The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1928-06-08
Commencement Address By
Governor J. E. Erickson May 81

%endeavor.
Many Problems Still UnsolVed
The problems of government
have not all been solved by any
means. Problems, both govern
mental and social, that vitality at
feet our system of government
are pressing for solution, and
upon their prompt solution de-
ponds our civilization and our lib
critics. We may not rely entirely
upon the achievements of our
f~orebears. The triumphs Of the
past but usher in the problems
and difficulties of today. Eternal
vigilance is the price of liberty"
is a truism which has been estab-
lished by history and experience.
| do not believe that we as a Ma
tion are in danger from enemies
without; rather we should guard
against dangers which are threat
ening from within. Insidious and
subtle enemies are boring from
within, and one of the greatest
menaces of II republic and to our
civilization today is the apparent
ly growing disrespect for law and
constituted authority. This has
reached a point where indeed it is
alarming. 1t is freely charged
everywhere that we are the most
lawless Nation on earth, and I'M
fortunately there is much to justi-
fly this sweeping indictment. This
condition has attracted the atten-
ton of thoughtful and patriotic
men in all parts of the country.
A special committee of the Amer
lean Bar association on law en-
forcement made a report after full
investigation of this subject,
which contains among other
things the following:
The Crime Wave
Crime and lawlessness in the
United States have been steadily
on the increase and out of proper
ton to our growth, and there has
been a steady growing d~isrespect
for law"
Mr.. Justice Golf of the Supreme
court has this to say:
@It can be safely stated that in
the history of this country we
have never been before confronted
with anything like the criminal
conditions we have today. = = Not
a day passes that there is not re-
counted in the newspapers some
terrible outrage involving robbery
and murder"
William Howard Taft, former
President, and now Chief Justice
Of the Supreme Court of the Unit
ed States, recently said:
"The administration of criminal
Iaw in the United States is a dis
grace to civilization. The trial OF
4 criminal seems like a game OF
chance, with all the chances in
of the criminal, and if he
scapes he seems to have the
sympathy of the sporting public"
| might continue at some length
nuoting similar sentiments and
thoughts expressed by thoughtful
and earnest men and women OF
our country. Let it be said that
this is both accounted for entirely
bv the enactment of sumptuary
laws, such as the Volstead Act,
for statistics show that there a
been an alarming increase IN
other %offenses.
II is needless to dwell upon this
picture, but it is well for the law
abiding and thoughtful men n
women to wake up to this dlreful
condition. This revolt against
constituted authority is not con-
fined to state laws, but includes
laws of social life and conventions
and traditions of the past. These
abuses strike at the very tounda-
ton of our liberty. Economists
and philanthropists are mquirlng
into the cause of this malady, ana
come attribute it to n thing ana
some to another.
Remedy In Schools
The important thing, however
is TO find a remedy. May we not
look to our common school ana
orr high schools to provide a rem.
edv in the nature and character OIL
+he education and teachings given
70 onr Young? The forces OF right
must be let 0 10
counteract this unfortunate ten
dency.
president Coolidge in a recent
address said: -
while we cannot all be trained
in The technicalities of the law
we should have some idea OF our
fundamental institutions. we
need TO know their relations to u
daily life, the reason for ther
existence and the benefits derlV-
ed from them, and the necessity
for their perpetuation."
Constitution Wonderful 0
And so our young people should
be taught the serious duties con
ferred upon them by citizenship
in this country. They should De
hat the p%erpetuity of u
o nhod-