The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-11-18
Mr.. Harding's
Dryness Is
Not Shaken
BY DAVID LAwKSNC1
Copyright by Tho lntsll!gences)

Washington, Nov. -. - PRESIDENT
Harding hasn't changed his views on
the prohibition question. He voted as
a member os the senate for the e'gh-
ceeath amendment and also for the No'-
stcsd act. Whatever letters he has
written before and after the election
discussing prohibition In It's relation
% the vote n eastern states was not
intended as a forecast OF what he him
se'S might favor. bu; an Interpretation
OF what might DC forthcoming in con-
greSS and in Tho several states.
That's the position OF The chief eSecu-
,'ve as q, was outlined 20 this cores
ponGeo. today. Mr.. Harding hasn't any
idea o. initiating any Change N the No!-
stead law BY recommendation 10 con-
greSA He has received several letters
from prominent Republicans n eastern
states telling him the wet sentiment
must be reckored with. Mr.. Harding
a ~courteously acknowledged these
communications and has given it as his
personal opinion that there was a shift
Ing OF views going or IN the country
today. He didn't attempt 20 say IN
what direction the shift would lead
concretely. but be did hint that he
thought u would DO in the matter ~
regulation, namely Changes IN the NoI-
stead law.
IN this respect Mr.. Harding was SIM
ply awaiting himself or the same privtl-
eye OF any other voter IN sizing up
what the last election meant and
ths effect would be On congress. The
president isn't saying what his own
views would be - congress ru, up 70
him 20 sign a bill which modified the
volstead act. He would have 20 CON-
slider whether ne believed the modifi-
cation was IN direct violation OF the
eighteenth amendment or whether II
merely removed some ~ the obnoxious
features OF the enforcement law with
out destroying the fundamental purpose
OF the prohibition amendment.
Secs shtftng'of Views.
There is every reason to believe Mr..
Harding's proguosticat!ons have not
gone any further thar that. S.Snifi-
canoe. nevertheless. can es attached TO
.he fact that Mr.. Harding did write
some letters on the subject 20 party as
soc!ates. ;ha he does believe the is
sue IS so acute that Il will not be aoan-
dcned and that there has hesn a shift
Ing OF views among some voters On the
subject.
Enforcement Attacked.
Even tho most ardent champions ot
prohibition Will concede that there has
been a shifting OF views" but they.
will argue that Il is incidental 10, the
discussion OF SO widespread a reform
and that In many places the reaction
Against prohibition WAS inevitable be-
cause OF the miserable attempts at law
enforcement made by those not in SYM
PATTY with tho eighteenth amendment.
The growth o. tho "~bootlegger' has. OF
course, helped 10 stir up rcsentmcu.
for there ara people in the country who
think conditions are much worse today
than they were In tho old wet" days.
The prohibttionlsts can marshal argu-
ments how!us that the morality OF
America ia better and that tho damage
which prohibition used 20 do has been
materially reduccd and some concrete
benefits given TO tho American house
hold. but that does0', destroy tho fact
tina, 10 populouS states ,ika MaSsachu-
sets. New Jersey aud New York pro
hio'cion was a 1.-Two ISSUE This year aud
tina, prominent Republicans took the
We; end - the argument
Mr.. Harding IS mere rN:"tr'ns N
hts letters ~ tire movement Hcr the
notification OF tho Vcls;.dd iav. ann
10 predicts IL will corne up for serious
consideration He doesn't proPhesy Il
viii : successful NobOd" AN tell
what congress will do arrHr no
tr:.-Sar> league begins It's man to
MAJ FdNNS atN NOtlS S'IiLi'lS dhb
representative. % a strict accountable
;cy for their acts.
President on side Lines.
All that can pc said now - tina, the
reaction aga'ns' prohibition IN tho last
elections has affected political Wash
,ng;on, n Mr.. Harding tells the truth
when he writes that 3; IS Il subject no:
going 10 Re ignored hnre. even though
he Is unwilling 20 hazard An opinion %
% the outcome Os ono thing tho pub
lie can bs certain. the president viii
rot engage IN ~" figNr. hu. will main
:ain strict neutrality. waiting Tor CON
gress TO express itself. Whatever the
senate and housA do. especially under
Republican c~oa'vol. WI! Influence Mr..
Harding's course As % his own views.
he still stands 81 his record. na,ne-s
enforcement OF ~ existing C"astitu-
tioua. amendment aud enforcement OF
-.