Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-10-23
A CONFERENCE TO CONSIDER

1t is said that over the chair of
the President of the Turkish as
scmbly is this passage from the
Koran: 'Solve your problems by
meeting together and discussing
them Something like this might
be appropriate for these conferences
of our President with the governors
of the several States.
There appear to be some distrust-
full of this comparatively new at
tempt to obtain unity and cooper
alton of effort throughout the coun-
try. 1t is rather significant that at
this time when the tendency to
group legislation is setting in very
strongly, when the lawmakers in
Congress are encouraged to think
father of the majority in the home
district its dissatisfaction with the
prices of wheat in one district and
potatoes in another, than of any
political party or on that party's ma
tional policies. that governors Of the
States are meeting at request of the
chief executive to consider national
policy.
Here was opportunity for Cover
nor Smith of New York. Parker of
Louisiana, and Richie of Maryland,
along with the governors of the dry
states to make their pleas, but being
intelligent men and not unmindful of
the influence of a President in touch
with an informed electorate, they
must have felt the Presidents clear
calm and judicial summing up of one
situation will profoundly impress
such Of the people as may read his
words. Neither may it be unreason-
able to suppose that Governor
Pinchot, who also was present, may
have had doubts as to the wisdom
of his recent attempt to anticipate
and seem to demand the acceptance
by the President of responsibility for
the enforcement of the prohibitory
law.
President Coolidge made plain his
attitude so clearly that none may
question. 1t is seen to be what has
all along been generally anticipate
Indeed. his position is inevitable if
We take into consideration his
traditions and logical mind.
"lf there be any principle which
has been established by time, by
common consent. by the unqualified
assertion of fundamental and statute
law, it is that Executives are the
law enforcing officers of this Nation.
If this were not so, there would be no
warrant for the present gathering
! can conceive but one opinion on
this. in Which every responsible ele-
.nent must concur.
If Governor "Al' Smith of New
York derived any comfort from this
or what followed he surely would be
able to extract sunshine from
cucumbers, and green ones at that:
and those of the people, who may
wish to find excuse for evasion of
the law will find no encouragement
in this:
mo provision of the 18th Amend
Act, contemplates any surrender of
State responsibility. Under them
prohibition becomes obligatory in all
States. For the Constitution and the
laws made in pursuance thereof are
specifically declared, by the Federal
Constitution, to he the supreme law
of the land. They are binding upon
every inhabitant But there still re-
mains TO the States the power,
specifically reserved in the 18th
Amendment to pass enforcing acts
. and there is still on them a joint
responsibility to enact and execute
enforcement laws which may not al
ways be exercised but which can
never be avoided.
THE complementary duty to en-
,forcement of the law is obedience to
the law. That rests with the people
themselves. The 18th amendment
prohibits manufacture, transporta-
,tion. sale. export and import. These
are the commercial activities. Trade
in intoxica ting liquors for beverage
purposes is especially denounced. 1t
lis in this field that most of the
difficulty exists. The main problem
,arises from those who are bent on
making money by an illegal traffic
In intoxicating liquors.
"If this could he eliminated the
rest would he easy.
The President clearly sees that
1.-THE great body of the people are
thoroughly law abiding" and his
saying so serves to remind US all
that this is a truth and a very i'm
portant one. He sees that this is
to be depended on, that the people
must be afforded frank consideration
of the problems. that these are not
to be solved by prejudice, by poll
tical intrigue nor determined by ex
tremists. "They will yield to the
calm, clear judgment of the Amer
team people"