Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-10-11
COVE RNORS soon
WILL ASSEMBLE
PRESIDENT TO CALL THEM TO
WASHINGTON TO TALK OF
LAW ENFORCEMENT.
CARRYING OUT HARDING PLAN
Federal Council of Churches Will Hold
Conference in National Capital
About the Same Time to Discuss
Enforcing Prohibition ActR
BY EDWARD 3. CLARK

by EDWAnO D. NGAhN
Washington Washington is won.
dering if it is a mere coincidence that
the governors Of the states are to meet
/ In the capital at the call of President
Coolidge for the discussion Of law
enforcement problems at the same
time that the representatives of the
Federal Council of Churches are to
| gather here to discuss prohibition en-
forcement.
In letter from Washington recent
federal government Today in matters
connected with the enforcement Of pro-
hibition is to bring about closer rela-
tons between the federal forces for
law and order and those Of the diff
ferent states and municipalities. The
call for the meeting of the governors
to discuss law-enforcement is consid-
cred as directly connected with the
plans for closer cooperation between
the government and the states in an
effort to see to it that the anti-liquor
laws are obeyed.
Some months before he died, Presi-
dent Harding gave his sanction to a
suggested plan for a conference OF the
governors on the subject of law en-
forcement. President Harding never
set a date, even tentatively, for the
conference, but he virtually gave his
promise that he would call the state
executives together before many weeks
had elapsed. It Is recognized that
President Coolidge, in calling this con-
ference, is carrying out not only a
promise, but probably policy Of his
predecessor in office.
Pinchot Reminded the President.
Governor Pinchot of Pennsylvania
was one of the first callers on Presi-
dent Coolidge after the death Of Presi-
dent Harding. After the governor had
left the President he said that he had
called for two things only: one was
to express his wishes for successful
administration, and the other was to
remind the President Of Mr.. Harding's
promise to summon the governors of
the states to conference on law-en-
forcement.
After Governor Pinchot's visit moth
ing was known Of the attitude of Pres
ident Coolidge toward the conference
matter until recently. Then he *
pressed his intention to cali the gov
errors together for conference about
Oct. 10. AS soon as the presidential
announcement was made the represen-
tatives of the Federal Council of
Churches declared that it would hold
"a good citizenship and patriotism con-
ference on recognition of the tremen-
dous propaganda which is being car
ried on to nullify the Eighteenth
amendment and the Volstead act and
to discredit all law" The days set for
this conference are Oct. IA, Is and Is.
It is perfectly well known in Wash
ington as elsewhere that scores of the
officials Of government, like consid-
cradle citizenery of the United States,
do not approve entirely of the Vol
stead act. The fact remains, how
ever, that these officials, even though
they feel as they do, are at one with
the other officials of government IN
believing that SO long as law is on
the statute books it should be enforced.
The President naturally is presumed
to be of the same mind. Certainly
his act in calling the governors to-
gether for the purpose of finding
means properly to enforce the laws
makes it apparent that the Volstead
act, so far as the administration is
concerned, is to be enforced to the
letter. If it can be so enforced.
Must Stand for Enforcement.
This conference Of the governors on
law-enforcement ought to make decid-
edly interesting matter for the news
of-the-day columns. 1t is perfectly we'll
known that some Of the governors who
will come to Washington are anti-pro-
hibitionists and that more of them per-
haps are opposed to the Volstead law
as it stands. There probably will be
some mighty interesting discussions at
the sessions of the conference. The
main point is, however, that no COVER
nor, whatever his wet or dry views
may be, can enter any objection to any
kind Of a proper plan for law-enforce-
ment. They all will be compelled of
necessity to concur in the general plan
which will be evolved to secure obedi-
ence to the laws as they stand:
This does not mean at all, however,
that the governors will not express
openly at the sessions their views of
the Volstead act. 1t is definitely
known in Washington that some gov
errors, like some national legislators,
are strongly in favor Of a change in
the act, but also there is general be-
lief in Washington that no change will
be made by the next congress. 1t
seems that congressman generally be-
lieve that the majority of Americans
are satisfied with the law.
President Writes Own Speeches.
A not infrequent question in Wash
ington is "Who writes the Presidents
speeches?" This question in way is
what one might call slam at the Pres
ident of the United States. The Ques-
ton is not asked today with any more
frequency than it was asked in the
past, for seemingly a multitude of