Smyrna times., 1923-01-03

OOuStAOuIlOAdl pIOIllD1IlO ldS Dten
adopted by the nation" President
Harding reminded Congress. cit is
the supreme law of the land. In plain
speaking, there are conditions relat-
ing to its enforcement which SAVIOR of
nationwide scandal.
"The day is unlikely to come when
the eighteenth amendment will be re-
pealed. The fact may as we'll be rec
ognized and our course adapted ac-
cordingly. If the statutory provisions
for its enforcement are contrary to de-
iberate public opinion, which 1 do not
believe, the rigorous and literal en-
forcement will concentrate public at
tention on any requisite modification
Such a course conforms with the law
and saves the humiliation of the gov
ernment and the humiliation of our
people before the world, and challen-
ges the destructive forces engaged in
widespread violation, official corrup-
ton, and individual decentralization.
There are differences of opinion as
to the wisdom of the law designed to
carry the eighteenth amendment into
effect, but everybody should be of one
mind in enforcing it while it remains
on the statute books. 1t represents
the majority will of our national leg
islators. Whenever it does not they
can change it at once. Those legisla-
tors interpret the majority opinion of
their constituents, otherwise they
would be removed from office. The
fact is that the prohibition law is
there, and likely to stay there; because
as the President believes, a majority
of the people are for it. We are faced
with the problem whether a militant
minority shall be permitted to con-
tinue their fragrant acts of violation
whether the Humiliation of our peo-
pie before the world" is to be longer
condoned.
"Those Delawareans who advocate
the repeal or modification of the pro-
hibition law quote the bootleggers ac-
tivities as proof of the nations inabil-
ity to curb mans appetite for drink,
and say that the country might as
well admit its impotence by letting
down the restrictions.
"We are hearing a lot these days
about the drug evil. 1t is said that
in the city of Washington alone $780,
900 worth of drugs is consumed every
year. The other day a man was ar
rested in New York with a huge stock
of drugs in his possession, and long
list of customers to whom he furnish.
ed the stuff. Prominent actors anC
actresses are said to be among the vic
Tins. Apparently the stringent FED
eral law against the unauthorized salt
and use of drugs falls far short o.
accomplishing its object. But the fac
that numerous drug bootleggers maxi
it easy for drug addicts to satisf!
their cravings is not advanced as =;
reason for letting down the bars. o.
the contrary, Federal and State gov
ernments are urged to tighten up il
their enforcement of the narcotic laws
Those who wink at violations of tn
liquor law and then urge it's repea
because of those violations are tax
ing a most dangerous stand. Follow
ed to its logical conclusion, their al
gument means that if the illicit dru
dispensers are sufficiently active, an
the drug users make a loud enoug
wall about the curbing of their lbel
ties, the Federal narcotic law shoul
he modified so that drug addicts ca
appease their appetites without al
noyance.
UNJUST laws can be exposed onl
through vigorous enforcement, and I'll