The New York herald., 1922-10-16

scare into the dry 1OrceS.
Many Of those who helped enact the
Volstead act fear that the moment
modification along one line is sug-
gested the entire law will be thrown
into the legislative caldron and they
are preparing to forestall action of any
kind by the President.
Drys to See Presidknt.
A backfire on the White House has
already started and within the next
few days dry leaders will seek confer
the suggestion, forthcoming after last
Tuesdays Cabinet meeting. that the
Daugherty ruling, il applied to foreign
ships. would be disastrous to the trade
Edwin c. Dnwiddie. head of the Ma
tional Temperance Board who for many
years acted as legislative agent of the
Anti-Saloon League. told THE New YORK
President to discuss the enforcement
situation and more particularly to ascer-
tain what is proposed to be done in re-
gard to modification.
1t was Indicated that the dry vanguard
would go into action Immediately and
that the question of modification would
be made an issue in the campaign. to
be marshaled with the other issues that
are causing trouble in the Republican
party The drys wish TO obtain some
kind of statement from the White House
that will be reassuring from their stand
point.
There will be no letting down OF the
bars" said Mr.. Dinwiddie. Any sug-
gestions that notifications OF the Vol
stead act can be sedired which will mill
tate against enforcement of the law are
futile. 1t simply cannot be done. What
Is more. l do not believe the President
would ask for any modification that
would have a vital effect"
Mr.. Dinwiddie and other dry leaders
do not object so much to a modification
so far as the insular possessions are
concerned. but they would much rather
Sc this accomplished In any other way
than through modification Of the Vol
stead act. What they fear g not for
eign vessel with liquor touching at Porto
Rico or Manila. but bringing the ques-
tion of modification before Congress.
Once the doors are opened they feel there
Is no assurance as to what may happen.
Dry leaders in the Senate and House
are not favorably disposed toward sug-
gestion OF modification at the request
OF the President. All their influence will
be thrown into the scale with the
leaders.
Problem Em harnesses OmcinIs.
The entire question Of foreign ships
entering American ports with liquor pre-
sents a nightmare to officials OF the Gov
ernment That the storm from foreign
countries is about to break is taken for
granted and the Administration is merely
awaiting It. From President Harding
down the feeling Of responsible officials
Is that whatever the Supreme Court de-
creed or whatever the intent Of the
Daugherty ruling. the restrictions placed
on ships OF other nations that have COM
merclal treaties with the United states.
that have national laws OF their own
which apply to the crews of vessels in
all ports, puts this country In one Of
the most baffiing tangles in its history.
What the Administration would de-
sire accomplished Is some modification
Of the law that would relieve 1t from
these entanslements with foreign govern
ments. This could not be accomplished
by letting down of the regulation re-
gardlng insular possessions.
II would be necessary to amend the
volstead act so as to permit regula-
tions that would enable foreign vessels,
with proper precautions against abuse
to have liquor on board on entering the
ports OF the United States.
In mentioning the nsular possessions
there was merely presented the thin
end of the well known wedge, but In
view of the fact that II is taken for
granted that the Supreme Court Will
maintain its former stand and sustain
che Attorney General, the Adminlstra-
tion realizes that sooner or later Con-
gress must be asked to consider the
volstead act as It affects foreign ma
tions.
II Is hoped that Secretary of the
Treasury Mellon. who promises to apply
the rule OF reason7 to the situation.
may so affect the framing OF reg,la-
tions as to safeguard the Government
from the rule which Prohibition Com
missioner Haynes and others would ap-
ply.
At the same time, however, Secretary
Mellon must put the ruling into effect
IN its general intent, and while he can
save foreign vessels from petty annoy
ances and half baked doctrines OF CON