Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-10-17
AND POLITICS

ENFORCEMENT AND POLITICS
Governor Pinchot compares the
present booze situation in the coun-
try with the Whiskey Insurrection,
an uprising-not throughout the
country but located in the western
Scotch-Iris This srew out Of the
imposition of an excise tax by the
Federal government. 1t cost these
independent citizens of that far away
part so much to get their grain to
market they made it into whiskey.
They and many others in Pennsyl-
vania were opposed to the Federal
government taking a tax for making
this whiskey. They didn't wish to
pay it and if they did preferred to
have the state take It. The Federal
government modified the law but to
no effect and matters drifted along
until the rebels fired on a Federal
official in 1894, whereupon Washing
ton ordered out $4,000 militia to sup
lress it. Unless this were done the
ability of the Federal government to
collect its revenues would be open to
question. The issue was a big one,
the insurrection a little affair and
confined to a small part of the state
of PENNSYLVANIA, which, however,
permitted it to appear that # either
was unable or unwilling to enforce
the law.
Governor rinchots comparison is
not an altogether happy or fair one.
Then the state of Pennsylvania pro-
tested against the passage of this
federal tax on whiskey and appears
to have made no effort to aid in en-
forcement of it. Would Governor
Pinchot have us understand that a
like condition exists in Pennsylvania
today?
Governor Allen of Kansas rises to
remark: IF l were governor of a
State and city in that State defied
my orders to close up saloons violat-
ing the law the citizens of that city
hCtAA W orc up lliC ilCAL HUI at
the sound of bugle reveille, and
would go to bed to the tune of taps.
I would keep the State militia in
that city until my orders were
obeJed To date no comemnts have
been made by the governor of Okla
homa. Establishing military rule
either by 4 governor of a State or by
the President of united states Is a
serious undertaking, one not to be
lightly undertaken. Evidently Gov
ernor rinchot thought so when he
personally inspected the other day
open violation of the order to close
certain bar-rooms and alleged dis
reputable places in Philadelphia.
One President has been crushed
under the burdens OF the executive
department of our Government. The
President is no more responsible for
the violation of the Constitution in
PENNSYLVANIA by the booze interests
than he is for the violation Of the
CONSTITUTION in the South by the
"bi'VN Nv S'SuiC tIIcISDy IcpIC"
sentation in Congress which does
not belong to them under the Con-
stitution. Furthermore Governor
Pmchot admits the Federal enforce
ment officials of Pennsylvania are
excellent officials, but he attributes
the trouble TO Washington and the
powers there and would place the
responsibility on the President. In
view of the we'll known attitude of
President Coolidge, of the fact that
he is endeavOring TO secure better
unified effort throughout the coun-
try. the governors criticism is I'M
fair. This Is unfortunate because
there evidently is need for arousing
public sentiment in support of the
law, and unfairncss never in the long
run makes for cooperative support
Enforcement should be kept out of
politics, but mapy have seen in the
way the Governor of Pennsylvania
has presented his argument a mani
fest disposition to thrust 1t even
deeper into politics. We believe a
rlcan-cut showing of the faults to
I've laid at the door of politics would
have helped to clear the air, but 1t Is
essential that the doing Of this shall
he above a like suspicion.
"All whisky and alcohol in storage
is solely III control of the United
states. None can be released from
bond. sold, transported, or used in
manufacture except by Federal per-
mission. No brewery can operate
without permit from the United
states. With the power to issue
AND the right to act under these per-
mits no State can interfere The
liquor problem lis first of all a ma
ii2nal matter. and as such cannot be
met and solved unless the Federal
Government does its full part"
That is true and it is something
which should be emphasized. But
-T. Pinehot also declared that no
alcohol can be produced without a
Federal permit. This cannot be true
- report5 of the lures of stills
used tor producing alchol or its
eoutralert ! true. A State is bet
t2f s..uatcd, has better facilities for
enforcement than has the Federal
government in such eases. Dis
pedience of the Volstead law may.
the governor says, be fragrant at.
Dhe national capital Congress can
and should regulate that ipsnf.r ~