Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-05-17
us. To concentrate
DRY ENFORCEMENT
EFFORTS ON n. Y.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
(Leased Wire Service to The Journal.)
(CnnYright 1928.l

ID AD<A v ABB liz w ASAAAHOA
(Leased Wire Service to The Journal)
Copyright. 1921
WASHINGTON, May 15.-Enough
time has elapsed for the prohibition
authorities here to size up to their
own satisfaction, at least, the effect
of what has been termed New
York's secession from the union"
through the repeal of the Mullan-
Gage law.
Official Washington takes for
granted that Governor "Al" Smith,
Democrat, will sign the repeal meas
ure, and that the maneuyers of de-
lay are merely outward gestures of
elaboration for the wet" strengt:
which brought about the Democratic
victory in the empire state last au-
tumn is not forgotten. The feeling
is that the bill ia as good as repealed
now.
Prohibition Commissioner Haynes
says that people in the prohibition
fight must learn to look at things
tories and defeats in the legislative
SCcloO1l JUST ClOSSO ID ClDOOL ~ ~
in favor Of prohibition. Twenty
che states either revised or amended
their local laws with respect to pro-
hibition enforcement and all but
New York put teeth in existing laws.
New York has never been consider
ed by the prohibition forces as con-
quered territory anyhow. Mr..
Haynes says he got relatively little
cooperation from the New York
state officials and police before the
Mullan- Gage repeal controversy start
ed and that from a practical stand
point, therefore, the federal govern.
nent will have to continue to do the
bulk of the job in enforcing the Vol
stead act, the provision of which still
stand irrespective of the wiping out
of the state statute.
Machinery Inadequate
But the federal machinery has
been, and is, inadequate to handle
prohibition enforcement in the most
populous state of the union. In
fact, the sponsors of the eighteenth
amendment never dreamed that pro
hibition could be enforced by the
federal government without the CO.
OpGI dlIOIl VI lIIS SLolSSs LoL WHY
| they wrote the words concurrent
! jurisdiction in the eighteenth
amendment itself. For all practica
purposes, therefore, New York will
continue to be as wet a spot as there
| is in America unless the fight in the
next legislature turns the tide in
the other direction.
- The prohibition forces will 3of
cease their work but will redoub-e
the effort in the next session of New
York's legislature, hoping in the in
tervening months to win enough
votes to their side to wipe out the
narrow margin by which the repeal
was accomplished.
New York's handling CT tas Null
Ian-Gage law is not being considered
as a local affair, but national job,
and the entire strength Of the pro-
hibition movement will be concen-
trated on New York to bring it back
in line. This in itself is an admis-
sion that the action of the New York
legislature has had a nationwide sig
nificanCe.
Friends Of prohibitiAs have been
given cause for worry whether the
movement was losing ground in the
east, while the "wets' have been en-
I'couraged to believe that the example
of New York state will take a leaf
out of the book Of those southern
states that have never made en-
forcement by legislation the amend
ments of the federal constitution de-
signed to permit the negro to vote.
To the extent that New York has
reversed the wheels Of prohibition
1,n Of Io of 10 Wy
is a source of diScOura cement to Of
ficials from President Harding down.
For a breakdown in New York
might spread to other states. To
offset what has happened in New
York, the prohibitionists point with
pride to the record of a neighboring
state, Pennsylvania, where Cover
nor Pinchot has succeeded in
strengthening the cause of law en-
forcement. Two years ago Pennsyl-
vania would have been cited as the
last state likely to fall in line. New
York was thought much more friend
ly even than New Jersey.
The wet group Of the east today
comprises New York, Massachu-
setts, Rhode Island, Maryland and
New Jersey. 1t would take huge
army to enforce federal statutes in
those states, but the government at
Washington isn't going to attempt
any heroic measures, depending on
the sober sense Of the people to build
up the sentiment essential to the
uniform observance of any federal
law.
New York has furnished a set
back, but viewed as a whole the
"drys'' are keeping a stiff upper lip
about it and are girding for the fray
next legislative season.