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HAS STIRRED UP THE DRY BONES. President Parkersons Locke Law Address Before Louisiana Lawyers Commended. New Orleans. June 7. — "1 thought my address he fore the Louisiana Bar Association at Ah xaadria was nothing but dry bones." said W. S. Iarkeison. president of the association. From the noise that it has created a large portion of the public at least docs not agree with Mr. Iarkeison that his address was dry bones. His powerful arraignment of the Lacks anti-racing law and the lav-Sliattuck Uaaajr license law has stirred up many hornet nests, both here and abroad in the state. When Mr. Parkerson characterized the jacks law that exterminated the race tracks as "one of those ethical laws which attempts lo make people go-id by legislation." and again. "It is just as easy to send souls to heaven by legislation." its champions got excited. Wheat Mr. Parkerson characterized the iav-Shat-baeh license hill as a form of prohibition in disguise, the principle of which he opjMised. there were others to snatch up live challenge. So it has developed that the "dry hone" which Mr. Parkerson dictated to his stenographer a few-days prior to the opening of the Alexandria convention has stirred fhe whole state. He admits Unit he has heard from his Alexandria speech in a good many ways. "Received many letters:" was asked. "A good many, yes: some very abusive and offensive, but all of these anonymous. I have received a great many from prominent people commending my stand and applauding it. "In taking the position which I did regarding the Locke and the Cav-Shattuck laws." said Mr. Parkerson. "I did it after a thorough examination of the laws and after I was fully convinced that no good could How from them. From my knowledge of human nature I believe the expressions delivered in my Alexandria address are absolutely sound anil thai this sort of law is an attempt to make people Rood by legislation, an attempt which has proven as utterly impossible as it is to send them to heaven by legislation." In view of the general discussion aroused over Mr. Parkersons address, that portion relating to the I icke law and the tlay-Shattnek law is printed in full: "Thus I have attempted, in a sort of fashion, t. give some idea of the laws which have been enacted for our guidance and government by the wisdom of the legislature of P.HI.S. "Of all the laws, two stand out most prominently. "One of these is the Jay-Shattuck law, which is a disguised prohibition law. "flic ether is the Locke hill for the purpose of abolishing races. "It is not within my province, nor is it my wish, at this particular BOMS and at this particular time, to get into any controversy with anybody in regard to these two laws: but I feel it to lie my duty to say. in a very few winds, what appears to me to be tile wisdom or unwisdom of this sort of legislation. "I cannot in any sense agree with the people who contend for prohibition, nor ran I in any sense scree with those yvho have carried the liipior business of Louisiana to the extent which it lias readied. "I do not believe in prohibition, because it is an attempt to deny to the temperate man the prapet enjoyment of one of the good things of tie world. "1 cannot agree with the other side of the ipus Hon. lieonuse the use of the enjoyment has resulted in an abuse which has brought ruin to families and ihinage to tile state. "I always have believed, and it is the whole philosophy of the case, as well as all of the ether good things of the world, is to do it within certain prescribed limits. "I am free to say that I believe almost as much about horse races. "I cannot agree with these good people who would abolish tile risking of a stake upon a horse race, be ause to abolish the iisk of a stake BBSS the re suit of a nee is to abolish the race itself, and. to save my life. 1 cannot see what harm can come from witnessing the contest for superiority between two good horses. "And If we are to cut out good apart, good wine, good living, whit a dull old place this earth would Ikcouic. It looks as if Satan had the better of the .iigiiiifnt if he is to have all Hie pleasure, and man to go around with a long face and uplifted eyes. "So to all this kind of legislation 1 am utterly opposed. I do not believe that, if it be considered aeeeaaary to pass laws which will prevent a man from indulging in the use of Ihpior because he abuses it. it will result In preventing another man from the temperate and propei use of it. On the ether hand, the man who abuses it will get it. and the man who has used it with temperance will resort to subterfuge to get it instead of using it in au open, manly way. Indeed, if it be necessary to put a rope around a mans neck to pull him by a saloon each time he conies in sight of it. you might is well throw him into the river ami be done with it. It would be. a good riddance of bad rubbish, after all. "The uplifting of mankind is accomplished by education and not by legislation. Too niueh paternalism in government is the most dangerous form that you can have in a free republic. "If it lie wise to legislate what yon shall drink anl whether you shall go to races, or not. it will dually come to pass that the laws will prescribe what you shall wear and what you shall cat. The legislature will make up your bill of fare for each meal. "After a while the solemn expression of the Iegls-lature will lie a declaration that a man witli hiack hair must not marry a woman witli light hair, and he will be told whom he shall marry and whom be Khali not marry. Indeed, followed to their logical conclusion, such laws will wipe out the free agency of Hie individual and make him an automaton. T cannot give my assent lo this form of legislation, and I believe it to 1m- my duty as an individual to express my dissent here in tins repreaeata-tlve gathering of lawyers, convinced that nowhere else, if it call have any iiiHuenee at all. could the expression do more to bring about a peeper appreciation of Hie siumtion. I have not wfaihed to hurt any fillings, but that 1 could not stop to consider. I believe that the people are being lashed to madness. Into a sort of religious frenzy, and that every citizen who can consider the matter calnilv should do his ln-st to cheek the wild career. "Education, not legislation, will make a sober, industrious people. "Conservatism, not frenzy, will peace Louisiana among the foremost of commonwealths. "In spite of preaching, priest or woman the lawyer has always had the courage of his conviction. Let him preserve that proud Imast and be not afraid to stand in tin- way of all legislation which is not based on sound principles. While others rave, let reason remain enthroned as his king and lawgiver."
