Evening star., 1937-06-12
Raises Question of Legal
as Against Moral Law
To the Editor OF The Star:

To the Editor of The Star:
Mr.. Morgan has raised the question
for us as to what is and what Is not
a moral question. BY calling our repre-
sentatives stupid in providing the loop
holes in the tax laws, he challenges
every citizen of the United States. 1t
would therefore seem timely to have
thorough discussion of the funda-
mental question of government involved
in his challenging question of morality
versus legality.
Who can and should decide what
is moral question? There is no ether
way to decide it today but Ey discus
sion and by the use Of the ballot.
AS human beings we find ourselves
living on this planet with other human
peingy. What should be the feeling
and relationship of any cne OF us
toward the others? How shall we ar
range our joint use of the earth and its
products?
Originally human beings seized and
used all they needed, like any other
animals. But in the course OF time
men made their customs in that con-
nection into laws Thou shalt not
steal became and is still the funda-
mental collective expression of the basic
law Of self-preservation, and justly SO.
But there is a law, and a moral law,
basic to all man-made laws, and to which
they should be adjusted. 1t is that law
so well expounded by Herbert Spencer
that we should each and all be free
to enjoy whatever material things we
find at hand, provided that in doing so
we do not infringe on the equal freedom
If al ofh RI likpUiSp
The use Of things in common neces-
states cooperation and the law OF the
land is the outcome of that necessary
cooperation in the common use OF
the earth and it's properties. Our law
makers should realize that their duty
is to facilitate that cooperation.
That being SO, then what should DE
done by society to curb any one OF It's
members who gets it into his head
that there is no moral law and that
might and cunning is right, and who
believes that the freedom Of the jungle
law, whereby he takes and enjoys for
himself, can be denied by MIN and his
kind to the rest of the human family.
A thorough discussion at This time OF
the issues raised by Mr.. Morgan would
be very helpful in the clarifcation
needed on the important question OF
the function OF money and the right Of
money owners, and especially money
lenders, to dictate conditions under
which the producers of wealth may use
the wealth they create.
HENRY J. SUTTON.
To the Editor OF The Star:
The recently reported statements OF
one of our leading bankers as to the
propriety Of tax lodging within the
law may be assumed to voice the more
or less prevailing attitude among many
Of our citizens, both wealthy and un-
wealthy. But coming from such COM
manding source, it causes sorrow and re-
gret to a great multitude of good, patri-
otic Americans. who not only pay their
just taxes without complaint, but are
glad to have the means to do so. Per-
haps we all underestimate the good for
tune Of living in the U. S. A., but In
what other country would our critical
and dissatisfied citizens prefer to live
and to do business and to pay taxes? 1t
is not so easy to make perfect laws. Most
laws need modification under working
conditions, but it would seem as If the
plain intent Of the law ought to be care
fully considered and respected. With all
its faults, what would we do without
America? A. S. WHITE,