The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-02-13
COOLIDGE ASKS
STRONG ACTION
ON OIL FIELDS
President, Speaking in New
York, Promises "Unshrink-
ing Action" to People
AID FOR AGRICULTURE
Opposed to Price-Fixing, But
Demands Nations ResOur-
ces Aid Agriculture

CcS AlU fASIACNltuAS
New York, Feb. 13.-(By the A. P.)
President Coolidge, speaking here
last night before the National Re-
publican club, promised immediate
and unshrnking prosecution OF the
oil land lease cases, appealed Tor
n;tional and bipartisan support for
the Mellon tax bill, called for as-
sistance for agriculture from all re-
sources Of the country, and defend
ed the sale Of arms to Mexico.
The Chief Executive also reiterated
lis opposition to soldier bonus legls-
lation, declared there was some
promise of European settlement,
and asserted the United States stood
ready to join with other nations in
further limiting armament whenever
there appears to be reasonable pros
pect Of agreement.
The address, which was made at
the Lincoln birthday dinner OF the
club, was the first Mr.. Coolidge has
made outside of Washington since
he became president. In many re-
spects it was an elaboration of his
message to Congress.
Turns to Oil.
The President devoted much at
tention to taxation and agriculture.
(. but in concluding turned to the SEN
sation of the present time-the oil
land lease investigation
Lately there have been most
startling revelations concerning the
leasing Of government oil lands" he
said. "At the revelation OF greed
making it's subtle approaches to pub
lic officers, of the prostitution OF
high place to private profit, we are
filed with scorn and indignation. We
have a deep sense of humiliation at
such gross betrayal Of trust, we
ament the undermining of public
confidence in official integrity. But
~ We can not rest with righteous wrath;
still less can we permit ourselves to
give way to cynicisu.- ,4-sr-.-. ~, ;. -
1--WE propose to follow the clear
open path of justice. There will be
Immediate. adequate, unshrinkine
prosecution, criminal and civil. tc
punish the guilty and to protect
every national interest. In this ef'
fort there will be no politics, no par.
'isanship. 1t will be speedy, it will
&c just. l am Republican, but
annot on that account shield anyone
because he is a Republican. 1 am
Republican, but cannot on that &C
count prosecute any one because nj
is Democrat.
81 want no hue and cry, no ming
Ing Of innocent and guilty in un
n a
Of mere questions of law with ques
tions of fraud and corruption. 1t i:
at such time that the qualities o.
our citizens is tested-unrelentint
toward evil, fair-minded and inten
upon the requirements of due pro
cess. the SHELF Of the innocent ant
he safeguard of society itself. Asl
the support of our people as chic
magistrate intent on the enforce
,nent of our laws without fear o
favor, no matter who Is hurt or wha
the consequences"
Startling with the declaration tha
he national unity for which Lin
coin laid the foundation require
perpetual adjustment for it's main
-enance," Mr. Coolidge asserted tn
observance Of this principle make
necessary that much attention no1
should be given to agriculture.
Y It is obvious, the President sale
' hat there is "something RADICAL
wrong when agriculture is found Il
its present state of depression whe
manufacturing, transportation, an
commerce are on a whole in re
lnarkable state Of prosperity" II
analyzed the difficulty as due to
greater increase in production tina
IN the power of distribution and cor
sumption and added that because
this the great food staples were nc
ceiling on a parity with the product
y Of industry. The farmer, he assert
I'd, els not receiving his share"
Aiding Farming.
Acknowledging that it might seei
strange that farming should be dis
cussed here in the country's metro
polls, Mr.. Coolidge told his heare1
that they had a direct economic, +
nancial and political interest. h
outlined the steps already taken b
the administration through encou
u, agement of cooperative marketing
investigation Of tariff rates and d
ACSI 6OVS4AmCutoi ASAASAj SAAS So~k
contemplated through legislatio
and then added:
''What am most anxious to in
press upon the prosperous part I
our country is the utmost necessit
that they. should be willing to NAL
sacrifice for the assistance Of the VI
successful part. ! do not mean
that any unsound device like pri,
fixing, which I oppose, because
would not make prices higher b'
would in the end make them lowe
it would not be successful and wou
not prove remedy. but do mes
that the resources Of the count
ought to come to the support of agl
culture. The organization recent
\ perfected to supply money and ma
agement for the larger aspects
\agriculture ought to have your syr
bathetic and active support"
Asks Tax Cuts.
Turning to taxes, as one Of q
contributing causes Il the agricr
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