Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-05-30
ADJUSTMENT
OF war ASKED
BY COOLIDGE
Less Indifference To
Crime In u. S. Is
Plea Of President In
Memorial Talk

Ul a GHAuGHt vi Inv WILLY c00lk
battlefield since Lincoln's immortal
address, President Coolidge today
voiced a plea for the adjustment Of
wal as the fittest tribute to the war
dead Of America.
At the same time he demanded less
indifference to crime in the United
States and condemned what was des-
cribed as a tendency Of the legisla-
lures 20 exceed the powers granted
to them by the constitution. These
things, he said, tended to weaken the
regime Of Law and breed turbulent
populations prone 70 war.
Although not mentioning any spe-
cific legislation. one portion of the
presidents speech was regarded as a
reference TO the McNary-Haugen
farm relief bill which he recently
vetoed. Legislatures. he said, could
not evsde responsibility for exceeding
their constitutional authority by "the
weak plea" to let a law be passed and
have its validity passed upon by the
courts.
Declaring the zone thing we want
above all else for ourselves and for
other nations is a continuance of
peace" Mr.. Coolidge reviewed nego-
tiotions by the state department for
treaties against war and for arbitra-
tion treaties.
The BRAND proposal that the
United States and France sign a
treaty to war was described
by the president as having developed
into zone Of the most impressive
peace movements that the world has
ever seem
Secretary Kellogg's submission to
the powers of a draft treaty TO this
effect, "has met with very favorable
reception" he said.
"Not only has the idea Of a multi
lateral treaty for the remuneration Of
war been endorsed by public opinion
here and abroad, but the governments
themselves have approached the mat
ter with an interest and a sympathy
which Is most encouraging" he con-
tinued.
1T is my earnest hope that success
may crown the negotiations now in
progress. and that the ideals which
have inspired the French Minister of
Foreign Affairs and the Secretary Of
State Of the United States in their
joint efforts 10 find a solution Of the
problem Of peace may find a prac-
tical realization in the early making
OF n multilateral treaty limiting fu-
ture resort TO war"
Mr.. Coolidge also praised the con-
clusion OF arbitration treaties and
the resolution approved at the
Havana Pan-American Conference
calling for a Pan-American compul-
sorry arbitration covenant.
NTLa ~~.. E ~ w.rwll urruf ~
course. he obtained by any one single
act" ne said, but every treaty of ar
b~itration and cancellation and every
agreement against resorting TO war
adds another barrier against those
conflicts which from time TO time
have required in the history or ma
tions."
Declaring that the peaceful spirit
of a nation must originate by the
fireside, the president added that
while the people OF the United
States as a whole are peaceful and
law-abiding to a remarkable degree,
il cannot be denied that we have had
sporadic outbreaks az crime, especi-
allv those Of violence, which are ex-
eeedingly disturbing.
"Such q condition will indicate, n
continued. n loosening OF the moral
fiber Of the nation. Il is very easy
to cast the blame upon the police
authorities. The prosecuting officers,
and the courts. But If a criminal
condition continues to prevail, the
blame goes beyond these officials.
We live under a system OF popular
government. Our officers reflect 70
a very large degree public opinion.
IF the people themselves show
that they are determined to have
crime stamped out, there will DE no
lack of vigilance on the part of
prosecuting attorneys, and no lack Of
adequate penalty on the part Of the
courts"
To insure the maintenance of a
government Of law and not or men,
Mr.. Coolidge said, IL was essential
that all officers and all executiye, ju-
dicial and legislative bodies should
adhere strictly t. the authority with
which they had been clothed.
"The chief temptation to 20 beyond
the bounds which the people have set,
arises in legislatures" he declared.
I'm their desire to take some action
which they conceive to be in the
public interest, they oftentimes mani
fest a disposition to exceed their con
stitutional authority. Such action is
larceny Of power. Responsibility for
it cannot be evaded by the weak plea
TO let the law be passed and the
courts can decide its constitutional
ity."
The same necessity for being law
abiding devolved upon Americans
even when they lived abroad, Mr..
Coolidge continued.
when once they have set foot in
foreign land, il is their duty 70 rem
der obedience to the domestic and in
ternational law which is applicable TO
their proposed actions" he said.
Our government necessarily has
rights over its citizens and their
property in whatever country they
may be.
While We do not and cSnnot under
take TO interfere in the application Of
domestic law TO our nationals, unless
II contravenes the rights of our gov
eminent and people under interna-
tional law, nevertheless the careless
ness of some Of our citizens abroad
in violating domestic law and in as
suming an arrogant attitude towards
the local inhabitants tends TO bring
our country into disrepute and en-
dangers the continuance Of friendly
relations"
resident Coolidge reviewed in hi
speech the enormous sums in PEN
sions and gratuities which the Amer
lean government has paid to its war
veterans. Civil war pensions alone,
he said, had mounted to over $4,000
100000, while world war compensa-
tons have totalled already almost
$4,000. 000. 900. thus showing that the
United States indicates its respect
for its service men "by something
more substantial than lip service"
President Coolidge declared that
although greater sums are being
spent now than ever before upon the
maintenance Of an adequate Amer