San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-03-11
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

Di
Copyright. by The San Antonio Light.
Palm Beach, Fla, March 10.-One
Of the first acts of President Hard
ing inter his vacation will be to meet
the governors Of all the states in con-
ference at the National capitol to
discuss the enforcement of the pro-
hibition laws.
The President feels that it is his
duty to make clear to the state
executives that the language of the
18th amendment, which places on the
federal government and the several
state concurrent jurisdiction means
joint responsibility. The states have
the police force and the federal gov
eminent has additional machinery, but
the latter is virtually powerless with
out the hearty cooperation OF the
states.
Florida is one Of the states which
isn't as dry as the federal prohibition
officers would like to have it, and
while President Harding isn't down
here on any inspection trip. he can
not escape noticing some Of the many
newspapers items which have been
appearing lately concerning prohibit
ton violations. For instance, the
palm Beach Daily Post" in its
leading editorial, has this to say to-
day:
Editorial Comment.
Naturally there has been a good
deal of comment in Florida news
papers on the indictment at Tampa
by federal grand jury of three resi-
dents of West Palm Beach of charges
of conspiracy to violate the national
liquor law, and some Of the comment
is unfairly critical. The Orlander-
Reporter Star says, for example. that
the open and notorious conditions of
the liquor business at Miami and
Palm Beach are known all over the
United States.
"We have heard something Of lhuor
law violations in New York City and
in Chicago and in San Francisco, in
deed, even in Orlando, and that being
the case, it is not improbable that
there have been reports of violations
on the lower east coast. 1t is even
probable that there are violations of
tHt law view VI tut DlOAl-
nifty of the coast TO the West Indies,
where the sale of liquor is lawful,
and where there are men in business
to supply the demand, it would not
be surprising that liquor got into
Palm Beach and Miami, since it gets
into so many interior points less ex-
posed.
1.-THE federal liquor law is exactly
that, federal law, and if there are
violations of it, il must be because
the federal law enforcement officers
are derelict. To expect state and
county authorities to deal with infrac-
tons of the law by residents, and TO
protect the hundreds of thousands of
visitors from the crooks who follow
in their trail. and assume also the
whole responsibility of enforcement of
the federal law, is not fair expecta-
ton.
Sheriffs Work Hard.
"As it works out in practice sheriffs
on the lower east coast do a good
deal of work that should be done by
the federal officers, and the credit for
their work is taken by the Sinking
federal officers. A larger part of the
time of the federal enforcement Off
GERS, devoted to their own business
and not to prosecution Of county Off
Gals, would relieve Palm Beach and
Miami of some of the reproach put
on them"
The foregoing tells the story not
only of Florida, but Of the local off
Gals of other states. Mr.. Harding
isn't making any visits to the hotels
along the coast, nor is he inquiring
into the pro and con OF prohibition in
the winter colony, but as he drifts
along in his houseboat for miles and
miles he cannot help wondering how
the long coast line with its many in
let's and KEYS can ever be thoroughly
protected against the incursions not
only of small craft from the Bahamas
30 "'rHi7"~q t~o. from CO... s'is'-';