Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-09-15
COOLIDGE SUCCEEDS
IN PLEASING BOTH
SIDES IN DRY ISSUE
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
Neased Wire Service to The Journal.)
(CopyriCht 1921

Copyright, 1921
WASHINGTON, Sept. 13,-Presi-
dent Coolidge is handling the prohi-
bition question wi an adroitness
which for the moment is not offend
ing the wet politicians in his own
party nor the Anti-Saloon league.
Mr.. Coolidge may never go as far
as President Harding in asking the
populace to give up drinking from
stocks of liquor even though law
fully acquired before the eighteenth
amendment was adopted, but on the
issue of law enforcement he stands
four square.
For many weeks friends Of Mr..
Coolidge have feared that he would
unnecessarily identify himself with
the "drys" to the extent that Mr..
Harding did. The Denver speech
of the late president urging a curb
on "lawless drinking" made a hit
in the west but made certain Repub-
lican leaders in the east rather
uneasy.
Mr.. Coolidge comes from Massa-
chusetts-a wet battle-ground
where an act to enforce the eight
by the legislature and signed by the
governor but probably will be held in
allegiance while a petition for a ref
erendum is acted upon by the cleo
torate. The state itself in the last
referendum voted against the then
pending enforcement act. In the
Coolidge cabinet are such "wets" as
Secretary of War Weeks and Sec
rotary of the Treasury Mellon. They
favor the enforcement Of the eight
zenith amendment, Of course, but
their Ieanings are to the wet side of
the controversy. The rumor has
been current for some time that GER
tain Of Mr.. Coolidge's advisers hoped
he wouldn't emphasize prohibition
too much, especially before the 1924
nominating convention and cam
paign.
Champions Law Enforcement
Mr.. Coolidge's annouL cement;
therefore, that thl conference of
governors, which Mr.. Harding orig
inally said he would call, would not
be limited to prohibition but would
embrace other laws such as the en-
forcement of the narcotic act and
the immigration and customs laws
is accepted as meaning that the
president would rather appear as
the champion Of law enforcement
in the abstract than the merits of
any particular phase o, the statu e
book. Opponents of prohibition for
instance have criticized the federal
government as being too fanatic
on the subject of prohibition While
other laws were not as scrupulously
enforced. Mr.. Coolidge's variation
of the program to include law en-
forcement as a whole makes his po-
sition impartial as between all laws.
incidentally his newly-an ounced
plan is gratifying to the Anti-Saloon
league because that organization
takes the position that the merits OF
prohibition are not now up for de-
bate but simply whether the federal
constitution and laws are to be
obeyed.
When the governors of the va
rious states come here, therefore,
Mr.. Coolidge will plead with them
for cooperation with the federal
government on all laws that require
concurrent enforcement. Some OF
the Republican politicians who know
that the executive couldn't very
we'll take any other position but
that of law enforcement think the
sting will not be so deep in eastern
states if the conference takes the
broad ground Of cooperation on law
enforcement as a whole.
Mr.. Coolidge made his record as
governor of Massachusetts on la
enforcement issue in the police
strike. Similarly he vetoed the bill
providing for beer and light wines
known as the rs be,r bill's in
May, 1920. His words then are sig
niflcant in their possible application
to the present situation. Re said:
Vetoed Beer Bill
'There is little satisfaction in at
tempting to drive ourselves. There
is grave danger in attempting to de-
ceive the people. If this act were
placed on the statute books of this
commonwealth today it would pro-
vide no beer for the people. No one
would dare act upon it, or, if anyone
would, he would certainly be
charged with crime. Similar laws
in other states are to date inettect-
i've. l am opposed to the practice
of a legislative deception. 1t is
better to proceed with candor. Wait
hIntiI the supreme court OF the
United States talks.
when [ took office [ gave an
oath to support the constitution OF
the United States. That constitu-
ton and the laws of congress are
declared to be the supreme law OF
the land. It may be that the eight
zenith amendment and the act under
it are one or both void. So far as
anv court has decided [ understand
the amendment has been sustained
Thew have been before the supreme
court for some time where up to now
thew both stand as law. That whlch
the court hesitates to decide ShaIl
not hasten to declare.
"The authority of the law Is ques-
toned in these days all too much'
The binding obligation OF ooedlence
against personal desire is denleo III
many quarters. If these doctrines
prevail, all organized government
all liberty, all security are at an
end. Force alone will prevail. can
those entrusted with the greatest
authority set any example except
that of the sternest obedience TO
law? Can Massachusetts afford to
take any position which may turn
out to be. which can anywhere pc
interpreted to be, an act of nuIlltl-
cation?"
Mr.. Coolidge's words may again
be an issue in his home state, but
they will in all probability be re-
peated at the governors conference
for the benefit of the whole union.
Ford's Railroad Owes
Government Large Sum