The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-05-30
BETTER LOCAL.
GOVERNMENT
NEED OF U. S.
Charges States and Cities
With Responsibility in
War on Crime
TAKES RAP AT COURTS
Technicalities and Delays
Blamed by President in
Memorial Day Address
TAKES RAP AT COURTS
by The Associated Press)

(By The Associated Press)
Washington, May 30.-The ma
tions Memorial day tribute to the
men and women who died in the
service centercd today in Washing
ton with President Coolidge lead
ing the exercises in Arlington Ma
tonal Cemetery at the tomb Of
the unknown soldier.
Touched by the sOlemnity Of the
occasion, thousands of Washing
tonians and visitors gathered
in the amplitheatre to hear the
presidents address, broadcasting
Of which was arranged for by sew
eral large radio stations. Assign.
ed to honor places in the Assem-.
blage were survivors of some of
the war that claimed the thou.
sands resting beneath the rows of
tombstOnes dotting the surround
ing hill sides and now colorful
with flowers and bunting.
Association Of veterans Of the var
ious conwlicts arranged to hold their
services for their own dead before
the pre4ide,Itial party ARRIVED at
the cemetery. These included eulo-
gies over the graves of army and
navy nurses in the women's section
Of the burial ground and the decora-
tion of monuments Throughout the
capital to the memory of outstanding
figures in the country's history.
Members of the American Legion
in the district were assembled for a
march through Arlington cemetery to
the tomb of the unknown soldier
there to place a great wreath. The
Legionnaires then were ready to join
in the general services in the ceme-
terry held under the auspices Of the
Allied veterans organizations and led
by the Grand Army Of the Republic.
Washington. May 30.-(AP)-Ap-
pealing for more vigilant enforce
ment of law on the part of states
and local governments and for
universal observance Of the Consti-
tuition" by the American public,
President Coolidge in Memorial
Day address today at Arlington Gem
etery declared that what we need
is not more Federal government, but
better local government"
1--WE are not lawless people," said
the President, "but we are too fire.
quently a careless one. The multi
plicity of laws, the varied possibili-
ties of appeals, the disposition to
technicality in procedure, the delays
and consequent expense of litigation
which inevitably inure to the advan-
tage Of wealth and specialized abil
ity--all these have been recounted as
reproaches to US.
ut is strange that such laxities
should persist in a time like the
present, which is marked by a de-
termined upward movement in behalf
of social welfare. But they do exist.
They demonstrate a need for better,
prompter, less irksome and expensive
administration of the laws; for uni
formity of procedure: for more ac-
curate delimitation Of state and fed
eral authority"
Refers to Dry Law
Mr.. Coolidge made only passing
reference to prohibition, and did not
apply his observations directly to
any particular situation. Declaring
that "when the local government unit
evades its responsibility, it is start
ed in the vicious way to disregard Of
law and laxity Of living" he con-
tinued:
"The police force which is admin
istered on the assumption that the
violation Of some laws may be ig-
nored has started toward demoraliza-
tion. The community which approves
such administration is making dan
gerous concessions. There is no use
Disgusting the fact that as a nation
cur attitude toward the prevention
and punishment of crime needs more
serious attention. The conclusion is
inescapable that laxity Of admins
tration reacts upon public opinion,
causing cynicism and loss of conf
dence in both law and its enforce
ment and therefore in its observ-
ance. The failure Of local govern
uSut uoS q 0CuIO4oAlAAuk C4ACSL ia
every direction.
"There are vital issues, in which
the nation greatly needs, revival
Of interest and concern. It is sense
less to boast Of our liberty when we
find shat to so shocking an extent it
is merely the liberty to 60 ill-gov-
erned. It is time to take warning that
neither the liberties we prize nor
the system under which we claim
them are safe while such conditions
exist.
Mast Be Frank
"We shall not correct admitted
and grave defects il we hesitate to
recognize them. We must be frank
with ourselves. We ought to be our
own harshest critics. We can af-
ford to be. for in spite Of everything
we still have balance OF prosperity,
Of general welfare. of secure free
dom. and Of righteous purpose, that
gives us assurance Of leadership
among the nations.
Whist America. needs is to hold
Continued on page sixl