Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-07-06
World c. E.
High Praise for
Presidents I Stand

Des Moines, July 5.-Resolutions
were introduced at tonights session
of the 29th International Christian
Endeavor convention commencing
President Harding for his support
of the Eighteenth Amendment and
the Volstead Act and pledging sup
port to candidates for public offices
and to the party that made unequiv-
ocal commitments to their enforce
ment.
The resolution was introduced at
the instance of the executive COM
mittee of the United Society of
Christian Endeavor under whose
auspices the convention is being
held.
The text of the statement follows:
"Prohibition has vindicated itself.
In spite of great handicaps, its be-
nign effects are now apparent in the
steadily Aieclining death rate as re-
vealed the bulletins Of life-insur-
ance companies, in the "a percent de-
crease in drink cases with their at
tendant problems coming to charity
organizations, and in the growing
moral tone of our community life.
THE great cities on our far-reach-
Ing coast lines and wide extending
ing international boundaries, pre-
sent serious difficulties in law en-
forcement and cannot now be eX-
pected to reflect the prohibition SEN
timent of the nation. For some time
to come they will continue to de-
ceive themselves and our visitors
from other lands. who would rejoice
in the reputation of national pro-
hibition.
Even these vast and cosmopolitan
communities record unmistakable
benefits accruing from the closing
of saloons and bars.-benetits that
will increase steadily with the
trengthening of the spirit and
agencies of law enforcement.
For the bootlegger, we have only
slightly less condemnation than for
his patron. The latter, from the
standpoint Of individual morality, Is
essentially the worse. while in citi-
zenship he is a greater menace.
Striking at one law, he slashes all.
He gives heart to every evil doer, and
by the measure of his influence
weakens the protecting wall that
surrounds his life, his liberty and
his temporal goods.
I'm law enforcement the supreme
issue Of the hour joins. The forces
of notification are active and de-
termined. They have united power
full interests at home and abroad to
embarrass public officials to break the
morale Of conscientious enforcing
agents and to discourage public SEN
timent. They have found a spokes-
man in the governor of a great state.
I'VE declare here that state right
eousness is greater than state rights,
and that no state has rights which
prohibition does not strengthen. We
stand for liberty under law. we
pledge ourselves anew to the Consti-
tuition of the United States. We COM
mend the President for his repeated
statements in support of the Eight
zenith amendment and the Nolstead
Act.
speaking for four million enrolled
young people. citizens and citizens
to-be. we further declare that no
candidate for public office and that
no political party, failing to make
such unequivocal commitment has
the right to expect or will receive our
support and votes.
1--WE believe that total abstinence
is the only consistent attitude for a
Christian and that the agitation for
mod1hCatlOn OF the NolStcau Az
to legalize light wines and beers is
subterfguge and blind; those who
advocate 1t now were but a short
time since the stalwart defense of the
open saloon and the liquor traffic. 1t
is dishonest issue.
"As the ultimate solution Of the
liauor problem for this nation was
na tional prohibition, for which Chris,
tan Endeavpr declared in 1911 with
its militant slogan. "A Saloonless
Nation by 1920 so the ultimate solu-
ton of the problem for all nations is
world wide prohibition. We here re-
affirm our declaration of 1919, for "A
Saloonless World and pledge the full
strength of our movement to the
achievement of this high goal"