Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1922-12-22
STANDS FIRMLY FOR
.4 PROHIBITORY LAW
Governor Hartness Expresses
Views to President Harding
Attends Conference of Governors, Says
Vermont Needs More Enforcement Of
ficers, Pledges States Support.

Col. Ernest w. Gibson secretary of
civil and military affairs, reached his
home Tuesday noon from Washington.
where, he. went with Coy. James Hart
ness Monday, following the conference
of governors at White Sulphur Springs
President Harding having called the
governors of various sections of the
country into conference with him over
the situation as to the enforcement of
the Volstead act in their respective
states. Governors were present from
Oregon, Idaho, Minnesota, Indiana. Ari-
zona Alabama, Massachusetts, Mary
land, West Virginia and some other
states, also Attorney General Daughcrty,
Prohibition Director Haynes, Vice Pres
dent Coolidge, and Secretary of the
Treasury Mellon.
Following a luncheon at 100 the
President outlined the condition con-
fronting the nation and the different
propositions with which the officials
have to deal and called on the different
governors for a statement as to the sit
uation in their states and their views in
regard to the enforcement of the Vol
stead act.
Governor Hartness stood squarely for
the enforcement of the law and pledged
the full cooperation of Vermont to that
end, but he made it plain that by reason
of the geographical location of Vermont
next to the Canadian border the number
of enforcement officers was far too small.
After one governor had said that no
attempt was made in his state to enforce
the law as to light wines and home brew
President Harding asked the other gov
ernors to indicate what was being done
with respect to those liquors in their
states. A large ajority indicated that
an attempt was being made to enforce
the law literally.
~
as adjoining the wet province of Que
bee and said that by reason of the To-
cation of the state rum-runners were
using the highways for illegal transpor-
tation for this and other New England
states. He said the professional rum
runners We're well organized and daring
in their work, making it difficult to en-
force the law as it ought to be enforced
He stated further that this state was
free from some of the difficulties expert
enced in other states, by reason of the
fact that there was no great foreign ele-
ment here.
He told the President that during the
time Vermont was under local option the
liquor dealers apparently were more
afraid of the revenue officers. who OK
acted the government tax on dealers
than they were of local officers and that
much the same condition exists now. VIC.
lators being more afraid of the federal
officers than they are of local officers
He pointed out that while Vermont Is
making progress and the situation IL
fairly we'll in hand yet by reason of be
ing on the shortest route from, the PROV
ince of Quebec to New England thai
state has very grave problems of enforce
ment to deal with. also that the SINAI
number of enforcement and revenue 9th
GERS were unequal to cope with the SIT
uation We need more enforcement DIN
GERS in all branches, he said, and speed
ing up of enforcement work.
The governor said he believed, how
ever that Vermont was making prog
ress. and he used as an illustration the
stopping of fast-moving train by {
quick application of the brakes. Inc
train does not stop Immediately, he said
and added that the momentum of custom
was as real as the momentum OF Ma
ture. He expressed the opinion that the
initiative of the President, followed by
the action of the governors, would brins
new life into the enforcement of thu
law, and he pledged the full cooperation
of the state of Vermont.