Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-06-28
PRESIDENT PLEADS
FOR ABSTINENCE: AS
DRY LAW SOLUTION
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
LEASED Wiz Service to The Journal.)
Copyright. 1929

Harding today appealed to the Amer
Jean people to stop drinking intoXi-
eating liquor. And the president
went further than ne has ever gone
IN any prohibition speech. arguing
that there are literally American
millions who resent the lawful pos
Sessions of the few, the lawless prac-
tices of few and rebel against the
denial to the vast majority
Mr.. Harding made himself 100 per
cent dry politically and otherwise in
his formal address at Denver and
While he didn't mention Governor Al
Smith, OF New York, by name, he
made it very plain that he thought
the recent repeal of the Mullan-
Gage law was likely to prove one
OF. the historic plumbers c. political
management"
= There remains no doubt after the
president finished speaking that he
is absolutely convinced the 18th
amendment will never be repealed,
that neither political party would
dare to advocate repeal, and that
whatever changes are. made some
day in the Yolstead act will repre-
sent the sincere purpose of effective
enforcement rather than moderation
of the general policy
Moral Argument
The president did not make a 1e-
sal but moral argument. His COM
Inent on Al Smiths action i'll sign
ing the repeal bill in New York state
was not amplified by legal eXplana-
ton. He did not attempt to answer
the contention of the New York gov
ernor that the Volstead act Itself IS
not in keeping with the spirit of the
eighteenth amendment and that a
, obviously commits itself to policy
president of the United States ac-
tually vetoed that measure without
being called a, notification.
Mr.. Harding simply insisted that
+'when a state deliberately refuses
to exercise the powers which the con-
stitution expressly confers upon it.
of multiplying state authority, the end
of which we are reluctant to conjec-
ture''
Mr.. Harding, moreover. called Gov
ernor Smiths action an abandon
ment rather than an assertion of
state rights which statement, of
course, will be disputed by the
"wets'" in New York. who believe it
much more in keeping with state
rights to refuse to enact legislation
concurrent with the Volstead law,
because they think that statute is it.
self a notification of the intent OF
-the constitution in prohibiting the
sale of intoxicating liquors" The
r.wets'' will never agree that one
half of l per cent of alcohol repre-
sents the lower limit of ''intoXicat-
ing" beverage. 80
Urges Abstinence
But the chief executive was not
disposed to argue the technical
phases of the matter. He feels that
prohibition has come to stay and
that as long as the Volstead law is
on the statute books it should be
enforced and that the states ought
not to relax and put the burden on
he federal government lest the lat
ter be compelled at large expense TO
create a federal police authority
Perhaps the most striking para
graph in the Denver speech-cer-
t2inly nothing like it has come be-
fore from the lips of the president
or any other high official charged
with the Enforcement of the prohi-
bition laWs-Was his direct appeal
to people who have hard liquors in
their possession to set an example
f6 those who haven't by giving it up
altogether.
Whatever satisfaction there may
be in indulgence" said the presi-
dent, whatever objection there is
TO. the so-called invasion of personal
liberty, neither counts when the SUI
premacy of law and the stability of
our institutions are menaced. With
ell good intention the majority SEN
tinent, the United States has sought
BY law to remove strong drink as
curse upon the American citizens,
but ours is a larger problem now
to remove laWless drinking as
menace to the republic itself"
That phrase "lawless drinking"
will probably become the slogan of
O. new campaign on the. part of the
"drys" and it would not be surpris-
Ing to see President Harding and
Other high officials accept the plea
bf William Jennings Bryan, who
asks that everybody in the govern
nrent of the United States from the
president down, take the pledge to
abstain from drinking intoXicants.
Bryan's Suggestion
Mr.. Bryan's appeal has long gone
.Nnheeded, but the Denver speech
gxiYes. it added momentum for the
people in President Hsrding's circle
EaNe begun to realize, indeed, that
-6sze of the unfortunate aspects of
-eFohibition is the popular suspicion
that high officials have plenty of
liquor either from -Volsteadian
days or from friends who do not in
nuire into the date of manufacture
-sbr origin too closely.
- Waves of criticism like that, how
ever, waited in the direction OF the
White House for some time, and the
president took occasion today to let
the public know he knew just what
they meant.
-"Many citizens" said the pres!-
dent, mot teetottlers in their habits,
i. lawfully acquired stores of private
steclIs in anticipation of prohibition,
bending the ratification of the
amendment and the enactment of
regulatory law. Many others have
: had no scruples in seeking supplies
d: from those who vend in defiance of
the law. The latter practice is rath-
a. Ell too easily to be INDUCED in by
/: the masses, so there are literally
American millions who resent the
: lawful possessions OF the few, the
Iawless practices of a few more, and
rebel against the denial to the vast
majority. Universal prohibition in
the United States would occasion far
less discomfort than partial prohibit
ton and partial indulgence"
Deep Impression
Mr.. Harding appealed for IAN
nuralraned constance . His sneech