The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-06-26
STATES MUST BE.
 POL|CEI: POME|R R N LIQUOR QUEST I0N
President Harding Makes Yelled Illusions To New
 York In Speech

DENVER, Colo, June 25-tBy As sociated ess.)-Presbdent Harding, speaking here today, definitely placed himself, his administration and his political fortunes on the side of those opposed to modification of the national dry laws.
 The chief executive furthermore served notice in his address, deliv- cred in the municipal auditorium, that se long as he remained in the White House, the prohibition and other laws would not be permitted to become a "by-word," even should the burden of enforcement be in- creasingly passed on the federal gov- ernment by the states. He did not mention specifically the recent ac- tion of New York in repeating it's en- foreement code, but in a portion of his address. generally construed as referring to New York, he predicted that the new nullifiea CioniSts will discover that they have perpe- trated what is likely to prove one of the historic blunders in political managemen
 T am convinced that they are 
 nority who believe the Eighteenth amendment will ever be repealed" said the President in taking his stand on the prohibition enforcement issue. Policy Will Change.
 "Details of enforcement policy doubtless will be changed as eXperi- ence dictates Further l am con- vinced that whatever changes may be made will represent the sincere of n q r than moderation of the general policy
 MT Harding. in announcing his de- termination and his views, appeared to do so with more emphasis than he has in any of the previous ad- dresses of his western trip, except possibly his St. Louis speech on the world court and his audience, which filled to capacity the auditorium, seating 12,00o, seemed to respond more enthusiastically than any he yet has addressed.
 The first mention of the eighteenth amendment and the Volstead act brought forth cheers and applause was frequent during the remainder of the address, which was on the subject of Law Enforcement" The most vigorous applause came when he declared that there could be no issue in this land paramount to that of enforcement of law
 StrlklnS StTdlS SHt Oul Ill tHpSe VI ho violate the law, the President said the issue is fast coming to be recog- nized not as one between the vets ard "drys," but as one of whether the laws of this country can be and will be enforced''
 So far as the federal government is concerned" he said, and 1 am very sure also, so far as concerns the very great majority of the state govern ments and the local governments 1t will be enforced. gratifying, in decd, it may fairly be said, an amaz- ing progress has been made Tn the last few years toward better enforce ment.'
 No Direct Reference To New York.
 While Mr. Harding made no direct reference to the situation in New York state, he did say that "the spec tacle of d state nullifying its own authority, and asking the national sovereignty to take ever an lmpor- tant daft of it's powers is new. lie added that when the implications or thfs v.~enase proposal are fully uh- by the people and parties to preserving the rights of
 $. the new nullificationists, 1
 to say, will discover that aae perpetrated what is likely s- one of the historic blunders ro al management"
 esident disclosed that a good I.ai tsstimony is reaching Wash at some states having pro- Htr'et.r 4nforcement codes and even
 lieh successfully enforced
 1vs before national prohibi-
 disposed to abdicate their -aH e authority in this matter
 8 Hrn over the burden Of pro. n.- enforcement to the federal
 tE-3 s."
 4an zsaforeemcnt Up To States.
 -'r.. deral government ought to srftaI~a in connection with the en- or-, C. of this policy. those func- fiois -yl ch are obviously within its u-tter 'ovinee. These are compli- nrr it's aspects as it relates to iEtafrs nal commerce, the impor- ta5#a5 I exportation of liquors, the col of federal revenue. the pre- zen. 9 f smuggling and, in general, tae cement of the law within fhe realm of federal author ftE the business of local en- fa+-rl hv states and cities, ought t6 the hands of the state and 15c horitfes. and it should be e%t in all sincerity and good ts a- other laws are presumed to og +<a ed.
 GJEsf am saving must not be con as indicating any relaxa- ti1u he national governments p1rpcH- O do its full duty in this raIte5 have no doubt that if the bnrae- east in undue proportion. sron -s. national authority the fed ata. nment will, not only under tfls .ra nistration but under what tfGr C Te $ may come in the future, eHsts, ald discharge the full obli- tcH ut l am pointing out that tAis a- not to be made necessary. Tn nal policy ought to be sup n=fttt the public opinion and the aGths tive machinery of the N'ls.1 lntTV. For myself, 1 am coatus that we are passing now throus ae most difficult stage of sh-sI0 r, and that as time passes lhere be more and more will LIE Hrcr lnce by authorities every tyhefe q he unalterable obligation of .su forcement. The country ena tn, ltion will not permit the few oE lr land to be made byword,
 1J ls urious illustration of loose kIre nat some people have pro-
 st as d means to protecting the fullest rights of the states. that the states should abandon their part in enforcing the prohibitory policy, That means simply an invitation to the federal government to exercise powers which should be exercised by the states Instead of being an as- sertion of state rights, it is an aban- donment of them it is an abdicatlon' it amounts to a confession by the state that it doesn't choose to gov ern itself but prefers to turn the task. or q considerable part of 1t, over to the federal authorities. There rould be no more complete negatlon of state rights
 Federation by the President ot hls advocacy of American membership In .ar N ion