Evening star., 1922-12-08
While the Law Remains Effective
It Must Be Fully Enforced.

The various statements dealing
with the seeming failure of prohibi-
ton. ranging from that of President
Harding of the danger in disregard
ing the law to the assault on nom
enforcement by Mai. Reed. the junior
senator from Pennsylvania. have
aroused general comment on the situ-
alton. It seems to be agreed by edi-
tors-those who favor as well as those
who oppose the Volstead law-that so
long as it is on the statute books it
ought to be enforced. Many believe
its repeal would be good thing.
Others place the blame for failure on
favoritism in appointing enforcement
agents.
"It requires a force of only 275 to
enforce the narcotic laws" says the
Baltimore Sun (democratic). but ito
enforce the Volstead act the govern
ment employs a force of a.225. But
that act, alas. Is not enforced" The
Christian Science Monitor Gndepend-
en) insists that President Harding
knows that he. and he alone. will be
that complete enforcement will be
Of an advantage to him and to his
party that none can overestimate."
The present system holds neither
sense nor honor" the New York Globe
independently argues, and inasmuch
viewing with alarm and appealing to
the people, the administration will do
well to mediate upon its own re-
sronsibility." This Is also the opinion
Of the Scranton Times (democratic), },
which holds that 'the trouble is in
the method of appointing enforce
ment officers. Many of these are un-
suited in their jobs and entirely out
Of sympathy with their work" There
should be cooperation from the pub
Press (republican) is convinced. be
cause when the cabinet recognizes
q situation Of such gravity 1t Is de-
scribed as 'deplorable' 1t Is about time
for Mr. John r. Public to ask himself
xhether he is really being as good a
oors believe" In this very connec-
don. however. the Philadelphia Pub
lie Ledger independent republican,
suggests that some people are dis
posed to wonder now whether the
most serious aspects Of the situation
not due to the overzealousness of the
supporters Of too drastic regulation"
If the law is the will Of the ma
5ority of the people in tho several
6tate0, the FnliaQeipnla 6ulloIlH \in- =
dependency holds, .it must be capable
of enforcement and must be enforced;
else our theory of democratic gov
ernment is at fault and Its failure
Is confessed. The mask of hypocrisy
must be thrown off off and profession
confession made of disfavor." The
New York World (democrat), taking
a somewhat similar view, is convinced
that the difficulty. is not. with the
with the law itself: So long as the
Volstead act remains as it is. dis
regard for at least one article in
the federal code will be- as natural
for most people as breathing, and
the corruption Of a large percentage
evitably as night after day." Local
influence may be the solution, how
ever, in the opinion Of tho South
Bend Tribune (independenp; which
dnfy no that ne ea d1
foroement oan stand" And the Pitts
burgh Leader !progressive repub,;;
ltcan) suggests that only fool will
claim the volstead law is enforced
forced is another angle. Enforcement
has never been tried. The thing to
be decided is whether we shall make
u really AAOIIcoL CAOAI " ChAOtoS "a
to begin plans for modification or
possibly repeal" In this connection
the Chicago News (independent) in
eisto that 'ScandalouS inefhctency due
to the spoils system of appointments
has added much 10 the amazingly bad
record Of the enforcement service"
There 10 a possibility. the Detroit
FREQ Press Independently says. that
- calm, dispes1ionato. uncolored pto-
ture Of conditions from an authorita-
tiva source may serve to shock the
people Of the United States into some
sort Of healthful realization Of the
sin they are committing against
themselves in becoming q nation Of
rebels against law, and not against
law handed down to them from
others, but against law they them
selves have ordered or male." In
dorsing this line Of argument the
Binghamton Press (independenD in
sists that "a given law may be good
or bad. but lazy that is not enforced
against all alike is always bad"
Still the Chicago Tribune (repub-
lican) holds that Lawmakers must
have some respect for law them
selves It must not violate funda-
mental principles That 10 tho be-
ginning Of trouble"
The Norfolk LedFer-Dispatch tin..
dependent democratfc) thinks that II
the President wants 70 bring about
"rsspect for prohibition he viii use