Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-10-22
STATES DUTY


has been established by time, by
common consent, by the unqualified
assertion of fundamental and statute
law enforcing officers Of this nation.
III this was not so, there would be no
warrant for the present gathering.
l can conceive but one opinion on
this, in which every responsible ele-
ment must concur.
NO provision of the 18th Amend
ment, or the National Prohibition
Act, .contemplates any surrender of
State responsibility. Under them
prohibition becomes obligatory in all
states. For the Constitution and the
laws made in pursuance thereof are
specifically declared, by the Federal
Constitution, to be the supreme law
of the land. They are binding upon
every inhabitant. But there still re-
mains to the states the power,
specifically reserved in the 18th
Amendment, to pass enforcing acts,
and there Is still on them A Joint re-
sponsibility to enact and execute en-
forcement laws which may not al
ways be exercised, but which can
never be avoided.
1.-The complementary duty to en-
forcement of the law Is obedience to
the law. That rests with the people
CiShioCi'Cos IHc lotu amendment
prohibits manufacture, transporta-
ton, sale, export and import. These
are the commercial activities. Trade
in intoxicating liquors for beverage
purposes is especially denounced 1t
Is In this field that most of the diff
f1culty exists. The main problem
arises from those who are bent on
making money by an illegal traffic in
Intoxicating liquors.
"If this could be eliminated the
rest would be easy"
This great law abiding element of
the Nation is entitled to support and
protection. l propose to give that
support and protection, to the limit
provided by the Constitution and ihe
law of the land, against every law
less element. The Executives are re-
quired to enforce the law. The ma
chinery for the enforcement of the
law is that supplied by the acts of
Congress and the acts of the State
Legislatures. That machinery must
be used to the full extent of it's ca
pacity to secure the enforcement of
the law.
1T is certainly my own purpose so
to use it. The people are going to
continue to yield obedience to the
law. This principle will continue to
prevail. whenever the American peo-
pie shall pass judgment upon it, be-
cause it is the foundation of their in
stitutions>
we can only make progress with
these problems by their frank and
candid consideration. They are not
going to be decided by prejudice.>
they are not going to be answered
as result of political intrigue. They
are not going to be determined by ex-
tremists on either side. They are not
going to be solved in accordance with
any sordid motive.
They will yield to the calm and
clear judgment of the American peo-
pie. through a determined expression
OF their high moral purpose. The law
represents the voice of the people.
Behind it, and supporting it, is a
divine sanction.
enforcement of law and obedience
10 law. by the very nature of our
institutions. are not matters of choice
In this republic. but the expression
OF moral requirement of living in
accordance with the truth They are
ciothed with a spiritual significance.
IN which is revealed the life or the
death of the American ideal of self
government"