The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-06-28


PEELED by necessity and lack of adj
ditional time to carry on as the
original plans for his stay requir-
| ed. These included a parade
through the city, greeting of
school children at the state house,
a formal address at the auditorium
and a visit to Cheyenne, WyO.,
later in the day, where another adj
dress was to be delivered.
Denver-President Harding served
notice in an address here today that
the federal government was determin-
ed to enforce the prohibition law,
even should the burden of enforce
ment continue to be increasingly
thrown upon it by the states.
Moreover, the executive voiced the
conviction not only that the prohibit
tion amendment will not be repealed,
but that whatever changes may be
| made in the Volstead act will repre-
sent the sincere purpose of effective
enforcement rather than moderation
of the general policy"
Striking straight out at those who
violate the law, the President said
the issue is fast coming to be reeog-
nized not as one between the "wets"
and "drys,' but as one of whether
the laws of "this country can be and
will be enforced" a
I $50 far as the federal government is
concerned p he said, "and am very
sure also, so far as concerns the very
great majority of the state govern
ments and the local governments, it
will be enforced. A gratifying, in
deed it may fairly be said, an amazing
progress has been made in the last
few years, toward better enforcement"
While Mr.. Harding made no direct
reference to the situation in New York
| state. he did say that "the spectacle"
tofsa state multiplying its own authority,
and asking the national sovereignty to
take over an important part Of its
powers, is new.n He added that "when
the implications of this strange pro-
posal are fully understood by people
and parties devoted to preserving the
rights of the states, the new nullifca-
! tionists, I venture to say, will dis
| is likely to prove one of the historic
blunders in political management"
The President disclosed that good
deal of testimony is reaching Wash
ington that some states having prohi-
bitien enforcement codes and even
some which successfully enforced "dry'
F.! laws before national prohibition are
disposed to abdicate their own police
authority in this matter and to turn
over the burden of prohibition en-
forcement to the federal authorities. "
Scores Stacker States.
"Doubtless,'' he said, "this is largely
due to a misconceived notion, too,
widely entertained, that the federal
government has actually taken over
the real responsibility. The fact is
quite the contrary. The federal gov
eminent is not equipped with the in
| strum entalities to make enforcement
locally effective. It does not maintain
either police or a judicial establish
ment adequate to or designed for such
a task. If the burden of enforcement
! shall continue to be increasingly
thrown upon the federal government,
| it will be necessary, at large expense,
to create a federal police authority
which in time will inevitably come to
| be regarded as an intrusion upon and
interference with the right of local
authority to manage local concerns.
The possibilities of disaster in such a
situation hardly need to be suggested.
Yet it is something that we must
recognize as among the menaees in
this situation.
"The federal government ought to
perform, in connection with the en-
forcement of this policy, those func-
tions which are obviously within it's
proper province. These are compli-
ance in all it's aspects as it relates to
| international commerce, the imorta-
tion and expectation of-liquors, the
collection Of federal revenue, the pre-
vention of smuggling, and in general
the enforcement of the law within the
proper realm of federal authority. But
the business of local enforcement, by
states and cities, ought to be in the
hands of the state and local authori-
ties, and it should be executed in all
sincerity and good faith, as other laws
are presumed to be executed.
No Relaxation by Federal Forces.
"What l am saying must not be con-
strued as indicating any relaxation of
the national governments purpose to
do its full duty in this matter. have
no doubt that If the burden is cast, in
undue proportion, upon the national
authority the federal government will,
not only under this administration
but under whatever others may come
in the future, assume and discharge
the full obligation. But am point
ing out that this ought not to be made
necessary. The national policy ought
to be supported by the public opinion
and the administrative machinery of
the whole country, For myself, l am
confident that we are passing now
through the most difficult stage Of this
matter. and that as time passes there
will be more and more willing ac-
eeptance by authorities everywhere Of
the unalterable obligation of law en-
foreement. The country and the ma
ton will not permit the law Of the
land to be made by-word
* Ii curious illustration Of loose