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

IN the llTSI SUEGGn W OE
by a resident on the Gettysburg
battlefield since Lincoln's immortal
address. President Coolidge today
voiced A plea for the adjustment OF
war as the fittest tribute 10 the war
dead of America.
At the same time he demanded less
indifference 10 crime in the United
States and condemned what was des-
| cribed as a tendency OF the legisla-
lures to 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 evade 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-
lotions 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
IN the president rs having developed
into Zone Of the most impressive
peace movements that the world has
ever seen"
Secretary Kellogg's submission to
the powers Of a draft treaty 10 this
effect. "has met with very favorable
reception" he said.
mot 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 - 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 = prac-
teal realization in the early making
Of n multilateral treaty limiting flu
ture resort TO war
Mr.. Coolidge also praised the con-
cllsion Of arbitration treaties and
the resolution approved at the
Havana Pan-American Conference
calling for a Pan-Ameriean compul-
sory arbitration covenant.
The peace Of the world cannot. Of
course. he obtained by any one single
act" he said. but every treaty Of ar
b~itration and Cancellation and every
agreement against resortinR to war
adds another barrier against those
conflicts which from time 10 time
have REQUIRED in TIE history Of ma
tons"
Declaring that the peaceful spirit
Of a nation must originate by the
| firesidc. the president added that
while the people Of the United
States as a whole arc peaceful and
l~aw-abiding to a remarkable degree,
il cannot be denied that We have had
sporadic outbreaks of crime. especi-
I allv those OF violence, which are eX-
ceedingly disturbing.
"Such a condition will indicate. II
continued. a loosening Of the moral
fiber of the nation. II is very easy
20 cast the blame upon the police
authorities. the prosecuting officers,
and the courts. But IL q 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.
III the people themselves show
that they are determined 70 have
crime stamped out, there will be 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 OF men,
Mr.. Coolidge said. il was essential
that all officers and all executive, ju-
dicial and legislative bodies should
adhere strictly to the authority with
which they had been clothed.
The chief temptation to 90 beyond
the bounds which the people have set,
arises in legislatures he declared.
I'm their desire 10 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 iE
larceny or power. Responsibility for
il cannot be evaded BY the weak plea
TO let the law be passed and the
courts can decide it's 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 il 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 annot under
take TO interfere in the application OF
domestic law TO our nationals, unless
il contravenes the rights Of our gov
eminent and people under lnterna-
tional Law, nevertheless the careless
ness Of some OF our citizens abroad
in violating domestic law snd 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 hE
speech the enormous sums IN pen
sions and gratuities which the Amer
lean government has paid 70 its war
veterans. Civil war pensions alone,
he said, had mounted to over S6,0Oo,-
600, 900, while world war compensa-
tions have totalled already almost
S. 900. 900. 900. thus showing that the
United States indicates it's respect
for its service men "by something
more substantial than lip service"
President Coolidge declared that
although greater sums are neing