The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1923-06-25
HARDING TALKS ON
Law ENFORCEMENT
SAYS GOVERNMENT DETERMINED
TO ENFORCE PROHIBITION-
TAKES SLAP AT NEW YORK

Denver-(A. P.)-President Hard
ing served notice in an address here
today that the federal government
was determined to enforce the prOhi-
bitiOn law even should the burden O1
enforcement continue to be increaS-
ingly thrown upon it by the states.
Moreover, the executive voiced the
conviction not only that the prohibi-
tion amendment will not be repealed
but that whatever changes may be
made in the Volstead act will repre-
sent the sincere purpose of effective
enforcement, rather than moderation
of the general policy
Striking straight out at those who
violate the law, the president said
the issue is fast coming to be re-
cognized not as one between the
"wets" and drys," but as one OF
whether the laws of "this country
can be and will be enforced"
$50 far as the federal government
is concerned he said, " and am very
sure also, so far as concerns the very
great majority of the state govern
ments and the local governments, it
will be enforced. A gratifying, in
deed it may fairly be said, an amaz-
last few years toward better enforce
ment."
Has New York in Mind
While Mr.. Harding made no direct
reference to the situation in New YORK
state, he did say that the spectacle
of state multiplying it's own authorl-
ty, and asking the national sover-
eighty to take over an important part
of its powers, is new" He added that
"when the implications of this
strange proposal are fully understood
by people and parties devoted to pre-
serving the rights of the states, the
new nullificationists, venture to say,
will discover that they have perpet-
rated what is likely to prove one OF
the historic blunders in political man.
agement."
The president disclosed that good
deal of testimony is reaching Wash
ington that some states having pro-
hibition enforcement codes and even
some which successfully enforced
:" dry" laws before national proh1bl-
tion are disposed to abdicate their
own police authority in this matter
and to turn over the burden of pro
hibition enforcement to the federal
authorities"
Doubtless" he said, "this is large
1y due to a misconceived notion, too,
widely entertained, that the federal
government has actually taken over
the real responsibility. The fact Is
quite the contrary The federal gov
ernment is not equipped with the IN
:strumentalities to make enforcement
locally effective. 1t does not main
tain either a police or Judlclal
establishment adequate to or designed
for such task. If the burden OF en-
forcement shall continue to be IN
creasingly thrown upon the federai
government, it will be necessary, at
large expense, to create federal pol
ice authority which in time will IN
evitably come to be regarded as an
intrusion upon and interference WITH
the right of local authority to man
age local concerns. The possibilities
of disaster in such situation hardly
need to be suggested. Yet it is some
thing hat we must recognize as among
the menaces in this situation.
"The federal government ought TO
nerform. in connection with the en-
forcement of this policy, those func-
tions which are obviously with It's
proper province. These are compll-
ance in all it's aspects as it relates
to international commerce, the I'M
portation and expectation of liquors, |
the collection of federal revenue, the
prevention of smuggling, and in gen
.eral the enforcement of the law With
in the proper realm of federal authorl-
,ty. But the business of local en-
forcement, by states and cities, ought
to be in the hands of the state ana
local authorities, and it should be /
executed in all sincerity and good /
faith. as other laws are presumed
to be executed.
viii Discharge Obligation
What I am saying must not De
construed as indicating any relaxa-
tion of the national government
purpose to do it's full duty in this mat
fer. [ have no doubt that II the
burden is cast, in undue proportlon'
upon the national authority the fed
eral government will, not only undef
this administration but under Wnat-
ever others may come in the future,
assume and discharge the full oDl1ga-
ton. But l am pointing out that TINS
ought not to be made necessary. Ihe
national policy ought to be supported
by the public opinion and the admins
trative machinery of the Whole
country For myself, l am confident
that we are passing through the most
difficult stage of this matter, and that
as time passes there will be more
and more willing acceptance by au-
thorities everywhere of the unalter-
able obligation of law enforcement.
The country and the nation will not
permit the law of the land to be MADE
a by word.
cit is curious illustration OF
loose thinking, that some people nave
as a means to protecting the I
fullest rights of the states, that the
states should abandon their part IN
the prohibitory policy.
That means simply an invitation to
the federal government to exercise
powers which should be exercised by
the state Instead Of being an as
sertion of state rights, it is an aban- ]
T.. to- oh