The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-08-15
NEST0S ASKS
LAW RESPECT
AT WAHPET0N
Speaks to Convention Of
American Legion Hitting
personal Liberty" Plea
DISRESPECT FOR LAW

Wahpeton, N. D., Aug. 15.-Respect
for the law, obedience to constitu.
|, tional authority, a fight upon ILL
teracy and reaffirmation Of pur.
pose to let peacc-time service be
on the same high plane as war SER
vice was urged upon members of the
American Legion of North Dakots
by Governor r. A. Nestos at the an.
; nual convention here. this afternoon
Zone of the unfortunate develop
mcnts Of recent years has been the
lessened sense Of personal RESPONSE
bility for enforcement Of law and
for the maintenance Of civic right
eousness," said Governor Nestos
with it has come growing disre-
spect for constitutions and suthori-
ty, a lessened obedience of law, and
a disposition on the part of those
even who consider themselves good
and law abiding citizens to refuse
obedience to and respect for any but
the laws and constitutional provi-
sions of which such individuals them
selves approve. It must be apparent
to all that such an attitude is a
blow at the very foundation of our
government. Actions speak louder
than words and this attitude and
the acts flowing therefrom consti-
tute so strong condemnation of
our form of government that fear
the words of praise of the govern
ment that We are so prone to express
on our national holidays cannot un-
do the resulting evil or create the
right impression among the people
who both read our words and OBJ
serve our attitude and acts"
Increasing Disrespect
Pointing out that the rights of the
minority have been safe-guarded in
our laws and constitution, declaring
that 1T is not a freedom from the
restraints of law but within them
that gives true liberty" and urging
observance Of the prohibition laws,
the Governor said:
unfortunately, the increased dis
respect for constitutions, laws and
constituted authority. and the failure
to render the obedience to law which
is due from true citizenship, has
brought in its wake the wave of
crime which has swept over our
country and general indifference
to the fine ideals and high princi-
pies professed and followed by the
fathers and founders of the repub-
lic." The Governor hkened increas-
Ing disrespect of the law and lack
OF ideals to disease. !,
$50 this spirit of carelessness and
easy indifference, Of ever following
the lines of least resistance. has
been eating its way like a cancer in
to the character and ideals of 50
many Of our people and has render
ed our civil and political life largely
farce because Of this growing dis
respect of law and authority" said
the speaker.
1T is to you, men Of the Ameri-
can Legion, whose spirits were purg-
ed in the awful fires Of the World
War, whose inspiring conservation
to the highest ideals of America is
SO recent, and whose RECONSIDERATION
to the task Of realizing in our civic
and political life the ideals for
which you fought and suffered dur
ing the World War is made at every
convention-that America looks to-
day for the intelligent, devoted. and
vigorous leadership needed in the la
'bors OF renewing the ideals and ed,
ucating our people for citizenship
and service"