The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-06-10
EACH SIDE WOULD
DELAY HARDINGS
DRY CONFERENCE
Presence Of AL Smith At Gov
ernor'S Farley Might
- Cause Trouble
by THOMAS l.. STOKES
deased Wire to The Age-HernId.

WASHINGTON, June 9-Presiden,
Harding will decide early next week
whether to call conference of gov
errors on prohibition enforcement
before he leaves for Alaska. June 20
1t appears unlikely now that the
conference will be held this summer,
and it is regarded here as very for
t, nate for all concerned that several
governors are SO tied up with state
affairs that postponement is practi-
cally certain.
situation that might embarrass
both the President and some of the
governors at this particular time
will thus be avoided Governor Al
Smith of New York likely would at
tend, and some of the words that
might be spoken about upholding the
law would probably throw strained
atmosphere over the whole proceed
ii eff actual charge and counter
charge did not result.
o 0 O
Afraid OF Opinions.
Other governors might express in
harmonious opinions. No state en-
fcrcement acts had been repealed
when the last, mild conference on
prohibition enforcement was held a:
the White House, and yet Governor
Richie of Maryland stood up after
the luncheon and boldly proclaimed
that prohibition was matter for
each state to decide for itself. In Il
polite statement issued after the
meeting by Prohibition Commissioners
Haynes. it was stated that every
thing had gone off smoothly.
With the prohibition issue thrown
arnll mt n
both parties now scouting the coun-
try to determine just where they will
stand on the troublesome question,
it Is considered fortunate that demo
cratic and republican governors
probably will not have to sit down to
a conference just at this time. Pres
ident Harding and other leaders are
hopeful that the situation will be a
little more clearly defined by next
fall. BY that time other states may
have followed the lead of New York
in repeating its state dry act and
made it drawn issue. or general
upheaval the other way may have
taken place.
SEVERAL DRY PROBLEMS
President Harding and government
officials have several prohibition
problems before them now. Protests
from foreign governments on the
drastic ship liquor ruilng stare men
acingly up at Secretary of State
Hughes. The problem of enforcing
the law in New York, since the re-
peal of the state enforcement act. as
well as similar difficulties which
might follow like action in other
states, is worrying Commissioner
Haynes, and conference between
Haynes, Mellon and department OF
Justice officials on this question is in
prospect. Acting Attorney General
Seymour Is still busy preparing the
governments appeal from the deci-
sion of Judge Knox. which in effect
allows physicians to prescribe as
much liquor as they choose.
O O o
Agreement Reached.
But in spite of the political worry
occasioned by prohibition. the re-
publican national committee is 60
/ ing ahead steadily with its plans
for the next campaign. President
Harding has succeeded in bringing
| harmony into the ranks again, after
the serious threat caused by the
rift between Chairman John Adams
and Secretary Hughes brought on
by the recent statement from the