Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1923-10-26
DRY LAW IS NOT
POLITICAL ISSUE
President Obtains Pledge From
Governors
SEES U. S. IDEAL AT STAKE
paushsrty Says Delay OF Prohibition
Cases Has conecsted Courts
Haynes Cites Progress
Hard Situation.

{ Washington President Cool
idge secured a pledge Of co-opera-
ton from majority of 36 State
Executives called here to discuss
law enforcement with particular
reference to prohibition.
He declared to the Governors, HIS
luncheon guests, that enforcement Of
the voIstead (prohibitionl act is not
and cannot be made political ques-
tion.
He made no reference to the merit
OF prohibition except to say that the
matter should be left to the judgment
of the people.
The people made 1t the law of the
land and It is the duty OF every law
agency in the land to enforce it, he
declared
The Governors were at the White
House from o'clock until $50 o'clock
At the conclusion Of his prepared adj
dress. the President offered seven
points dealing with cooperation. They
szere informally adopted.
In vigorous fashion, the President
said:
I'VE can only progress with these
problems by their frank and candid
consideration. These problems must
be taken directly to the American peo-
pie. They are not nation Of In
ebriates. They are not people who
can be charged with being hypocrites.
They have no patience with anarchy.
They are a sober, frank and candid
people.
These fundamental characteristics
are not going to be changed. This
great law-abiding element Of the ma
tlon is entitled to support and protec-
tion. propose to give that support
and protection to the limit. provided
by the Constitution and the law of the
land against every lawless element"
President Coolidge. discussed. in ad-
..s.Aon to prohibition. the laws intend
ed to curb the drug evil and immigra-
ton violations. His concluding OBJ
servation was that the principle in
volved in the enforcement Of the laws
on the statute books, both Federal and
State. was clothed with significance
"in which is revealed the life or the
death of the American ideal Of self
government"
Governors Grosbeek. Michigan; Ma
hey. Utah; Hardee, Florida. and
Trinkle, Virginia. pleaded the support
of their States to the program of Co
operation amidst vigorous applause.
When they had concluded the Presi-
dent asked if anyone else had any
thing TO say.
Governor Smith. Of New York, said
he would like to have it understood
that New York was already co-operat-
ing to the fullest extent in law enforce
ment He said
We are not getting enough Co
operation from the Federal authorities
l do not mean by this that they are
not doing all they can, but the job is
too big for them"
Governor Neff, Texas, declared at
this stage that It was surprising to
hear Democrats of the Jeffersonian
school, calling upon the Federal Gov
ernment to enforce laws within their
own States. Texas. he declared. would
do everything possible with her own
law agencies first.
Governor Ritchie. OF Maryland. de-
ciared that the volstead act was only
part Of Federal invasion Of the
rights of the States which is growing
to intolerable proportions" He went
on:
''On the subject of prohibition en-
forcement alone this conference will
fail and all other similar conferences
will fail so long as they refuse to
face the basic question whether or
not prohibition enforcement should
be turned back to the States them
selves. This question is the heart Of
the whole thing. There Is no use in
talking further upon the subject If the
conference persists in disregarding it. .
Governor Morrison. North Carolina.
stated that the State needed the aid
OF the Federal Government. He sug-
gested as an aid to dry law enforce
ment that law be passed compelling
persons to tell where they had pur-
chased liquor.
The expected "clash" between Gov
ernor Pinchot. Pennsylvania, and the
President failed to materalize. He had
promised to put responsibility for dry
law iaxity directly up to the President
and can upon him to take personal
charge of nationwide drive to en-
force the law.
He made no remarks during the
conference and afterwards issued
statement saying that he was highly
pleased with the results and the prom
ise Of cooperation between Federal
and State agencies.
Other Administration officials who
addressed the Governors included At
torney General Daugherty. Federal
Prohibition Director Haynes, Acting
Secretary Of Labor Henning and Col
onel Mutt, of the Narcotic Division.