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Show Irresistible Urge for Maintenance of Highest Possible Standards By CALVIN COOLIDGE, in Washington Address. If we are to maintain the nation and its government institutions with a fair semblance of the principles on which they were founded, two policies always must be supported. First, the principle of local self government in harmony with the needs of each state. This means that in general the states should not surrender, but retain their own sovereignty, and keep control of their own government. Second, a policy of local reflection of nation-wide public opinion. Each state must shape its course to conform to the generally accepted sanctions of society and to the needs of the nation. It must provide a workable similarity of economic and industrial relations. It must protect the health and provide for the education of its own citizens. Tins policy is already well recognized in the association of the states for the promotion and adoption of uniform laws. Unless this policy be adopted by the states, interference by the nation cannot be resisted. Throughout our whole -nation there is an irresistible urge for Ihe maintenance of the highest possible standards of government and society. Unless this sentiment is heeded and observed by appropriate state action there is always grave danger of encroachment upon the states by the national na-tional government. But it must always be realized that such encroachment encroach-ment is a hazardous undertaking, and should be adopted only as a last resort. The true course to be followed is the maintenance of the integrity of each state by local laws and social customs which will place it in comparative com-parative harmony with all the others. By such a method, which can only be the result of great effort constantly exerted, it will be possible to maintain an indestructible union of indestructible states. |