Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-11-25
HARDING FEARS DRY
Law WILL COLLAPSE
Tells Cabinet He Would Rally
People Back to Respect
for Statutes.


complete breakdown Of liquor law en-
forcemen,. bringing with II a con-
temp, for all law and, gravei stu. q
lack II full measured respect FOR
American institutions. Is giving grave
concern 10 President Harding and
other Admln.stra. ION leaders.
The entire Cabinet session yester-
day was given to consideration OF the
failure TO make the country meas
urably dry. After Ions consideration
tho Cabinet concluded that the peo-
pie were 10 he held accountable for
the failure rather than the law.
An ofhcial statement TO the above
effect. made after the Cabinet meet
Ing. caused sensation. as IL was so
much In contrast with official an
nounecments for months by Prohi-
bltlon Commissioner Haynes.
The Haynes announcements in
every Instance have claimed a grow
irr respect for the law, an increased
sentiment for law enforcement and n
general tightening up on the liquor
traffic. Their extravaga1ce II indi-
Gated by the concern fol; by the Presi-
N'MA AAN AA~ NlAAtAds
In fact. while the Cabinet was IN
session Mr.. Haynes issued a series Of
official announcements quoting State
directors as showing vast improve
mcnt I'm law enforcement in nearly n
score of States.
The Cabinet discussed mcans of
. strengthening law enforcement and
encouraging regard for the prohibition
laws and the Eighteenth Amendment.
Il decided some form OF appeal TO the
people was necessary. Some Ad-
mlnlslration leaders are preparing TO
stigmatizo those citizens. upright in
every other way, who through ind!f-
fcrcnce. lack Of undcrs landing or
otherwise. are aiding a situation which
threatens cvll FOR the country.
Tho President is not considering
any change In the prohibition laws.
ilc VIII recommend no changes 10
Congress and make no suggestions re-
Eardirg the attempts TO be made in
tongrcss 10 bring modification and
liberalization of the law. lie is no;
the least dissatisfied with Commits
s.oner Haynes.
The Administration has no COM
piaiul 90 make of lack OF cooperation
By other nations to prevent snug
sling. II is frankly stated, however.
that no great cooperation has been
brought O. the notice of high officials.
Tho problem Is regarded as one for
This country TO solve virtually alone.
In undertaking 10 st.ffon the moral
pic Administration leaders Will SO
after "boOzo holsters" a. well as boot
lcsgcrs.
% had been regarded as probable
that the President would recommend
amendment Of the voistead act 10 PER-
NIT foreign ships 10 carry liquor
stores into American ports. This
seems doubtful after the stand ;aker
by the Cabinet yesterday. Not al
tho oficlal family are ardent drys
Tho policy % he pursued has beer
made plain however. The Admins
tration is 20 support the law as
written and VIII not offer or support
any changes.
Not until now Gid Il become known
that the Administration was Sravely
concerned. not merely over prohibition
enforcement difficulties but even more
concerned over a prevailing and az
increasing degree OF dlsrespect fol
law on the part % people who before
prohibition days would have revol;et
violently against lawlessness as ap-
piled O. themselves
President Harding let u be know
that at some future date ne woul
reveal the facts no matter how IN
fortunate they might be or how seTl
ole reelection they might prove {
b. upon the people al large. II Wa
intlwated that this might be done a
"a part 20 an appeal from the Preslden
Tor law Observance.
From the White Hcuse comment thi
afternoon the President = actual
fearful that prohibition lawlessness
undermining the moral sense OF
great body % the American peopl-
and set he seems convinced that ther
- conscience left In this country an
dove % O vornment. law and orde
4 those innate things are properl
and effectively aroused
some cure FOR the evils that hav
rr1wn ur mus, - found. the Preeider
believes. and he believes. further. ths
10 can - found. What tina; renled
may be. however. ls-yet TO be disco,
cred. Drastic enforcement of an ur
popular Law j. not enough. in h
judgment That hae been tried and
bsing tried stlll. but !; has failed
overcome existing evils.