, 1925-06-03

W nv - Noo PSOR'N
said the president. but we are too
frequently a careless one. The null
tiplicity of laws, the varied posi-
bility of appeals, the disposition to
technically in procedure, the DELAYS
and consequent expense of Iitiga-
ton. which inevitably inure to the
advantage of wealth and specialized
ability-all these have been re-
counte as reproaches to us.
1t is strange that such laxities
should persist in a time like the
present, which is marked by deter
mined upward movement in behalf
OF social welfare. But they do
exist. They demonstrate a need
Tor better, prompter, less irksome
n expensive administration of the
laws; for uniformity of procedure:
Tor more accurate delimination of
state and federal authority"
Coolidge made only passing refer
ence to prohibition, and did not
apply his observations directly to
any particular situation. Declaring
That when the local
unit evades its responsibility, it is
started in the vicious way to dis
regard of law and laxity of living"
he continued.
The police force which is ad-
ministered on the assumption that
the violation of some laws may be
ignored has started toward demon
alization. The community which
approves such administration is
making d a n G e concessions.
There is no use Disgusting the fact
as a nation u attitude toward the
prevention and punishment of crime
needs more serious attention. The
conclusion is unacceptable that laxity
of administration reacts upon pub
lie opinion, causing cynism and
loss OF confidence in both law and
its enforcement and therefore in its
observance. The failure of local
government has a demoralizing
effect in every direction.
There are vital issues, in which
the nation greatly needs a revival
of interest and concern. 1t is
senseless to boast of our liberty
when we find that to so shocking
an extent 1T is merely the liberty
to go -un-governed. 1t is time to
take warning hal neither the
liberties we prize nor the system
under which we claim them are
safe while such conditions exist.
we shall not correct admitted
and grave defects If we hesitate to
recoznize them. We must be frank
with ourselves. We ought to be
our own harshest critics. We can
afford to be. for in spite of every
thing we still have a balance of
prosperity, of general welfare. of
. secure freedom. and of righteous
purpose. that gives us assurance of
leadership among the nations.
What America needs is to hold
its ancient and well charted course.
Our country was conceived in
the theory of local self government.
1t has been dedicated by long prac-
tice to that wise and beneficient
policy. 1t is the foundation prin-
ciple of our system of liberty. 1t
makes the largest promises to the
freedom and development of the in
dividual. Its preservation is worth
all the effort and all the sacrifice
hat it may cost.
ut cannot be denied that the
present tendency is not in harmony
with this spirit. The individual,
instead of working out his own sal
walton and securing his w indus
try and his own self-mastery, tends
to throw himself on some vague
influence which dominates society
and to hold that in some way re-
sponsible for the sufficiency of his
support and the morality of his ac-
lions.
"The local political units like
wise look to the states, the states