Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-06-12
HARDING POSTPONES
CALL Of GOVERNORS
ON RUM PROBLEM
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
Geased Wire Service to 'ule Journal.)
Copyright, fgzS.J

0eAsed Wire Service 10 -0le JOuAhaA'i
Copyright, HgzS.J
WASHINGTON, June 9.-Presi-
dent Harding's conference with the
governors of the several states with
respect to cooperation in enforcing
prohibition will bn postponed until
next autumn.
So many of the state legislatures
have remained in session requiring
the presence of the governors to
sign bills and attend to other execu-
tives duties, and Mr.. Harding him.
self is scheduled to leave here In
another fortnight for his western
trip that it is lmpracticable to hold
the conference until after he returns
from Alaska.
Several of the governors who are
anxious to attend the conference
have indicated that if it is held
now they will be unable to attend.
The president is DESTROYS Of having
an full an attendance as possible.
Only one or two governors showed
an Indifference to the purpose of
the conference when the first SEES
sion was held several months ago,
and there may, of course, be some
others who will feel as does Gov
ernor AL Smith, of New York, that
the federal government is stepping
beyond the bounds by seeking to
impose obligations of enforcement
on the states, but on the whole the
spirit of the replies thus far re-
ceived has been one of cooperation
Detailed Program to Be Planned
The last conference hardly scratch
ed the surface of the problem. Be
sides the president, the attorney gen.
eral, secretary of the treasury, COM
missioner of internal revenue ana
Prohibition Commissioner Haynes
entered into an informal discussion
OF the question with the governors
many OIL muOIn 1Sl1LCu bAAS S~NRSA-
ence of their states with prohibition
enforcement, but it was evident that
a more detailed and practical pro-
gram of cooperation would have to
be worked out before the phrase
concurrent jurisdiction" as used IN
the eighteenth amendme nt. would
get tangible results.
The federal government, of course,
has a double object in securing the
cooperation of the states Prohibi-
ton enforcement is a duty naturally
laid down. by the Volstead law and
the eighteenth amendment but the
champions of prohibition frankly
confess that from the outset they
have been counting upon the states
to bear the real burden of policing
the country. The expense to the
federal government has been large
but it would continue to grow to
enormous proportions If the states
left the job to the federal govern
ment altogether.
Many of the states have passed
stronger prohibition laws than the
Volstead act. In the last three
months twenty-four states have
added more legislation. In some
states the enforcement now Is so
effective that the federal government
would like to let down somewhat and
divert it's agents to other parts of
the country where the state authori-
ties are lax. Already the federal Off
GERS have begun to turn over to state
courts for prosecution numerous
cases in states where the judiciary
is earnestly endeavoring to enforce
the law and where substantial fines
and prison sentences can be expected
if the cases of the offenders are we'll
constructed. AS a rule it's only
where the federal agents have no
confidence in the state courts that
they are steering the prosecutions
through federal courts.
:; Prohibition Workers Enthusiastic
= New York states repeal of the
Mullan-Gage enforcement act is the
outstanding exception to the course
of the states in the last few months
and the Anti-Saloon league is not
worried over the possibility that
other states like Wisconsin, Illinois,
or Rhode Island may do the same.
Wayne Wheeler, head Of the Anti
Saloon league, said today for in
stance that while repeal bills might
pass through one house of the legis-
lature in Illinois, and Rhode Island
he was confident the bills would be
killed by a sufficient number OF
dry" votes in the other houses in
those two states as he confidently
expects will be the case in the senate
of Wisconsin. Maryland has no en-
forcement law and Massachusetts
new law, is held in allegiance pending
a referendum to be held next year.
In view IF his action in signing the
repeal bill together with q plea for
state rights, it is not expected that
Governor Al Smith will attend the
conference of governors. 1t is the
hope of the president, however, that
enough governors will attend as to
make substantial progress in enforc-
ing prohibition in the many states
where legislation concurrent with the
Volstead law has been passed and
now is in effect. 1t will furnish an
interesting experiment in federal and
state combination in welding. the po-
lice power Of the nation.
I+,,o ploao