Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1923-10-25
MORRISON MAKES
A GOOD REPORT
Tells Governors Conference Liquor
Situation in North Carolina is now
Under Control. 80.

OF the State executives in Indiana
he was busy with the chief of his clan
and could not get away.
Governor Morrison was calm but
militant He had no sensational story
for the President. Before entering the
tie House he stateu that if called
upon he would make a good report
on the Federal prohibition officers in
North Carolina. He said that they are
doing as we'll as could be expected
under the circumstances. He feels
that prohibition enforcement is a
matter for the courts nd that his state
takes that view of it, and is punish
ing the guilty. He thinks that the So
licitors and sheriffs and police officers
are trying to do their full duty.
In other words Governor Morrison
brought cheering report to the
White House Conference. He knows
that there are moonshiners, blind tt
gers and bootleggers in the state,
but they are being held in check.
Mr.. Morrison is not worryingover
the prohibition situation. He believes
that problem will solve itself. His
concern is about the constructive pro
gram he is backing to put North Car
ohna in the front ranks of the great
states. He is satisfied that the people
Of his state are with him, and he will
carry it through. but he is being han
dicapped by critics.
"North Carolina is going forward"
said he. at is advancing rapidly al
ong Industrial lines. Its roads are be-
ing3 improved and it's school facili-
ties enlarged and brought up to date"
Mr.. Morrison would have political
leaders forget petty politics and get
behind program for nationwide de-
velopment along the very lines that
North Carolina is following, some
thing that will make the United States
greater.
Asked about the issues for the
1924 campaign Mr.. Morrison said:
81 fear very much foreign rela-
tions will figure in the next cam
.paign to an unfortunate extent and
exclude consideration and settlement
of domestic questions which ought
to have the attention of the coun-
try: 1 also fear prohibition will fig
ure to a hurtful extent. The enforce
ment of the law is not. political is
sue but one for the courts.
II hope that foreign relations as
well as prohibition can be kept out
The Fordney-McC Cumber Act ought
to have intelligent and practical con-
sideration by the country and become
the leading issue Of the campaign"
Governor Morrison is very enthu-
siastic over the progress North Caro-
lima is making. His constructive ad-
ministration is beginning to show
good results. People throughout the
country are manifesting interest in
it.
At 2 o'clock when the governors
assembled at the white house fol
the enforcement however, Governors
Morrison's attitude was that of an
observer. He had no intention to of.
fer suggestions or make speech
but to listen and learn. He declared
that if the president called on him
he would express his views on the
conditions in his own state and give
the prohibition officers credit for good
work.
Governor Morrison too ka proml-
nent part in the final stages OF the
conference. He made the motion to
accept the Presidents proposal ano
expressed his views freely. He said
that when all was said and done the
courts would have to enforce the
prohibition laws, and that the Pres
ident had the naming of the district
attorneys, whereas the people elect
ed the prosecutors in the States. He
explained that the most insignificant
solicitor could tell him where to turr
in if he started debating to him. Bu
he added, the request of the Presi
dent was reasonable and should b
accepted.
Mr.. Morrison made good impress
sion especially to those who wan
to see the dry laws carried out. HI
told the President and the governor
that the Federal enforcement agent
in north Carolina were active ant
effective and described them as goo,
men. He also asserted that if tn
question considered was one for cour
consideration and not for politician
it would soon be answered. Nor
work by enforcement officers Of tn
right sort and less politics woul