The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-09-06
CONSTRUCTIVE
WORK is URGED
N~AUXILIARY
Governor, in Address Before
State Convention, Says
Much May be Done
AN AID TO LEGION

The American Legion Auxiliary
brought into existence to aid the
American Legion, can be of great as
sistance to that body, Governor r
A. Nestos told the state convention
of the auxiliary in Mandan yesterday
afternoon.
'In the first place, you can help
the Legionnaires to remain true and
loyal to the highest ideals that act
uated them during the war service
and as proclaimed by them for their
peace-time service since the days of
war;" the executive said. "The very
fact that we men must concede that
your intuitions are finer, your ideals
higher, your purposes more unselfish,
and your services usually rendered
in spirit Of self sacrifice, will make
your aid almost invaluable to the
Legionnaires of this state and coun-
try"
Discussing the work Of the Legion
and Auxiliary the Governor said in
part:
II am sure you will agree with me
that the first aim and purpose of
the Legion and the Auxiliary should
be the complete Americanization of
| all of our citizens. Every citizen
ought to be able to read and write
the language of the country to such
. degree at least as to be able to
understand the news of the day, the
events Of his community, and to a
reasonable extent the rights and du-
ties Of citizenship. We were all ap-
palled when We discovered, from the
draft records, that practically one
quarter of the able-bodied American
citizens who were accepted at the
training camps were unable to read
and write any language to such an
extent as to be able to understand
military orders or to know anything
about the problems and responsible
ties of citizenship. In order to make
men and women good citizens, I feel
that they also ought to know the his
tory and traditions of this country
and to be able to understand the
spirit and ideals underlying the
growth and development of our var
ious American institutions.
Ought To Know Government
II have also felt that every citizen
ought to know more about the local
government to become acquainted
with the method of raising the tax
moneys and the purpose for which
they are expended in the var
ious townships, school districts,
villages and cities of our
state. It is of so much great
er importance for a man to know
this as it more closely touches both
his life and his pocketbook, than it
is to be versed in the great national
and international problems, and yet ,,
we are surprised to discover that |
many man who at least processes !
to be we'll posted on international |
questions knows practically nothing |
about the duties Of citizens and Off
Gals with reference to the admins
tration Of the local government.
I'm addition to that, the Legion
has resolved to promote a wholesome
American patriotism and this, first
of all, means that We must create a
spirit that will respect, obey and
seek to uphold our constitutions, our
laws, and constituted authority. There
has been altogether too much of a
to dodge personal re-
sponsibility for the enforcement of
law and for the maintenance Of civic
righteousness in our various COM
munities. We have been too prone
to think that just so we can place
upon the statute books laws and or
dinances that aim to accomplish the
things We profess to desire, that we
have done all that should be requir-
ed of US and that we can afford to
sit back in self-complacent attitude
patting ourselves on the back for the
wonderful accomplishment. Our
good people need to realize that
these laws and ordinances must be
backed and strengthened by a def
mite public sentiment in their favor
and in favor of their rigid enforce
ment without regard to the wealth
or socalled standing of the offender.
I'm representative democracy like
ours. where the fundamental rights
OF the minority are safeguarded by
splendid constitutional provisions,
there is no reason why the will Of
the majority should not prevail, and
the constitutional provisions and the
laws enacted in conformity that those
provisions should have the undivided
support and obedience Of all of OuE
people whether or not they believe
in such laws. When any person re-
fuses to yield obedience to any law
or to aid in the enforcement of any
law except those Of which such per-
son may have personally approved, he
Is striking dangerous blow at the
very foundation Of our government,
and We need to have such organiza-