The Bismarck tribune., 1923-10-20
ENFORCEMENT
OF LAWS HELD
A JOINT DUTY
President Addresses Confer
ence of Governors From
Various States of Union
CITES DRY LAW. DUTY
President Also Refers to Inn
migration and Narcotic
Law Enforcement

Washington, Oct. 20.-President
Coolidge called on the Governors
Of the several states today to as
sumo their full share OF respon-
sibility of the enforcement of the
prohibition laws.
Meeting with more than 30 state
executives who have responded to
his invitation to. attend a White
House conference on law enforce
cnent Mr.. Coolidge fatty declared
that mo provision OF the eigh-
teenth amendment or the national
prohibition act contemplate any
surrender OF state responsibility"
Provisions OF the 18th amend
ment and its supplementary
statutes, the President said. are
perfectly plain" in the directions
they give both to the Presidents
and the Governors OF the states.
He added that the country ought
to comprehend that when laws are
made there Is and can be no ques-
tion about the duty of executives
to enforce them with such instru-
ments and by such means as the
law provides for securing enforce
ment." IS
The President suggested no new
means of cooperation between tho
federal government, and the states
and made no comment on the dec
laration .aof the Governors yester-
day in their conference at West
Baden. Indiana, or the suggestions
as to enforcement methods recent
.y put forward by individual Gov
ernors. He did say, however. that
the problems OF law enforcement
could not be answered '.by political
intrigue" or determined ''by ex-
tremeists on either side"
WELCOMES EXECUTIVES.
The text of the President's address
in part, follows:
1T is my peculiar privilege to well
come you here as one who by ex-
perience can look at your problems
with that sympathy which comes
from common fellowship. The gov
ernorship of a sovereign state of our
nation is the very greatest honor
that state can ,bestow. A gather
ing of governors has q significance
greater than any other unofficial
convocation that can be held in tAo
United States.
."It would only be a matter Of
large public Importance that could
justify a gathering Of the chief ex-
ecutives of the states and the ma
ton or conference in Washington.
You have been invited here that 1
may lay before you some Of the
problems for better enforcement
of law. A statement Of the purpose
is sufficient to indicate the import
ance for . government which does
not enforce its laws is unworthy
of the name Of q government and
cannot expect to hold either the sup
port of its own citizens or the re-
spect of the informed opinion Of the
world.
"That ours is.a dual system of ad-
ministration does not need to be ex-
planned in this presence. Joint pow
ers and joint responsibilities exist,
which can best be exercise and dis
charged by joint action.
Alien Seepsge.
"While certain classes of aliens
easily distinguishable have been ex-
cluded from this country for 4 con-
siderable length of time a general
policy Of restricted immigration +
broadly inclusive has only been re- i
Gently adopted. The new law admits
approximately $4,000 aliens or about
one-thifd Of the number coming in
annually under the old law before
the war. On the other hand the num-
Der desiring to enter is i,yN much
larger and attempts to evade the law
have greatly increased. Il IL ESTE
mated by the Department Of Labor
that there 10 . seepage over the bor-
der and through the ports Of about
100000 which is considerable men b
ace to the success Of our immi9ra-
ton policy
"Such an influx Of persons entering
the country In violation Of law can. E
not fail to attract the attention Of
local police authority along our bor- 4
ers and on our seacoast, who can +
be Of very great assistance in noti-
Tying the local Representatives al the s
Department Of Justice or the De- &
partment Of Labor in order that such Il
persons may be more readily sx- r
cluded and deported. .S.I g i
-. Narcotics Probdem. E
Another problem exist. v,h;.l !. E
worid-wide in home Of it, aspects. /.
u . considered Of such Importance
to the welfare Of some that special L
Representatives Of the eopntry at-