The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-10-15
Cov.Pinchot
Brands
Law Failure
Declares Flagrant Violation
at Washington Hampers
Work of Prohibition
Enforcement.
Political Activity Blamed

Washington. Oct. 1.-THE prohibi-
tion law. measured by the respect ac-
corded 1t, has failed, Governor Pin
chot Of Pennsylvania told the citizen
ship conference here today, because
mo sincere, intelligent and concerted
nationwide effort had been made 10
enforce it, because federal agents
have collected bribes and because pol.
itics is at the root of the evil.
No one less than the president of
the United States himself, Governor
Pinchot declared. could meet the
present emergency, because the pres
ident alone can bring all government
forces into a concerted attack on vio-
lators.
The thing that has protected the
liquor criminal from law, said Cover
nor Pinchot. 'is politics. Politics hrst,
Jaw enforcement poor second, has
been the order. Bad whisky with
beer to help has supplied the sinews
of war for bad politics and politics
has returned the favor"
Assailing the manner of organiza'
ton by which authority descende
from the president to the secretary Of
the treasury and thence to the com
missioner of internal revenue, Gov
ernor Pinchot said:
Need Centralized Authority.
What Is needed 10 an organization
In which responsibility 10 definitely
centered; one in which the buck can
not be passed and over which the
chief executive Of the nation can sx
erciss immediate direction and con
troll. Such arrangement should b
only temporary. for the president al'
ready = heavily burdsnsd and moth
ing should b added 70 his load with
out serious reason
but the fact 10 that the attack On
ths constitution and laws OF our ecufs
~ 10 one Of hs most serious In our
h,sory. Disregard for all law II more
effectively spread By the failure OF
The enforcement service than IA any
ppther way. All these facts. taken to-
ixether. furnish abundant reason for
Treating this matter - ef sufficient
Importance to enlise the active direc'
: zion Of the president hfmssh. He
alone IN my opinion. can naest the
emergency.
Violation n Wsshimgton.
'There y another reason why the
president should take personal
charge. Not only has the political
hamstring Of the federal enforcement
service had its seal in Washington
but It IL notorious that disobedience
to the 18th amendment has been fla'
grant in the capital city.
TT 4. foolish to expect the state
and municipal police powers TO cope
with foods Of Illegal liquor let loose
by the failure of federal agents to
dam the flood at its source. Federal
permission is required to export whis
ky which Is smuggled back into tne
country for sale, it's breweries op
Grating under federal permits that
are flooding the country With high
mower beer. The whole system oi
permits. as well az the regulations
governing business under them
should be revised and brought down
TO date In the light Of the last three
years experience.
we, must insist on the complete
separation of politics from the en-
forcement OF the 18th amendment
The issue is clear before US ano
tho outcome is assured. No band OF
criminals ever has or ever will defea'
our government and our people