New-York tribune., 1922-12-25
The Lantern
I.,. H.r. q R..l show.Down
a., - 20 80, b.. lIii

We are not mistakcn-wants ffesl-
dent Harding, the Vice-President
and the governors Of the states 70
take an oath publicly that they will
never touch a drop Of liquor. Presl-
dent Harding and q number OF the
governors have conferred on the
prohibition enforcement situation
and their decision that the laws
must be drastically enforced VIII
amount to nothing at all Mr.. up
shaw points out, unless they them
selyes arc-or are willing TO become
from now on-total abstaincrs.
Mr. Upshaw's speech in the
House Of Representatives is worth
quoting:
If the situation Is that serious
r. the President Is right when he
declares that conditions 'savor Of a
nationwide scandal - then God
knows that that conference OF our
President and our governors ought
10 leave no stone unturncd to make
that exceptional round table a prac-
tical and national blessing.
"But we might as well be plain
about 1.-THE plain people are justly
skeptical Of many Of these high Off
cials. They laugh at their high
sounding prcuuuciamcntos because
they doubt their sincerity.
"Thc people believe that many Of
these high officials believe in that
hifalutin autocracy which claims
tho privilege Of buying and drink
ing Illicit liquors themselves while
denying that privilege TO the poor
devils down among the masses who
arc foolish enough 70 want the op-
portunity to buy and drink Illicit
liquor damnation.
"If these governors who put their
feet under the Presidents mahogany
at the White House really wish TO
get anywhere in their conference
FOR law enforcement let them re-
member what the beloved and i'm
mortal Sam Jones said: ~ YOU
want 10 reform the world begin on
yourself, and then you viii have one
rascal out Of the way
LET these governors, led by the
President and Yice-President Of the
United States, and all the members
OF the Cabinet walk out in the open
and lift their hands before high
heaven and take n new oath Of nj
lcgiance 20 the whole Constitution.
"Let them sacrediy declare that,
regardless Of what their tastes and
practices have been, they will never
again build up a bootlegger's bar
barous business By drinking any
form or any amount Of Illicit liquors
at any dinner, at any function or
in any ballroom or any back alley.
"And let these officials be followed
by society leaders who have count
ed i. emor. IL serve illicit cocktails
20 dinner guests; remember that
every such deed is more than slack
erism' in the presence Of a common
foe
This gets right down to the roots
Of the matter.
Does the President ever take a
drink, and IL so where and how
does he get the liquor7
This is not an impertinent ques-
tion.
In view Of the situation created
in America by the constitutional
amendment, its violation, the efforts
to enforce It. and the Presidents ap-
peal for enforcement, It is the most
pertinent question possible.
We are not picking on Mr.. Hard,
Ing alone.
Every official Of any sort who is
connected with the enforcement of
tho laws in any capaeity-governOrs,
judges, mayors, Congressman, legis-
lators, police chiefs. revenue officers
all officials Of all sorts from the
President Of the United States on
down to the humblest cog In the
official machinery, must be an hbso-
Lutte teetotaler in his personal and
private life II he wishes the other
citizens Of the country to respect
tho amendment and the Volstead
act.
Is Il personal and private mat
ter with these officials?
Of course 1t is. And so IL Is with
all the rest Of US. The most per-
sonRl thing IN the world.
II they urge total abstinence on
the rest Of US and use the ma
chinery Of the law to enforce It the