Wayland Central School - Hi Lites Yearbook (Wayland, NY)

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The KICK-OFF 1925 SALUTATORY Members of the Hoard of Education; Teachers; Friends: We, the Senior Class of ’2f), are glad that you are hero tonight to witness the consummation of our (Torts of the past four years. Untold muni i i s have stood on the same step in the ladder of edu- cation on which we now tind ourselves. They have experienced the same feelings of mingled joy and sadness that move us now. ur ex- periences and emotions are not new. History is merely repeating itself once more. Four years of our lives—of youth, of joy and happiness, have been cast behind us. It is our earnest hope that we have acquired adequate preparation to meet the problems of the next few years of our lives. We hope that we have ac quin d the habits of thinking, of concentration, and of perseverance. We hope, also, that we have acquired the virtues that distinguish real men and women—honesty, truthfulness, and broad- mindedness. We shall endeavor to entertain you and hold your attention for a short time this evening. We hope that you will not regret the time spent and that you will feel glad to have been present. Again, my friends, the (’lass of ’25 bids you a cordial welcome. W. B. YOU. AND I, AND THE LAW In considering the subject before us there are two phases to be dealt with, law and law enforcement. Let us first consider law, which the dictionary tells us is a “binding custom or rule of conduct, or the whole body of such customs and rules.” Laws should be enacted for the welfare of the whole people. It is our duty, yours and mine, to see that the laws which are enacted are requisite and pertain only to the highest welfare of all and that they be capable of good strong enforce- ment. We are lacking in this, our duty. Many useless laws are en- acted yearly. They affect only a small minority but once put on the statute books they remain there. There are many laws now extant, which, through some technicality in their construction, cannot be en- forced. In the present-day maze of laws those persons are few and far between who know clearly their full duty to the state or nation. There are many who would get along splendidly with no other law than the Ten Commandments. It is not for such as these that laws are enacted. Laws are enacted to protect these people against the ma- chinations of those members of society who are less scrupulous. How- ever, in order to secure the perfect functioning of the laws it is impera- tive that all observe them.

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The KICK-OFF 1 J25 Carl Alden, hist year, received the Nobel prize offered by Sweden for his excellent work in improving the health of Alaskans. Dr. Alden, for a term of years, has been in charge of the hospital at Point Harrow, Alaska. 1 cannot say where Dorothy Volts is located—I doubt it anyone can. 1 read a short time ago that she had eloped with a man by the name of Arthur Clearwater, and no clue as to their whereabouts has yet been discovered. 1 was in Miami, Florida, last January and while there 1 went to a barber shop. On my way out, I noticed a beauty parlor across the hall, and to my surprise 1 read on the door, “Thelma Frazer, Beauty Parlor. Shampooing, Scalp Treatments and Marcelling. Marencllo Toilet Preparations Are Used.” Kenneth Smalt, director of the Cunard line, I understand, has an- nounced his resignation from that position. Recently, as some of you know, he wedded Miss Vesta Rauber, a popular member of our class, and they are now sailing the high seas for a honeymoon trip. 1 am certain that if Leo McCoy were anywhere near us this even- ing that he would make it his duty to be here. 1 understand that he is using his oratorical gift and powers of persuasion with great success at auctioning off out-of-date Ford cars in Mexico. Miss Marjorie Barber, now Mrs. Hazen McNinch, is employed by the New York Times to write a weekly page for women. You will be interested to know that Miss Marion Van Buyne is doing wonderful work in the mission fields of Africa. She recently ad- dressed the Rotary international convention held in Chicago. A brother of mine, who is attending Amherst, has informed me that Herbert White has been his professor in Latin. He wrote that Professor White and Miss Gladys Parsons, dean of Mt. Holyoke College were married early this month and that they intend to found a private school of their own. 1 have brought you good news of the class of ’25 and I still have more but it comes with a bit of sadness. Keith Carpenter, sanitary engineer, the man who has made more healthful great cities by his counsel and advice, for two weeks has not awakened from a profound sleep. Physicians call il a case of sleeping sickness, but say it will not last long. 1 am glad to have taken this time from my business to be with you. Doubtless if other members of our class were present they could bring as good a story as mine. Indeed it has been very profitable for me to keep in touch with my classmates. E. C. S.

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The KICK-OFF 1925 Let us now turn our attention to the consideration ot law en- forcement and law observance. At present there is a tremendous need for more and better law enforcement. No one will gainsay so urgent a need. With uich realization comes the question, “How shall this need be met!” The most feasible solution of this gigantic problem is: Elect more efficient office-holders, men and women with moral backbone and stam- ina, men and women with moral courage to withstand the offers ot bribes which come at one time or another to every office-holder. Let us send to our legislatures men and women who shall have the courage ot their convictions, faith in tin right, and the undaunted coinage to do what is right. However, in order to obtain this better class of men and women we must pay them better salaries. What worthwhile man is go- ing to give up his business or profession for the paltry sum now paid to members of state legislatures when he can earn far more at his own business? The result of this is that we are sending an inferior, incom- petent class of people to make the laws by which we shall be governed. What wonder, then, that we have some ot the laws which now exist. Such a condition should not exist in the wealthiest, most prosperous na- tion on the face of the globe. Vet, it does. At this time a consideration of the courts ot justice would not come far amiss. The most urgent need here is for a complete elimina- tion of politics from our courts and again the necessity ot paying better salaries. Let us purge our courts of polities, pay our judges and juries fair, equitable salaries, and elect to the bench only those who shall have plainly exhibited good firm moral integrity. Few ot you failed to ask yourself why the two youthful murderers of Chicago were not given the full extent of the iaw. Doubtless you answered this satisfactorily to yourself. Only when we have on the bench men morally sensitive to duty and the welfare of society will fairer decisions be handed down, will penalties be properly enforced, will conviction, or acquittal be made less cumbersome. Then and only then will it no longer be said that the United States is incomparably worse than Great Britain. Any discussion of law enforcement today would be inadequate, if no consideration were given to that most discussed, most abused section of the federal constitution, the eighteenth amendment. In this the greatest exhibition of lawlessness in the annals of our country has been demonstrated. Which of those law-abiding citizens who see on every hand the open violation of this law but do nothing to stop it—yes, in many cases, even countenance it, as if it were a huge joke—which of these does not know that prohibition is a part of the very foundation of