, 1922-05-30
ALL CASPER joins IN TRIBUTE
TODAY TO THE NATIONS DEAD

properly gifted to DO justice to such
an occasion At the same time I can
assure o that I am not only glad
TO be here with you today but feel
much honored that I have been asked
n speak on a day which means Is
much to US as docs Memorial day. I
am grateful TO the members Of the
Grand Army of the Republic. the
Spanish War Veterans and the Amer
Jean Legion for their Invitation to be
present.
while this day Is one OF glorious
memories II is not an occasion for fri
vohty or for Eladnesx but rather a day
OF sadness. At this time we are hon
oring not only those who gave their
lives in war but also those who will
Itngiy Offered their lives and have since
passed TO the great unknown. Furth-
er this day brings back to many the
memories of those ncar and dear 10
them who rest in everlasting sleep in
tho cemeteries throughout the land
Many Of those to whom we pay hom-
eye today had much to do with carry
ing out and making possible the ideals
OF those who founded this great ma.
ton.
The three greatest documents in
the history OF mankind are Magma
charta Of England. the American Dec
~laration OF Independence. and the
Constitution OF the United States. The
underlying principle of these three was
liberty or more specifically the pro-
lection Of h rights OF people and the
establishment of the principle of the
right OF mankind to not only think for
themselves In matters political, but 10
demand for themselves those things
which the word liberty" stands for.
The Magma Charta served notice upon
The English government as to the de
mands and rights OF the people OF Eng
land as did nj Declaration of hide
pendence, while our Constitution laid
down h organic law OF this country
carrying out and putting into effect
the Declaration of Independence.
since the signing of the Deciara.
ton of Independence the wars in which
we have been engaged have been
fought in the cause OF liberty. for the
rights of democracy, for the principle
that people must govern themselves.
and that no ruler or government is
more powerful than the people from
whom II derives it's power.
We are living in an age when there
ar being constantly advanced new
theories and new ideas OF government
and there is. always a tendency to get
away from and materially change the
Constitution which was adopted by
our forefathers in 1887. While new
conditions mad changes necessary. at
the same time i believe that we should
so most slowly in making changes and
should bear in mind that our Consti-
tutional convention was composed of
men OF exceptional ability who were
true patriots and whose sole desire
and purpose was to establish a gov
ernment which would be enduring.
ut WINS clearly contemplated in the
Constitution that the federal govern
ment should have great power in times
of war and common peril and II was
for this reason the chief executive
of this nation was given the power in
such times esual to that of any ruler
in the world. No one objects to this
power being given to the president of
tho United States as we must realize
that in times of war authority must
be centralized.
ut was not understood when our
Constitution was adopted that in times
of peace we should have a strongly
centralized government, but rather a
federation made UP of the several
states and the power of the states and
federal government was clearly de-
fined. Since the civil wal when h
matter of states rights was fought
out. the southern states insisting that
they had the right to secede from the
union, there has been a tendency to-
ward the Capitalization at Washington
of governmental activities, and to take
away from the states many OF those
functions which II was clearly in
tended by the makers of the Constitu-
ton should remain in the states. We
have drifted toward Capitalization Of
government for two reasons. first. the
states have not demanded INK insist
ed upon their rights. and secondly
the people themselves have been indif-
ferent about taking the part that they
should, and by their Indifference have
permitted power which is really theirs
TO pass into the bands of federal bu-
reaus and department. Unfortunately.
instead of doing those things which We
should do for ourselves we have in
sisted upon an extension of the activ-
tiles of the federal government and
this also applies in some instances to
those of the different state govern
ments.
This is responsible to a large extent
for the enactment of laws governing
every conceivable subject and the es-
adjustment of many departments and
bureaus. Today we have so many
laws thai often the people know moth
ing of them and in some instances
those who have to do with their en-
forcement have little or no knowledge
of their provieions. We would be
much better off with fewer laws and
IL many we now have were repealed.
There is nothing which breaks down
respect for law or brings about nom
enforcement of law TO the extent tina
does the enactment of statutes that
are non-operafve or are not enforced.
TT is time for US to get back to that
form of government contemplated by
those who were responsible for this
nation and the sooner we do. we will
not only I'VE better law enforcement.
and more respect for law. but a better
satisfied people. Government should
be an expression of the peoples will
h,tt feel through Capitalization of