The New York herald., 1922-12-19
GOVERNORS PLEDGE
DRY Aid TO HARDING
Suggest No Program, How
ever, to Get Full En-
fOrcement.
RITCHIE URGES REPEAL
Maryland Executive Alone
Of II Attacks Vol
stead Act.
sTERNER ACTION NEEDED
This Is Seen Best Course by
Most Of White House
Luncheon Guests.
STERNER ACTION NEEDED
Special Dispatch TO THE NEW YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau,
Washington, ID. O., Dec. IS.

Special Dispatch to THE NEW YORK HEaALp o.
New York Herald Bureau
Washington, ID. g.. Dec. is.
President Harding, in comforting to-
day with the Governors of fourteen
States on the danger to American in
stitutions through lack of respect for
law engendered by the failure to make
the Volstead act effective, asked each
Governor for n frank statement o.
conditions in his State as well as his
own views. With one exception. the
Governors stood. by the Volstead act
and advocated campaign to improve
the situation under the law as it
exists.
Gov Ritchie' of Maryland attacked
the Volstead law as unenforceable and
uncomfortable and suggested that it be
scrapped and the entire problem turned
back to the States for settlement as
the only means to q. solution.
Several Governors pictured conditions
as very bad. but a majority said condi-
tions in their States were good and that
enforcement was progressing.
No outstanding program or sugges-
tion of policy by which full enforcement
Eould be attained was advanced but sew
eral Governors suggested more severe
sentences and a larger enforcement or
ganization.
Liberal Sentiment Growing.
Several laid great emphasis upon the
statement that there was a growing
liberal sentiment in their states
The conference, an Informal one at
white House luncheon, was regarded aG
\ forerunner for a formal meeting for
the same purpose which the President
contemplated calling in January. That
he has not fully determined to do so
was indicated when he told Ills guests
to-day he might call. such conference.
When the luncheon was over the Pres.
ident rose and tcld his guests he had
asked for discussion because of tha
deitge Of reports that the Volstead act
was not being enforced and because he
saw in widespread, disregard for the law
great danger to America. He called
on each Governor for statement. start.
ing with Gov. Cox of Massachusetts,
seated at his right, and calling on each
in turn around the table. Prohibition
Commissioner Haynes was then called
upon for his views. Secretary Mellon
Attorney General Daugherty and Vice.
president Coolidge, who sat opposite the
President. were not called on. az.
All but two of the States represented
Maryland and Massachusetts, are nota-
bly, dry. The Governors attending were
Cox, Massachusetts, Ritchie, Maryland !:
Trinkle. Virginia; Harknss. Vermont !:
McCray. Indiana: Kilby, Alabama
Hyde, Missouri; Preus. Minnesota Oh
colt, Oregon; Allen. Kansas: Morgan.
West Virginia. McKelvie, Nebraska :
Davis, Idaho, and Campbell. Arizona.
In one or two instances the President
asked questions of the speakers. When
they were through he thanked them
ana said he expected them to regard
the proceeding as confidential, except
that each Governor should feel free To
make public. If he wished, his own views
as expressed to the gathering.
GOV. Ritchie issued the only formal
statement. 1t follows:
> THE great majority Of people OF