The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1931-04-03
TheCherry
Tree Iis.,. !. !, =. a..ss:, ss
we tell the truth
about many things. sometimes pre-
foundly, sometimes Aippantly,
sometimes recklessly.

More and more closely two ideas
are being compelled to look each other
in the eye.
More and more closely these two
ideas are being forced to take each
others measure.
For these two ideas will be in con-
fiict for long time, and many a
battle there will be.
These ideas are, roughly defined,
the idea of turning over more and
more power to the state and the idea
of keeping more and more power in
the hands of the people.
A great many propositions now be-
fore the people involve the conflict
between those two ideas, and there
are great many people who do not
see how that is.
The result is that a good deal of
opinion is formed which does not take
ultimate consequences into account.
1t will, more or less, probably con-
tinue to be that way.
Of course the trade union idea has
always been that the state should
grant and guarantee liberties, and
that the people should do for them
selves everything possible Liberty
has been the great trade union idea
1t has come to pass that a great
many persons who profess a friend
ship for labor do not at all accom-
pany labor into this great belief.
They are at the same time in favor of
taking the state into all manner of
pathways, giving it all manner of
powers in all manner of fields.
Well, the world wags on, ideas
clash, and decisions are made. Where
the people have the freedom to make
decisions they likewise have the free
dom to unmake them. So, in the end,
true progress develops.
The question of the State versus the
People is involved in many things in
these times, and there is no escape
from its insistent clamor for atten-
ton. Doubtless decision will be made
that will not be at all what the people
| would want is they were better in
formed. Propaganda will overwhelm
them in many cases, and it will be
long before they come into a clear
light.
The issue has and will have many
phases. One is the question of how
far the police powers of the state
should be used in enforcing what is
sometimes called morality.
Morality means many things to va
rious persons, and SO when the state
starts out to enforce morality il
must enforce some brand of morality
This not only arouses the antago-
nism of many who profess support OF
that brand, but it arouses the bitter
enmity of those who do not support
that brand.
Prohibition is case in point. There
are many others.
One chief of police has just an
nounced that his force is going to let
morality alone and stick to fighting
crime.
Few questions are more deeply in
teresting than the question about tn,
proper powers of the state. Few
can lead to more dissent and more
high blood pressure.
Out of one mistake in a vital policy
multitude of wrongs can grow, as
again witness prohibition with its by,
product of crime of all kinds.
1t is time to keep our thinking
straight and to think deeply.
The temptation to form opinions or
the basis of emotions is great al
times Likewise with the temptation
to want to do "as we used to do"
Both lead into frequent error. Few
| things are as thew uSed To he