephone the police,
but 1t Is generally recognized that in
such a case he would be considered
cad"
A cad? BY whom? BY bootlegsers
and diplomats?
PreSlQenC hoover breaks lnJO Tie COIL
sideration of cads and bootleggers, by
remarking:
mo individual has the right to de-
termine what law shall be obeyed and
what law shall not be enforced. II a
law is wrong. its rigid enforcement Is
the surest guaranty of its repeal. II
it is right. its enforcement Is the
quickest method of compelling respect
Tor it. have seen statements published
within a few days encouraging citizens
to defy a law because that particular
journal did not approve Of the law itself.
I leave comment on such an attitude
to any citizen with a sense of re-
sponsibility to his country"
1.-THE question which appears to be
the first that the commission should
consider Is whether social will, in the
sense of community and human thought
and practice. is subServient to statutory
law or superior to it," declared Mr..
Child. with much pragmatic elabora-
ton OF the idea, but with not the
slightest indication as to how social
will'' should find expression outside the
councils of statesmen duly elected as
representatives and executives of the
will of the voters.
I'm order to dispel certain illusions
In the public mind on this subject"
son. The articles attempt to interpret
ftNA Tsa1t -