Evening star., 1923-06-09
DRY PAR[EY WAITS
BUSY GOVERNORS
Autumn to See Test of Fed
! eraI and State Co. Operation
49, for Enforcement.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

President Hardings conference with
the governors of the several states
with respect to cooperation in en-
forcing prohibition will be postponed
until next autumn.
So many OF the state legislatures
have remained in session during the
presence of the governors to sign
bills and attend to other executive
duties and Mr.. Harding himself is
scheduled to leave here in another
fortnight for his western trip. that
1t is impracticable to hold the con-
ference until after he returns from
Alaska
Several of the governors who are
anxious to attend the conference have
indicated that If it is held now they
will be unable to attend. The Presi-
dent is desirous of having as full an
attendance as possible.
Only one or two governors showed
an Indifference to the purposes of the
conference when the first session was
held several months ago, and there
may, of course. be some others who
New York. that the federal govern
ment is stepping beyond the bounds
by seeking to impose obligations of
enforcement on the states, but on the
whole the spirit of the replies thus
far received has been one Of CO.
operation.
Surface Hardly Scratched.
The last conference hardly scratched
the surface of the problem. Besides
the President, the Attorney General,
Secretary of the Treasury, commits
Sioner of internal revenue and Pro-
hib;tion Commissioner Haynes en-
tered into an informal discussion of
the question with the governors,
many Of whom related the expert
enCe of their states with prohibition
enforcement, but it was evident that
d more detailed and practical pro-
gram Of corporation would have to
be worked out before the phrase
concurrent jurisdiction' as used in
the eighteenth amendment would get
tangible results.
The federal government, OF course
has double object in securing the
cooperation of the states. Prohibi-
tlon enforcement is a duty naturally
laid down by the Volstead law and
the eighteenth amendment. but the
champions of prohibition frankly con-
Tess that from the outset they have
been counting upon the states TO bear
the real burden of policing the coun-
try. The expense to the federal gov
ernment has been large, but it would
continue to grow to enormous pro-
portions If the states left the job to
the federal government altogether.
Many of the states have passed
stronger prohibition laws than the
Volstead act. In the last three
months twenty-four states have added
more legislation. In some states the
enforcement now is SO effective that
the federal government would like to
let down somewhat and divert it's
agents to other parts of the country
where the state authorities are lax.
Already the federal officers have be-
gun to turn over to state courts for
prosecution numerous cases in states
where the judiciary is earnestly en-
deaVoring to enforce the law. and
where substantial fines and prison
sentences can be expected If the cases
against the offenders are well con-
structed. AS a rule, it's only where
the federal agents have no confidence
in the state courts that they are
steering the prosecutions through
federal courts.
New York's repeal of the MuIlan-
Gage enforcement act is the out
standing exception to the course of
the states in the last few months, and
the Anti-Saloon League is not wor-
ried over the possibility that other
states, like Wisconsin,, Illinois or
f>Houe ISIdnQ, may DO the same.
Wayne Wheeler. head Of the Anti
saloon League, said today, for in
stance, that. while repeal bills might
pass through one house of the legis-
lature in Illinois and Rhode Island.
he was confident the bills would be
killed by a sufficient number of dry"
votes in the other houses in those
TWO states. as he confidently expects
Will be the case in the senate in Wis
consln. Maryland has no enforcement
law, and Massa achusetts' new law is
held in allegiance pending a referen-
dunn to be held next year.
In view of his action in signing the
repeal bill, together with the plea. for
state rights, it is not expected that
Gov. al Smith will attend the confer
ence of governors. 1t is the hope Of
the President, however. that enough
governors will attend as to make sub
stantial progress in enforcing prohi-
bition in the many states where leg
islation concurrent with the Volstead
law has been passed and now is in
effect. 1t will furnish an interesting
experiment in federal and state com.
bination In welding the police power
of the nation.
Copyright 1921