The Bienville Democrat. [volume] (Arcadia, Bienville Parish, La.) 1912-1980, 1922-12-21

d.,
Parker, OF this State, declared proh'-
bt;on was flat failure and denounc-
ed the Ku Klux Khan. He was joined
in his attack on the secret organlza-
ton by Governor Olcott of Oregon
who referred to the khan in an address
tonight as a national menace. 80
states daily press report.
The report states further that Gov
ernor Parker declared that prohibition
was almost a farce, (ALMOSl) he
said, il was infinitely better to abolish
the saloon, permit light wines and beer
TO be sold and have the government
regulate the manufacture and dIStrlbu-
ton OF liquor with penitentlary SEN
fences Tor those who dehed clear and
explicit liquor laws.
Governor Parker goes on to say
that he referred to the subject OF pro-
hibition, because OF the intention OF
President Harding to call the COVER
nors +, conference next month "regart-
;na the matter Of prohibition enforce
mens."
Governor Parker had to hurry OFT
home and he didn't get to confer with
the president, but fourteen other state
executives did, and here is the report
Of the conference as it appeared in
the daily press:
Washington, Dec. l9.-Ceneral en-
couragement as to the prospects OF
meeting present prohibition enforce
ment problems through closer coop
Grafton between the federal and state
authorizes and an earnest appeal tor
reverence of the law, was felt today
BY administration officials as a result
Of President Harding's conference or
the subject with state governors.
Among the fourteen state executive:
who discussed the subject informall,
with the president and administration
officials directly interested at white
house luncheon conference yesterday
there appeared to be an almost unan'
nous opinion that the way to improve
ment in the enforcement situation Ia.
NOT in relaxation Of the present en-
iorcement statute, but rather in NOR
rigid execution Of its terms. Nor
severe fines and prison sentences to
violations, it was said to have bee
held, assist prohibition officials in the
work, while more careful selection
prohibition personnel and education
the public to the necessity Of law re,
erence were among other "informa
suggestions made. ....s
In a statement after the confel
ence, Prohibition Commissions
Haynes said in many instances the IT
ports OF the governors were Of a
encouraging nature" Indications tt
day were that another conference
governors might be called early in I'll
new year for thorough discussion {
the subject.-Shreveport Journal.
From this article it appears tn;
there are other governors who are nj
OF the same opinion as Parker.
We do not agree with the governt
that the prohibition law is failure
However, il il is a failure in Loui
lana, what other executive could |
more responsible for its failure tina
the governor? Isn't he the chi
executive Of the state, sworn to upho
and support the constitution Of Il
United States and the sovereign Sta
Of Louisiana. Isn't il within his pow
to conduct Investigations where he HI
reason to believe that the law is n
being enforced?
The 18th Amendment makes it
violation Of the Federal law to 81
intoxicating liquors. The Hood A
makes il violation Of the State Ia
to self intoxicating liquors, then WI
don't Governor Parker use his authori
to enforce the law-the prohibiti'
law just the same as any other law?
No, he hasn't time. After the fe
eral government and practically
state governments have investigat
the Ku Klux Khan, and found nothi
in its organization contrary to the co
stitution Of the United States or t
state laws, he can, though, spend
time and energy in an effort to u
mask these hooded beings who cla
themselves citizens OF the Envisit
Empire.
This privilege we wilfully grant t
governor. but why can't he conduct
investigation Of the alleged violatio
OF the prohibition act which is already
state and federal law?
Let the governor take the law {
forcement officers Of the State Of Lo
isiana and start out to run down t
whiskey peddlers and manufacture
and il would only be q short ii,
Until prohibition in Louisiana wo,
BE . ROWLING success.
1.-THE prohibition law is a failure, tn
the law fixing penalty for the crit
Of murder is failure, and all 9th