Evening star., 1923-10-21

Continued from First Page.)
tion. 81 propose to give that support
and protection to tho limit" he de-
clared. The executives are required
to enforce the law The machinery
for the enforcement of the law is that
supplied by the acts Of CONGRESS- and
tho acts of the state legislatures
Thet machinery must be used to the
full extent of its capacity. 1t is
certainly my own purpose so to use
it."
Mentions Narcotic Act.
The Presid+rt dwelt but briefly
upon the subject of aliens violating
immigrants that ray enter the
country and the traffic in narcotics
h urged close cooperation between
state and municipal police with the
federal officers in enforcement of all
laws touching upon those subjects,
declaring that without their co-opera-
tion 1t will be almost impossible to
execute the laws to their fullest
extent.
Attorney General Daugherty fol-
lowed the President and told the gov
ernors the widespread need for better
law enforcement. He frankly assert
ed that in some parts of the country
there has been a serious breakdown of
authority, with the result that "smug-
Cling. with all it's nefarious attend
ant crimes of graft, piracy and mur-
der. exist through skillful and well
organized rings that thrive on the
indifference of the localities in which
they operate"
Assistant Secretary OF Labor E. ].
Henning addressed the conference on
the problem of enforcing the immi-
missioner Roy A. Haynes explained
the work his bureau is doing to
uphold the national dry laws
Respond to Coolidge.
The national menace of illegal traf-
ffc in drugs was detailed by Col. L. @.
Mutt. chief of the narcotic division
OF the Internal Revenue Bureau. I'm
mediately after the governm ents case
had been presented by these speak
ers, President Coolidge presented his
program for close cooperation be-
tween the federal and state govern
ments.
Gov. Alexander J. Groesbeck of
Michigan and Gov. Charles r. Mabey
of Utah responded favorably to the
suggestions of the President. and
were Immediately seconded by Gov.
f. Lee Trfnkle of Virginia and Gov.
Cary A. Hardee of Florida. At this
an attack against the Volstead act,
in which he made no attempt to con-
ceal his spirited opposition.
THE Volstead act" he said. "is only
part of federal invasion of the
states which strikes hard at the pocket
books of every citizen and imposes a
burden which has grown to intolerable
proportions and is still growing.
Wants Proposal Studied.
"I think that this conference should
organize itself to study this basic
question. and particularly to discuss
what present and contemplated activi-
ties OF the federal government could
be carried on by the states them
selves more satisfactorily and In bet
ter accord with the spirit of our in.
ntt
influence upon our representatives in
Congress to make effective the con-
elusions We reach for the benefit Of
our people,
forcement alone this conference will
fail and all other similar conferences
Will fail as long 8 they refuse to
face the basic question whether or
be turned back to the states them
selves. 1t is futile to call or come to
conferences which evade the funda-
mental facts. That was my belief at
the time of President Harding's con-
ference. It is still my belief and, in
my own state. / am more convinced
than before that our people do not
favor enforcement through the VOL
stead act or any similar act.
Smith Tells Troubles.
This is the vital part of the whole
thing: There is no use in talking fur.
tneE upon the sunJect II the CONFER
etice persists In disregarding It,"
Gov Smith asked the privilege OF
the floor Immediately after Gov. Ritchie
and called attention to the difficulties
the authorities of New York face in
attempting to enforce prohibition. He
said the length Of New York's interna-
tional border and the size of it's ports
presented problems not encountered to
such large degree in any other state.
While Gov. Smith declared the au-
AAAI
best they could to enforce the law, he
frankly admitted that he does not be-
iieve the volstead act Is the best or
most popular Interpretation Of the
eighteenth amendment and ''at least
should be modified Turning to Gov.
Clifford Pinchot Of Pennsylvania, he
added that much of the intoxicants COM
ing into New York recently had entered
via the Pennsylvania border.
Piachot Promises C1ean-Up.
Gov. Pinchot did not enter into
the discussion at the conference. but
terviews both before and after the
meeting at the white House. Seen
at his home on Rhode Island avenue
Immediately before he started tor
ised to close every saloon in Penn
sylvanta, and after the conference
he reiterated an earlier statement
that his state Is doing more to en-
1OTCe pTUnlDlLlOn tnan any Otner.
"We are going steadily and reso.
1utely ahead with our enforcement
plan In Pennslyvania," he said. THE
whole situation will require much
more vigorous work. before IL can
be completely cleaned up. The gov
ernment of Pennsylvania Is not only
doing It's full share, but has put
forth In the last six months a gres .er
effort than any other state In the
Union. There can, of course, be only
one end to such fight. The law
will win.''
Gov. Pat M. Neff of Texas followed
Gov. Smith. and he spoke heartily In
favor of state enforcement of the
prohibition laws, pointing out that
the federal Constitution Is the su-
prene law of the land and Is binding
ON ell citizens.
In speaking for the national pro-
gram. Gov. NeR said the states could
not AFFORD to surrender their soy.