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Show ENFORCE LI IS PRESIDENT'S PLEA MEMORIAL DAY ADDRESS AT ARLINGTON URGES BETTER GOVERNMENT We Are Not a Lawless People, But We Are Too Frequently Careless Said President Coolidge In Address Washington. Appealing for more vigilant enforcement of law on the part of state and local governments and for a "universal observation of the constitution" by the American public, President Coolidge in a Memorial Mem-orial day address at Arlington cemetery ceme-tery declared that "what we need is not more federal government, but better local government." "We are not a lawless people," said the president, "but we are too frequently fre-quently a careless one. The multiplicity multi-plicity of laws, the varied possibilr ities of appeals, the disposition to technically in procedure, the delays and consequently the expense of litigation liti-gation which inevitably inure to the advantage of wealth and specialized ability all these have been recounted recount-ed as reproaches to us. "It is strange that such laxities should persist in a time like the present, pres-ent, which is marked by a determined determin-ed upward movement in behalf of social so-cial welfare. But they do exist. They demonstrate a need for better, prompter, promp-ter, less irksome and expensive administration ad-ministration of the laws; for uniformity unifor-mity of procedure; for more accurate accur-ate delimitation of state and federal authority." Mr. Coolidge made only passing reference ref-erence to prohibition and did not apply ap-ply his observations directly to any particular situation. Declaring that "when the local government unit evades the responsibility it is started in the vicious way to disregard of law and laxity of living," he continued: "The police force which is administered admin-istered on the assumption that the violation of some laws may be ignored ig-nored has started toward demoralization. demoraliza-tion. The community which approves such administration is making dangerous dan-gerous concessions. There is no use disguising .the fact that as a nation out attitude toward the prevention and punishment of crime needs more serious attention The conclusion conclu-sion is inescapable that laxity of administration ad-ministration reacts upon public opinion, opin-ion, causing cynicism and loss of confidence con-fidence in both law and its enforcement enforce-ment and therefore in its observance. The failure of local government has a demoralizing effect in every direction. direc-tion. "There are vital issues in which the nation greatly needs a revival of interest in-terest and concern. It is senseless to boast of our liberty when we find that to do shocking an extent it is merely the liberty to go ill-governed. It is time to take warning that neither the liberties we prize nor the system under un-der which we calim them are safe while such conditions exist. Pickford Kidnappers Are Taken Los Angeles, Cal. A daring plot to kidnap Mary Pickford, motion picture pic-ture star, and hold her for $200,000 ransom in a mountain cabin, was disclosed dis-closed by police here with the arrest of three men. The alleged conspirators, conspira-tors, Claude Arthur, C. Z. Stephens and Billy Woods were arrested while mingling with visiting Shriners in a downtown hotel. Chief of Detectives George K. Home said the plot was first revealed thre weeks ago when secret service operatives overheard the men discussing plans for the abduction. ab-duction. The men were shadowed and taken into custody as they were making ready for the dash to Hollywood Holly-wood in an automobile to carry out their plans. |