New-York tribune., 1920-11-06
Miller to Urge
Enforcement of
Prohibition Act
COvcrnor-Elect Asserts He
Will Seek to Place Re-
sponsibility on Local Po-
lice, Not Federal! Agents
For Primary Law Changes
Believes Convention System
Should Be Restored for
State and Judicial Offices


herring to views he expressed from the
stump during the campaign, stands for
the enactment of a prohibition enforce
ment law in conformity with the
of it by local officials, and for removal
of officials failing to perform their
sworn duties
Judge Miller favors restoration of
the convention system Of making nomi-
nations for state and judiciary Offices
as is generally known. but probably
will advocate provision in the new
law that will make it possible for
voters to appeal from decision OF the
convention.
Judge Miller was at the St. Regis
Hotel, with Mrs. Miller, for short
time yesterday. The two we're on
their way to Atlantic City for a two
weeks rest. The Judge said yesterday
that he was keeping the vacation
period free from political conferences
that he may get rested up In answer
to suggestions and inquiries, he said
"In view of the fact that there is
Federal enforcement law applicable
generally throughout the nation,
favor. and shall recommend to the
Legislature, Legislation in conformity
with the Federal law, prohibiting the
tanning more than one-half of one
per cent of alcoholic content This is
manifestly the proper thing for law
abiding commonwealth like the State
of New York to do.
Eavora Enforcor,oDt hy Dol;c~
with reference to the mechanics in
vclved in the enforcement Of the law
where it is the business of our own
police powers to enforce law, am
strongly in favor Of having our own
Federal government Personally.
:hink it is somewhat dcplorable that
there should be state of mind, if
there is, that complacently permits
fragrant violation of law by city and
state officials and leans on outside
agencies for an enforcement of those
same laws. Police officials charged
under the law with the enforcement Of
law should vigorously uphold the law
When such an official fails to do his
sworn duty in that respect he shonld
be removed, and al such officials
should be removed, az soon as their
dercllction becomes apparent.
when | was campaigning on the
northern border, learned beyond the
slightest doubt that there was
fragrant violation Of the Volstead set
Hundreds of persons have for months
been running alcoholic beverages
across the Canadian border, and they
have become suddenly rich from this
Illicit business. Doubtless there will
be bootlcgging for some time, but as
suredly f1agrant and open violation OF
the law of the land can be prevented
IT the appointing powers put the right
sort of men on guard. There is no
doubt whatever that many agents
charged with the upholding Of the en-
forcement law ore in league with the
law breakers, and largely proftine
by it.
Would Dispense With Federal Agents
"Of course, the state cannot prevent
the Federal government sending en-.
torcement agents into the state TO en-.
force the law. If, however, the state
law is honestly enforced it nigh,
cbviate the necessity Of having ar
army Of Federal agents quartered in
the state, and it would be expected in
that case that Federal agents need not
be sent where there is nothing fol
them to do. Concurrent power as de-
fined by the United States courts
means the power to enforce. The
state has the same power as the ma
ton, except that it cannot contravene
the Federal law
"Will you restate your views with
reference to changes in the primary
lsw?"
"As I said on the stump, favor the
convention system for state and Judi
Ciary nominations What 7 want i an
Improvement in the law. The present
law does not work satisfactorily
WITHOUT saying anything intended tc
be invidious, I think 1t may not DC
improper TO remark that 1t ls my con-
v'ction that the judiciary has appre-
ciably deteriorated under the prcsen,
so-called direct nominations. Mani
fcstly, the concrete reasons for nv
Improbable to discuss. but dcterora-
tion Of the judiciary is matter OF
Fundamental Importance.
Hopes to Better Conditions
"Believing that | am right in sizing
up the situation and the causes for the
deterioration, | am firmly Of the iudg.
tn ng to produce better results
want to better conditions and not allow
them to deteriorate. In any new pri
mary law care should be taken t.
avoid methods that might lead tc
siumping to corrupt control Of poll.
tics by sinister groups 1t might be
we'll to have a provision in the
changed law that Will facilitate an ap.
peal from the convention That is f
matter that | am openminded about. sc
long as we are united in a plan tc
make things better than they now are
whatever is of demonstrahe value ir
the present primary law should be re-
tanned, but it should not be retained