Show THE PEOPLE ARE UNKIND AND CRUEL there js one criminal action to which the delicately poised newspapers seldom refer by its correct name in this action theater witness tor for the state la is a jarl under 18 years of age and the accused Is a young man the newspapers explain that ho he has been brought tutu into court to answer i to a statutory charge the public I 1 understands although all charges are in fact statutory charges the court room Is always taxed to capacity when one of these cases goes on trial the women predominating in numbers for obvious reasons the witnesses usually are few in the last analysis it Is her word against hla fits sometimes a doctor takes the stand not infrequently there are character witnesses I 1 it she has been a wayward i girl that tact fact would bo be a complete d defense tor for the young man in some other states but not so in kansas it makes no difference what she lias has done or been bean the majesty of the law stands there to protect the girl from taking that awful stop step before she has attained the age of 18 years no matter what the the law stands as a constant reminder that she must not be treated improperly seemingly it Is a drastic and un 1 reasonable law it seems to be so one sided so ao cruel usually the sympathies of the audience are with the boy at times there are demonstrations of approval when the verdict of at the jury Is read of course he was not guilty she was equally to blame why punish him while she goes tree free but does she go free Is her life to be the samo same thereafter if fate takes the usual turn what what was and Is her situation wo we will say bay she olie forces the man to marry her against hla his will that Is done sometimes but what has sho she then or that she rei remains dains at home homb facing the future with a nan nameless beless child or that she goes to a maternity homo home and turns her procious burden over to else she knows not whom what years of yearning are before herl her no such fate awaits the ic cuseL youth this Is an unkind world ift deci decisions storis are grossly unjust its conditions of at life arn are so sorely rely unequal just a few months end and the world will r receive him back it will forget it will forgive honor may crown his years with success for he Is S a man truly this seems sem sto to be a harsh law baw at the first glance it is so one sided bided it seems but Is it more harsh one sided and cruel than the be conditions of of life which we have fastened upon the two sexes the 1 r male lile and the fe female niale Is it not a alse effort to io give passion a conscience Is it not a laudable effort to protect that which is most pro clous cloua and entirely worthy of pro through ahe giddish ago we believe it I 1 IB s Marys marksville marysville ville kaii sas advocate democrat |