Albuquerque morning journal., 1922-12-19
COVE ERNORS AND
HARDING CONF Err
At WHITE HOUSE
Problems of Prohibition Are
Discussed informally; Vi
OIators May Get More Sc
we're Punishment

washington, Dec. 18.-Problems
of prohibition enforcement were
discussed informally today at a
White House conference between
President Harding, the federal de-
partmental chiefs directly interest
ed in the subject and the governors
OF IA states.
There was no statement from
the White House as to the result
Of the meeting, but is was indicat-
ed that the discussion revolved al
most entirely upon the question OF
how the several states could best
cooperate with the federal gov
ernment in executing the terms of
the prohibition amendment. j,
was indicated that another meet
ing of state executives might be
called early in the coming year al
which time the subject would be
Canvassed more thoroughly.
At the White House luncheon,
during the course cf which the
views of the guests were sought on
prohibition were, in edition to the
president, Vice President Coolidge,
Attorney General Daugherty, Sec
retary Mellon, Prohibition Com
missioner Haynes, Governors Cox.
Massachusetts,; Ritchie, Maryland;
Trinkle, Virginia; Hartness, Ner-
mont; McCray, Indiana; Kilby,
Alabama; Hyde. Missouri; Preuss,
Minnesota; Olcott, Oregon; Allen,
Kansas; Morgan, West Virginia;
McKelvie, Nebraska; Davis. Idaho,
and Campbell, Arizona,
RanOVfa TyppprIVa zinc
"In many cases." Commissioner
Haynes declared after the meet
ing, the reports of the governors
were of an encouraging nature.
Numerous instances of lack of CO.
operation were pointed out; many
instances of the inadeuuacy of fed
tral forces were suggested.
''There was q preponderance Of
opinion that an earnest official ap-
peal for reverence of the law and
q cordial support of law enforce
nent by the press would combine
TO cure the worst conditions re-
ported"
According to some Of those who
attended there was no suggestion
raised during the three-hour con-
ference which indicated belief that
the situation might be helped by
loosening the present stringent en-
forcement statute. To the con-
trary, it was said, the prevalent
opinion seemed to have been that
imposition of more severe fines
and prison terms on conviction for
violation would assist the enforce
ment officials in their work.
Governor Allen of Kansas said
tonight that the conference had in
dicated clearly that all the COVER
nors present whose states have en-
forcement laws were in direct SYM
pathy with rigid enforcement.
Governor Cox of Massachusetts,
one of the two states lying out
side of this classification, was
quoted as OF the opinion that
more money and more honorable
men" were necessary. Since the
law was on the statute books. he
held, 1t must be enforced.
Maryland Opposes Law
The majority of the people of
Maryland-the other state without
special enforcement laws-believe
that the Nolstead act Is impossible
OF enforcement In the state, ac-
cording to Governor Ritchie.
"Our people in the main regard
IL as an unnecessary and drastic
federal infringement Of their state
and personal rights" he declared
in a statement issued after the
conference and which was describ-
ed as setting forth the views he
had expressed to President Hard
ing.
THE lack of respect for law
and actual lawlessness which have
resulted is deplorable. The only
remedy I see is to recognize that
the Volstead law is destructive of
the rights of states and to turn
The whole question back to the
states, so that each nay settle it
in accordance with the will of its
own people"