The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1923-05-18
HARDING FOUR SQUARE
FOR DRY enforcement
So Says David Lawrence, Well
known Washington Newspa-
per Correspondent
DEFENDS HIS COURS Sc
Situation In Democratic Camp
Not so Clear. Wet Leaders Hope
To Pull Party Into Wet Camp

L
ter his campaign for denomination and
reelection 100 per cent dry.
Mr.. Lawrence points TO the fact
that the President, in deciding to keep
American ships dry wherever they
, float notwithstanding the recent Su
preme Court decision, is evidence that
he is determined TO take no middle
ground. He could have granted the
vets a point by taking the position
that Congress alone could bring about
modification of the existing situation.
But the President feels that in adopt
Ing the Eighteenth Amendment, the
country is committed to the dry side,
and that il is his duty to carry out
the spirit az we'll as the letter of the
Federal Constitution. In fact his oath
does not permit him to take any other
course.
In 1920, as Mr.. Lawrence says, Mr..
Harding declared for law enforcement
in a general way. 1t was an incidental
issue in his campaign. Now, however,
It is different. His administration has
had to do with the enforcement OF
the dry law. He must defend this &C
ton of his administration, as we'll as
every other, He must stand by his
record of enforcement, and declare
that he will continue to champion the
dry law through the power of the
governments
Will Accept Challenge.
Mr.. Lawrence believes Mr.. Harding
will accept the challenge of the wet
interests in whatever form it may be
offered, and that he will make his
campaign next year as a defender of
prohibition and its rigid enforcement.
Observers will agree with Mr.. Law
renee that this is the only course Mr..
Harding can take, regardless of what
his personal felngs may be in the
matter, The President has helped and
not retarded the operation of the Fed
eral dry enforcement unit. Quite nat
urally he wants enforcement to be as
successful as possible, because the
better the dry law is enforced, the
greater the credit which will go to the
administration.
"All doubt about Mr.. Harding's at
: titude is removed says Mr. Law
renee, "He is absolutely committed to
the dry side, and will not waver." t,.
Will Not Please All.
This position will not please some
Republican politicians, for there are
wet as we'll as dry Republicans, as
there are wet as we'll as dry Demo
Gratis. The wet Republicans will not
like the situation They will counsel
and attempt to straddle the question
in order to win votes from both sides.
But the die is cast so far as President
Harding is concerned. AS defender
of the Constitution and of his admin
istration. he cannot take any other
course, and his party must stand back
of him, or seek another candidate.
The situation is not so clear in re-
gard to the attitude of the Democratic
party Its leaders arc divided. The
Bryan wing knows a wet declaration
/, or wet candidate spells defeat. On
the other hand, there are many leaders
in that party who are determined to
swing it to the wet side. There is
powerful cotcrie of wet Democrats
in Congress and out OF Congress, and
such men as Governor Smith, of New
SYork, Norman F. Mack, Tom Tag
lgart, and score of others who be-
lieve that in order to win, Democracy
must be branded as the whisky party.
The action of the New York legis-
1ature in repeating the dry enforce
ment code of that state is significant
when taken in connection with the
probable candidacy of Governor Smith
for the Presidency. His repeal bill was
introduced and backed by the Dem
ocrats in that body, and yet these wet
Democratic leaders are afraid of the
voters, and even should they control
their party conventions, it is not prob
able there would be a straight-out dec
! laration for beer. but rather as sug-
gested by Norman f. Mack, a plank
inserted for state option on the al
coholic content of liquor. This in eff
feet would mean the attempted multi
'hcation of the Eighteenth Amend
ment and a death blow to dry enforce
n1ent.
But there are many Democratic
leaders who are determined to have
their party stand for the maximum of
enforcement of the present dry law,
as any of the Republican leaders. They
know the temper of the people, and
that dry sentiment is growing stronger
as the benefits of prohibition are bet
ter realized. They know that the wo-
men have the ballot, and that the party
which does not ring true on the dry
H.. l.