The New York herald., 1922-12-18
GOVERNORS LIKELY
TO DISCUSS LIQUOR
LAW MODIFICATION
White House Conference
To-day to Outline En-
forcement Plan.
SEEK 4 LATER FARLEY
President Will Make No
Suggestion, Merely Out
lining Facts.
VETS ARE MUCH CHEERED
Drys Indorse Meeting, but
Their Foes See Possibil-
ity of a Victory.
ARE MUCH CHEERED
Sssc.a, Dispatch TO TH1 Ngw YoIK E.EeALo.
New York herald bureau.

ssseai Dsspatea TO Tfs1 Nsw YoIK E.rsALo.
New York Herald Burcau.l
Washington. ID. c.. Dec. II.
Enforcement OF the Volstead proai-
bltion Law viii be the principal topic
OF discussion tomorrow wien Presi-
dent Harding entertains at luncheon
the Governors who will come here
from White Sulphur spr.ngs. but It
seems certain that possible modiica-
ton Of the law also will be informally
considered.
President Harding will make TO sug-
gestion regarding amendments TO the
Volstead law. nor propose any definite
program for improved enforcement
beyond urging on the Governors the
necessity OF cooperation with the Fed
cral Government if the Eighteenth
Amendment Is not TO become a dead
letter.
But out Q, this conference there
may come a plan for another confer
ence OF Governors. including those
who will take Office on January l.
= mt Will Dc SSiy Wy W eHo wv
ernors themselves and depend on steps
which they may desire to take 10
bring about the cooperation which
President Harding desires.
states Must Help.
The President Is more thoroughly con-
vinced than eve- that Without greater
help from The States the Eighteenth
Amendment vii, continue to be as IN
effective as {; is to-day. he will out
row and ask FOR aid. The nature OF
that aid must be decided by the Gov
ernors and Stste Legislatures.
But IL may bs Impossible 10 consitier
this question without a suggestion being
brought forward by some OF the Gov
erno-s that the present law be amended
SO as to make II less drastic. and con-
scquently more easily enforceable. The
question whe<her any amount OF CO.
operation between Federal and State
governments can bring enforcement OF
the far reaching provisions OF the pyes-
ent statute Is bound to come up.
While the dry leaders have indorsed
the White House conference because It's
purpose iS more rigid enforcement. II !s
significant that the vets are especially
chee-ed by II on the theory that II will
disclose an inipossihiity OF endorsement
and may lead 20 modification.
sees Law's Collapse.
Capt. ". n. Strayton. executive head
of the Association Against Prohibition
In statement Issued tonight said:
I'VE quite agree that I. is high time
To call n the Governors. because II Is
the Federal Law which has broken down.
Before the Eighteenth Amendment most
of the States had their individual pro-
hibition laws. which were enforced duly
without scandal. The orgy OF crime
and disrespect for law was not known
IN that time. The evidence of adequate
enforcement then and Inadequate en-
eorcement now, although the facts are
OF common knowledge. may be found IN
the comparative crime statistics. 20
which allusion has been made.
''rrh,s must perforce come out In the
course OF tho informal conference ahead.
and we hope Il may have the effect OF
pointing to the Inevitable adoption Of
the plan OF our organization Of turning
che entire matter OF enforcement back
70 tho Governors and the States, where
II belongs"