The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1920-09-24
Problem of Law Enforcement Gives Drys Task Requiring
Best Efforts
ELECTION OF DRY CONGRESS AND LEGISLATURES
HELD The MOST IMPORTANT PRESENT OBJECTIVE
Educational Work Must Be Extended to Reach All UNIFORMED on the
Evils of Alcohol
POSSIBILITIES OF PROHIBITION INSPIRED DRY LE

\ conference Of Anti-Saloon League
officials and workers was held at
Washington, d. {. on September /,
10 and Il. Representatives from
practically every state organization
together with National League off
GERS were present. \ survey Of the
present situation in various parts OF
the country was presented and the
plans OF the dry forces for the imme-
date future were formulated. The
chief topics considered were the law
enforcement problem, the legislative
and congressional situation, eduea-
tional work, and the relation OF Pro-
hibition in America to other COM
tries.
The Importance Of state legislation
in support OF the Eighteenth Amend
ment was explained by Wayne B.
Wheeler, General Counsel of the
Anti-Saloon League, and other speak
ers. Explaining that the concurrent
power granted states to enforce the
/ Federal amendment MIR. Wheeler
made the point that unless states have
adequate enforcement codes the state
government will lack complete and
final power to enforce the dry law.
State officers will make arrests I'M
der the Federal law but can not try
yiolators. As result the Federal
courts become so coneested that vio-
lations can not be prevented by
prompt punishment OF yiolators Fur
thermore the trial of cases in and
punishment OF offenders by the Fed
i efaf courts fesutIs in ri1e toss OF fires
which would otherwise go to the
state governments. Next to main
tanning effective enforcement laws
! through the election of dry Legisla-
lures Mr.. Wheeler pointed out the
Importance of maintaining a strong
public sentiment in support Of the en-
forcement OF the Eighteenth Amend
ment. The work of the many organ
izations opposed to Prohibition must
be counteracted. While ii is not the
duty Of citizens to act as police off
GERS, citizens can nevertheless perform
valuable service for law enforcement
by supporting and commencing en-
forcement officers when they do their
duty and protesting when they fail.
Public officials" said Mr.. Wheeler,
must be elected who will obey their
oath OF office. Any derelict official
should be removed from office. Laws
should be secured to remove useless
officials. Organized state effort will
bring about complete and effective en-
forcement of the Eighteenth Amend
ment."
Organized for Enforcement
In Ohio many counties have been
organized for law enforcement, was
the statement of James A. White. Su-
perintendent of the Ohio League.
These organizations cooperate with
the officials, and see to it that they
do their duty. "The people,. said
Mr. White, "arc looking to the League
to get the right officials into office
and then see that they do their duty"
He explained that it is not the bust
ness of the League 10 do the work Of
the .egularly constituted officers. at
is the duty of officials to enforce the
law, and the privilege of citizens TO
see that they do their duty he de
clared.
Removing Derelict officials
Following the discussion of the
problem presented by judges and
others who fail to help enforce the
dry law, by imposing light fines, and
otherwise failing to check violations,
a committee was appointed TO present
resolutions relative to derelict Off
cials. The resolutions later unani-
mously adopted are printed elsewhere
in this number of the Issue.
The Legislative Fight
A report by +. S. Nicholson on the
Congressional outlook indicated that
the fight for the control of the next
Congress will be close. In primaries
held so far there have been both gains
and losses. 1t will be hard to fore
cast the result until after the election
in November Mr.. Nicholson pointed
out the importance of making a hard
fight to increase the dry majority in
Congress if possible. In order to dis
courage further wet campaigns by the
linuor interests DIR. A. Barton