Douglas daily dispatch., 1926-10-16
PRESIDENT REQUESTS
ALL VOTERS TO TAKE
PART in ELECTIONS

WASHINGTON, los (lF9l - An
appeal for all citizens to exercise the
franchise was made by President Cool
idge tonight in extending greetings to
the members of the first international
oratorical contest in the Washington
auditorium
whenever choice is to be made in
electing a public officer the presi-
qualify are under the most solemn and
binding obligation to register their de-
cision at the ballot box. To fail in
that is to be disloyal to our whole
system of self government. On our
theory that the people are sovereign
the neglect to vote is to abdicate.
1--WE do not pretend to rely for cor
rect decisions on the Judgment of the
selfish and interested few, but rather
on the patriotic choice of the great
body of candid and Independent citi-
zens We rely on the expression of
the impartial voters. A true election
represents the untrammelled express
sion of their will 1t is their voice
that speaks with divine authority
In outlining the attributes of good
citizenship, Coolidge placed with the
appreciation of the responsibility of
Ivoting respect for American institu-
tions of government and obedience to
the law. All these attributes, he as
serted, would in his opinion mot be
i,found except among religious peo-
pie
| The oratorical contest he commend
| ed as a movement which would inter
est young people "in a study of the
| sciences of government, especially as
exemplffied in the institutions of their
own countries
/ In the United States, he continued
it would, it was hoped, lead to q
broader knowledge of fundamental
1 principles of government, especially
as exemplified in the American con-
/ stitution.
Candid study of the constructive and
] affirmative side, after a period of ad,
verse criticism of political institutions
with it's effect felt especially by new
immigrant elements of the population
he asserted, would reveal that "oul
/ government is simply what the people
through their duly constituted pro
II cedure sanction, ordain and establish.
| w Elle 6dcH Ol our clllI6HS OuSlll u
have sufficient faith and knowledge t.
reinforce their belief in America" h
continued after all good CITIZENSHIP
is not so much a matter of information
as of disposition, not so much of tn
head as of the heart, not SO much de
pendent upon Knowledge as upon senti
ment. Those who want to do righ
have little difficulty in finding out tn
right.
Observance of the law is the yer
( essence of self government, it is tn
main source of certainty in all socia
I relationships. Without it all those ele
ments. would be lacking on which W
( are dependent for economic structure
! | The protection of property, the sc
curity Of person would be gone. Th
entire basis for credit would be lack
ing. No standard of value for propert
could exist. Justice would .vanisf
The whole foundation of civilizatio
! would crumple. The protection of tn
weak would disappear. The sole re
! lance would be force Might alor
I would rule.
I III is to rescue the people fro
/ these conditions that constitutions al
adopted and statutes enacted. But a
q these will be of little avail unless thel
{ is fostered and nourished in the minC
s. of our citizens rugged respect fl
= law, obedience to its DEGREES.