Evening star., 1922-11-17
PRESIDENTS VIEW
ON PROHIBITION
HAS NOT CHANGED
For Amendment and En-.
forcement, But Sees Is
sue More Acute.
VETS MAY TAKE FIGHT
BEFORE EXTRA SESSION
Country Stirred by Question of
Modifying the Vol
stead Law.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.


President Harding hasn't changed
MS views on the prohibition question.
lie voted, as a member OF the Sem
ate. for the eighteenth amendment.
and also for the volstead act. What
ever letters he has written before
and after the election discussing pro-
hibition in its relation to the vote
in eastern states were not intended
as a forecast of what he himself
might favor. but an Interpretation
OF what might be forthcoming In
Congre SIS and in the several states.
That's the position of the chief ex-
ecutive as it was outlined to this
correspondent today. Mr.. Harding
hasn't any idea of initiating any
change in the Volstead law by recon-
mendation to Congress. He has re-
ceived several letters from prominent
republicans in eastern states telling
him the wet sentiment must be reck-
oned with. Mr.. Harding has courte-
ously acknowledged these communl-
cations and has given it as his per-
sonal opinion that there was shift
ing of views going on in the country
today. He didn't attempt to say ~
what direction the shift would lead
concretely, but he did hint that he
thought 1t would be in the matter Of
regulation. namely. changes in the
Volstead law.
Speaking n Observer.
In this respect Mr.. Harding WAS
Simply availing himself of the SAN.
privilege of any observer in sizing
up what the last elections meant anG
what the effect would be on Congress
The President isn't saying what his
own views would be il Congress pu.
up to him to sign bill, which modi-
fed the Volstead act. He would have
to consider whether he believed the
modification was in direct violation OF
the eighteenth amendment or wheth-
er n merely removed some Of the OBJ
law without destroying the funda-
mental purpose of the prohibition
amendment.
There is every reason to believe Mr.
Harding's prognostications have not
gone any further than that. Signifi-
canoe nevertheless can be attached to
the fact that Mr.. Harding did write
some letters on the subject to party
associates, that he does believe til.
issue is So acute that it will not he
a shifting Of views among some
voters on the subject.
Even the most ardent champions of
prohibition will concede that there
has been a shifting of views" but
they will argue that it is incidental
to the discussion of so widespread
reform and that in many places the
reaction against prohibition was in
evitable because of the miserable at
tempts at law enforcement made by
those not in sympathy with the eight
eenth amendment.
Cause OF Resentment.
The growth of the "bootlegger" has.
of course. helped to stir up resent
ment. for there are people in the
country who think conditions are
much worse today than they were
in the old wet days. The prohibi-
tionists can marshal arguments show
ing that the morality of America is
better and that the damage which
prohibition used TO do has been ma
terially reduced, and some concrete
benefits given to the American house
hold. but that doesn't destroy the fact
that in popplous states. like Massa-
chusetts, NeN Jersey and New York.
prohibition was live issue this year
and that prominent republicans took
the wet end of the argument
Mr.. Harding is merely referring in
his letters to the movement for modi-
fication of the Volstead law and he
predicts II will come up for serious
consideration. He doesn't prophesy II
will be successful. Nobody can tell
what any Congress will do after the
Anti-Saloon League begins its man
to-mau canvas and holds senator's
and representatives to a strict &C.
Countab bility for their acts.
All that can be said now Is that the
reaction against prohibition in the
last elections has affected political
Washington and Mr.. Harding tells the
truth when he writes that 1t is a sub
ject not going to be ignored here. even
though he is unwilling to hazard an
opinion as to the outcome. OF one
thing the public can be certain. the
President will not engage in the fight,
but will maintain strict neutrality
waiting for Congress to express itself.
Whatever the Senate and House do
especially under republican control
will influence Mr.. Harding's course.
As to his own views, he. still stands
on his record, namely. enforcement of
the existing constitutional amendment
and enforcement of the laws now on
the statute books,
Copyright. 1877
INV rScYYE CAnSEC STTp