New Britain herald., 1923-08-27
DRY ENFORCEMENT
 COOLIDGE FAVORS
Doesn't Think 18th or VolStead
 Will Be Altered at All

Washington, Aug. 27.--In two i'm portant issues which will press for de-
 cision in the next congress bonus legislation and modification of the
 Volstead Act--President Coolidge
 holds nearly the same views as MT.
 Harding did, according to those who have followed his career. He is re-
 ported as not opposed to bonus, pro- vided the necessary revenue is found,
 but will not insist, as did his prede-
 cessor, upon sale tax.
 As to the wet and dry issue, it is
 known that MT. Coolidge stands four
 square on a strict enforcement of the
 law, and does not believe that the
 Constitution can be modified to per
 mt or the sale of beer and light wines.
 President Coolidge's advisers, mo-
 tably Senator Smoot, chairman of the
 finance committee, have told him that
 a bonus bill wjll be passed over his
 veto, if necessary, by the next. con
 gress. In the face of this legislative
 situation, 1t is said, President Coolidge
 , anxious to sec the republican lead- CTS meet the situation squarely with
 out embarrassment to him. He de-
 sires that if a bonus bill is passed it shall carry revenue provisions aecept- able to the executive.
 Stands for Law Enforcement.
 While the president has never stated publicly his views as to the move to liberalize the Volstead act. ne has gone on record as to the beer and light wine law which Massachu- setts sought to enact while he was governor. He, vetoed the bill, and in his message spoke strongly on the necessity to upnold law and order. He expressed no opinion on the mer- Its Of prohibition, but made it clear mat his action in vctoing the bill was | based entirely on legal grounds. The | veto message written on May 5, 1920, | reads:
 There is little satistac ton in st- tempting to deceive ourselves" Mr. | Coolidge said in the veto message. f
 Ihere is grave danger in attempting 10 decaive the people. If this act were placed on the statute books of this commonwealth today it woul provide no leer for the people. No one would dare act upon it., or, if any one dll, he would certainly b. charged with crime.
 "Simiiai laws ir. other states a.a to date ineffective. I am opposed tc the practice of legislative deception. It is !s:ttr 10 proceed with candor. Wait ,sntt. the supreme court of tie Emitted States talks.
 The proper authorities have to. clared shs Eighteenth amendment 10 the UniteI States Constitution adopt ed. Ehder It congress has passed Should tho clain: that the amendment is void be sustained, our present high license law remains in effect, and this act then will be a dead letter. No one would defend it. Should the act of congress be de- clared void, let congress pass new law.
 sworn to Support Constitution
 When took office gave an oath to support the Constitution of the United States. That constitution and : the laws of congress are declared to be the supreme law of the land. It . may be that the Eighteenth Amend ment and the act under it are one or :, :. both void. So far as any court has de- 4 cided, l understand the amendment nas been sustained. They have been q, before the supreme court for some ~ in1e, where up to now they both stand e IS law. That which the court hesitates l. o decide I shall not hasten to declare. t would be extremely improper to un. lertake to influence that decision by he action of the making power of . Do not anticipate it, Il wait it. 5--.. o
 My oath was not to take a chance !, m the constitution. It was to support d [. When the proponents of this mea- T., ure do not intend to jeopardize their afety by acting under it, why should
 jeopardize my oath by approving it |?
 We have had too much legislation f, y clamor or tumult, or by pressure. q government ceases ;s 'hen outside influence of any kind is ia ubstituted for the judgment of the st representative. This does not mean se hat the opinion of constituents is to P c ignored. It is to be weighed most arefully, for the representative must epresent, but his oath provides that T, . must bo faithfully and impartially, W ccording to the best of his abilities is nd understanding, agreeably to the III Iles and regulations of the constitu- UT on and laws. fir The authority of the law is ques- te oned in these days all too much. The inding obligation of obedience gainst personal desire is denied in lany quarters. If these doctrines pre- H; ,il all organized government, all ws berty, all security are at an end. at orce alone will prevail. les
 ---------- lal Hav is heinz made in some nlaees