Evening star., 1923-10-20

Continued from First Page.)
undertook to carry out that plan as
well as other policies of the late
President.
Mr. Coolidge has added to the con-
ference program, however. the con-
sideration of the enforcement of the
immigration and narcotic laws and
White House officials have taken
pains to emphasize that the meeting
today is not prohibition conference.
but law enforcement conference.
Public interest, nevertheless. has CEN
tered about the prohibition question.
and prior to the meeting of the more
han thirty governors who responded
10 the Presidents invitation 1t was
generally believed that the greater
part OF the discussion behind the
closed doors of the White House east
room would hinge about prohibition.
Parker Leaves Meeting.
The governors, in coming, to the
conference. have fresh in their minds
the heated discussion of the prohibi-
tion question at the closing session
yesterday at West Baden. Ind, Of the
fifteenth annual governors confer
ence. The conference adopted a reso>
luton pledging 70 President Coolidge
cooperation in the enforcement of
prohibition after a stormy debate and
amid a shouting and stamping of
feet during which Gov Parker Of
Louisiana left the meeting.
Fresh also in the minds of those
attending the White House confer
ence is the action of the citizenship
conference held here early in the
week br leading prohibition support
ers, in declaring that the nation looks
to President Coolidge to assert ana
maintain the majesty Of ths law. This
declaration in effect backed up the
stand taken by Gov. Pinchot of Penn
sylvania, one of the speakers of the
citizenship conference that prohibit
tion enforcement was up To the Pres
ident, who should personally super
wise the enforcement activities
Questions Pinchor~ Motive.
The Pennsylvania governor, prior
to the conference, had engaged in a
move to close the saloons OF Phila-
delphia and this action, together with
his address. Z have b zen matters OF
much comment, in view of the belief
held by some political observers that
Mr.. Pinchot is out to capture the re-
publican presidential nomination from
Mr.. Coolidge next year. If rcssibie
Breaking into the midst Of this dis
cussion of. the prohibition question.
Prohihition Commissioner Haynes sew
eraI days ago launched big dry drive
in New York, and only yesterday en-
barked on campaign TO stop nome
brewing. Public attention was further
riveted on the prohibition issue by pub
l:cation today of letter written 70
the President by August A. Busch OF
Anbeiser-Busch. Inc of St. Louis, de-
claring that the attempt TO enforce the
prohibition laws had corrupted the~fed-
eral service, uprooted respect for all
law and set back many years the
cause of real temperance.
Opinions Differ Widely.
With such developments as back
nround there is considerable tensenesS
about the meeting with the President
of the governors, who include such
outstanding prohibition proponents as
Cows. Bryan of Nebraska and Pinchot,
and such recognized anti-prohibitfon-
| lists as Cows. Smith of New YORK and
Silzer of New Jersey.
| Acceptances of the Presidents in
vitation had been received at the
| White House last night from thirty
three governors of states and from
governors of the territories of Alaska
and Hawaii. Two governors, Walton
Of Oklahoma and Pierce of Oregon
while unable to be present, have
notified the President they will be
[ represented. Gov. Morrow Of Ken
lucky sent word that he would be
unable to attend because of prior en-
| gagements in connection with the
| Gov. McMaster of South Dakota, who
| had accepted, yesterday sent a
decIination. Cows. FLYNN of Rhode
Island and Peay of Tennessee sent
! in their acceptances yesterday.
The discussions are expected to oc-
cupy the entire afternoon and pos
sibly run into the early evening
Secretary Mellon and Commissions Ell
Blair of the internal revenue bureau
will attend the conference, but will
not make extended addresses.