The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1923-01-03

platforms of the two great parties
! leave little to choose between their
utterances on the question of prohibi-
| ton.
, But it is quite evident that what
ever may have been the position OF
| the parties in the past, it is entirely
within the power of their leaders to
SO maneuver as to create sharp di-
vision on this issue in the future. The
| Monitor does not ascribe to the Presi-
dent any purpose other than to urge
upon the Nation the necessary steps
for making the enforcement of the
law effective. But his action is clearly
in accord with the maxim that he
serves his party best who serves his
country best. For just at the mo-
ment when the most powerful forces
in the Democratic Party are manifest
| ing purpose of surrendering to the
liquor power and making terms with
the violators of the law, the President,
the official leader of the Republican
Party, by his ringing official prom
ouncement, allies himself and his par
ty on the side of law enforcement and
the protection of American youth
against the saloon. When the adher-
ents of the liquor power are pointing
proudly to their success in electing
/ a wet Governor and a wet Senator in
New York on the Democratic ticker,
and wet Senator and potential presi-
Dental nominee in New Jersey, the
( President accepts the challenge and
appeals to the Nation to support him
and his party on the dry issue.
If the Democrats are sufficiently
misled to accept this challenge, and
base their appeal to the country in
1924 on their willingness to surrender
to the liquor interests they will be
given an opportunity to Judge of the
political power of the moral sentiment
of the Nation.
As a concrete proposition for cor
recting the conditions relating to the
enforcement of the prohibition law
which he properly says "saVor of
worldwide scandal"-the President
purposes calling a conference of gov
ernors of the states. Out of such a
. conference, he says, lit is confidently
expected will emerge a more adequate
comprehension of the whole problem,
and definite policies of national and
state cooperation in enforcing the
laws" He stands ready to urge a
course of enforcement that shall chal-
lenge "the destructive force engaged
in widespread violation, official cor
ruption, and individual demoraliZa-
ton"
Most citizens will turn first to the
Presidents words concerning prohibi-
ton, that being for the moment the
public question most engaging atten-
ton. But it would be doing injustice
to what is a really remarkable Presi-
dents message if reference were not
made to certain other recommends
tons. The appeal for a constitution
al amendment which will give to Con-
gress the power to regulate child la
Dor is one that will arouse widespread
approval and support The PROPOSE
| ton for the fuller coordination OF
rail, water, and motor transportation
+ though it may seem obvious and com
monplace, is nevertheless the first re-
cognition by a President of the part
the perfected highway and the high.
powered motor have taken in disOrgan-
izing the business of railroads. The
| suggestion of constitutional limita.
ton upon the issuance of tax-free Sc
curitles will arouse only the regret
that some earlier executive did not
carry it to enactment years ago. The
comments upon the difficulties CON
fronting the American farmer are CON
vincing, even though the recommends
tions for their correction may not gro
far enough to satisfy the farm bloc
in Congress. But after all, it is To
be remembered that nearly all of the
n rHayn ~ g. -
must be regarded as merely academic
so far as the present Congress is con-
cerned. With less than three months
of life, and numbered up with the sub
sidy bill, as well as appropriation
measures, the present legislative body
will probably not act on single one
OF these recommendations
Perhaps the least satisfactory, be
cause the least frank, definite, and
concrete, expressions in the message
are those relative to the attitude OF
the United States in its foreign rela-
tions. This subject the President
Sums up in this closing paragraph:
After all, there is less difference
about the part this great Repub-
] lie shall play in furthering peace
and advancing humanity than in
I the manner of playing it. We
ask no one TO assume response
| bility for US; we assume no re-
sponsibility which others must
/ bear for themselves, unless ma
tionality is hOpelessly swallowed
! up in internationalism.
! All that is made clear by this ex-
! ceedingly restrained and cautious, not
to say cryptic, utterance is that tn,
American people must wait yet awhile
to learn definitely what the foreign
! policy of their Government is to be
Perhaps today there are many who
would prefer to take it from what the
! Administration told its representative
at Lausanne to say to the Turks, thar
| from the more vague applications il
the Presidents message.
But in the main that message Is
one of the most notable to come from
the White House in time of peace
/ Christian Science Monitor.