Those who proclaim the loudest the duty of obedience to all laws never obey, for example, the revenue laws.  These are clear and explicit, and yet men take every means possible to have their property exempted from taxation—­in other words, to defraud the State.  This is done on the excuse that everyone else does it, and the man who makes a strict return according to law would pay the taxes of the shirkers.  While this is true, it simply shows that all men violate the law when the justification seems sufficient to them.  The laws against blasphemy, against Sunday work and Sunday play, against buying and transporting intoxicating liquors and smuggling goods are freely violated.  Many laws are so recent that they have not grown to be folk-ways or fixed new habits, and their violation brings no moral shock.  In spite of the professions often made, most men have a poor opinion of congressmen and legislators, and feel that their own conscience is a much higher guide for them than the law.

Religions have always taught obedience to God or to what takes His place.  Religious commands and feelings, are higher and more binding on man than human law.  The captains of industry are forever belittling and criticising all those laws made by legislatures and courts which interfere with the unrestricted use of property.  None of this sort of legislation has their approval and the courts are regarded as meddlesome when they enforce it.  The anti-trust laws, the anti-pooling laws, factory legislation of all kinds, anything in short that interferes with the unrestricted use of property by its owner are roundly condemned and violated by evasion.  On the other hand, so much has been written and said in reference to the creation of the fundamental rights to own property, and these rights depend so absolutely upon social arrangements and work out such manifest injustice and inequality, that there is always a deep-seated feeling of protest against many of our so-called property laws.  From those who advocate a new distribution of wealth and condemn the injustice of present property rights, the step is quite short to those who feel the injustice and put their ideas in force by taking property when and where they are able to get it.

For instance, a miner may believe that the corporation for which he works really has no right to the gold down in the mine.  As he is digging he strikes a particularly rich pocket of high-grade ore.  He feels that he does no wrong if he appropriates the ore.  Elaborate means are taken to prevent this, even compelling the absolute stripping of the workman, and a complete change of clothes on going in and coming out of the mine.

Many laws are put on the books which are of a purely sumptuary nature; these attempt to control what one shall do in his own personal affairs.  Such laws are brought about by organizations with a “purpose”.  The members are anxious to make everyone else conform to their ideas and habits.  Such laws as Sunday laws, liquor laws and the like are examples.  Then, too, every state or nation carries a large list of laws that men have so long violated and ignored, that they virtually are dead.  To violate these brings no feeling of wrong, but only serves to make men doubt the evil of violating any law.