Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1923-06-25
Federal Government Will
Enforce Prohibition, Pres.
Harding Asserts at Denver

concerned he said. land | am very
sure also. 80 far az concerns the very
great majority Of the state government
and the local governments. il will be en-.
forced. 4 gratifying. indeed il may
fairly be said an amazing progress hss
been made In the last few years towafd
better enforcement.
Hits New York Stand.
While Mr.. Harding made no direct
reference 10 the situation in New York
state. he did say that -thc spectacle" OF
state nullifying its own authority. and
asking the national sovereignty 10 take
over an important part Of its powers
N new lie added that when the i'm
plications of this strange proposal are
fully understood by people and parties
devoted 70 preserving the rights Of the
states, the new nullficationists, l ven
fure TO say. will discover that they have
perpetrated what il likely To prove one
~ the historic blunders in political man-
agement."
doubtless. he said, this IL largely
due 10 a misconceived notion. too. wide
IN entertained. that the federal govern
ment has actually taken over the real
responsibility. The fact is quite the con-
trary. The federal government is not
equipped with the instrumentaltics 10
make enforcement locally effective. II
does not maintain either a police or a
judicial establishment adequate to or
designed for such a task. If the burden
IL enforcement shall continue 10 be in
creaSingly thrown upon the Federal gov
crnment. IL will be necessary, ut large
expense. 20 create federal police au-
thority which in time will inevitably
come to be regarded as an intrusion up
on and interference with the right Of
local authority TO manage local con-
Germs. The possibilities Of disaster in
such situation hardly need to be sug-
gested. Yet it is something that we
must recognize a among the menaces
in this situation.
States Must Cooperate.
The Federal government ought to
perform. in connection with the govern
ment Of this policy, those functions
which are obviously within its proper
province. These are compliance in all
aspects as il relates 10 international
commerce, the importation and exporta-
tion and expectation of liquors, the col
lection Of federal revenue, the preven-
ton Of intoxicating liquors. the col
enforcement Of the law within the proper
realm Of Federal authority. But the
business of local enforcement, by states
and cities, ought TO be in the hands of
should be executed in all sincerity and
good faith. ~ other laws are presumed
to be executed.
What l am saying must not be con-
strued as indicating any relaxation Of
the national governments purpose TO do
its fun duty in this matter. | have no
doubt that il the burden is east. i'm un-
due proportion, upon the national au-
thority the Federal government will. not
only under this administration but under
whatever others may come in the future.
assume and discharge the full obligation.
But | am pointing out that this ought
not TO be made necessary. The nation
al policy ought TO be supported by the
public opinion and the administrative
machinery Of the whole country. For
myself. am confident that we are pass
ing now through the most difficult stage
Of this matter. and that as time passes
there will BE- more willing acceptance
by authorities everywhere Of the un-
alterable obligation Of law enforcement.
The country and the nation will not
permit the law Of the land 10 be made
a byword.
Abandonment Of State Rights
1T is curious illustration Of loose
thinking. that some people have pro-
posed .as a means TO protecting the full
est rights II the states. that the states
should abandon their part in enforcing
the prohibitary policy. That means sim
ply an invitation 10 the federal govern
ment 10 exercise powers which should b
exercised by the states. Instead Of be-
ing an assertion of state rights. IL is nm
abandonmnt of them: il H. an abdication:
Ii amounts 10 a confession by the state
that il doesn't choose To govern itself but
prefers TO turn the task, or a consider
able part Of IL. over 10 the federal au-
There could be no more com
plete negation of state rights.
II am making my appeal in this mat
ter 10 the broadcst and best sentiments
Of law-abidinz Americans everywhere
We must recognize that there are some
people oil both sides of this question in
whose minds IN IL absolutely parnmotiut