Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1924-02-13
OIL PROSECUTIONS TO
Be IMMEDIATE. SAYS
COOLIDGE IN SPEECH
President Appeals for National
and BIPARTISAN Support for
Mellon Bill
OPPOSES SOLDIER BONUS
Address Delivered At Lincoln's
Birthday Dinner IN New York
Last Night
POSES SOLDIER BONUS

NEW YORK, Feb. b. by AS
ISOLATED Press. President Cool
idge, speaking here tonight before
the National Republican Club,
promised Immediate and unshrink
ing prosecution of the oil land lease
case, appealed for national and BIZ
partisan support for the Mellon tax
bill called for assistance for agri-
culture from all resources Of the
country, and defended the sale Of
arms to Mexico.
The Chief Executive also re-
iterated his opposition to soldier
bonus legislation declared there
was some promise Of European
settlement and asserted the United
States stood ready to join with 9TH
en- nations is further limiting arma-
I.nlent whenever there appears to be
reasonable prospect 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.
The President devoted much at
tention to taxation and agriculture,
but in concluding turned to the
sensation Of the present tine--the
oil land lease investigation.
Lately there have been most
startling revelations concerning TIL.
leasing of government oil lands,
he said, "At the revelation Of greed
making its subtle approaches to pub
lie officers, Of the prostitution OF
high place to private profit we are
filled with scorn and indignation.
We have deep sense Of huInilation
at such gross betrayal of trust, and
we lament the undermining of pub
lie confidence in official integrity.
But we can not rest with righteous
wrath; still less can we permit our
selves to give way to cynicism.
"We propose TO follow the cleag,
open path Of justice. There VIII
be immediate adequate, unshrinking
prosecution, criminal and civil 70
punish the guilty and to protect
every national interest. In this Ell
fort there will be no politics, no
| partisanship. 1t will be speedy.
it will be just. ] am Republican.
but / can not on that account shield
anyone because he is Republican.
I nm Republican but / can not
on that account prosecute any one
because he is a Democrat,
Il want no hue and cry, no ming
ling of innocent and guilty in I'M
thinking condemnation, no conf,'-
sion of mere questions of law with
questions Of fraud and corruption.
1t is at such time that the quail
ties Of our citizenry is tested-un-
relenting toward evil, fair-minded
and intent upon the requirement Of
due process, the shield of the IN
nocent and the safeguard Of society
! itself l ask the support of onr
people as chief magistrate intent on
the enforcement Of our laws withr
out fear or favor, no matter who is
hurt or what>the consequences"
1 Starting with the declaration
that the National Unity for which
Lincoln laid the foundation requires
perpetual adjustment for its main
tenance", Mr.. Coolidge asserted the
observance Of this principle makes
necessary that much attention nov
should be given to agriculture.
It is obvious, the President said,
that there is something radically
wrong when agriculture is found IN
iits present state Of depression when
manufacturing, transportation. and
I commerce are on whole in g re-
markable state Of prosperity" He
analysed the difficulty as due to q
greater increase in production than
in the power Of distribution and
consumption and added that be-
lcause Of this the great food staples
iwere not selling on a rarity with
lConfinued on Page Two.