The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-20
LIVE TOPIC FOR GOVERNORS

President Coolidge in a prohibition conference today, it is probable that comparatively few of them will be able to express themselves as freely as they would prefer, according to advance press dispatches from the scene. It appears that there will be quite a difference of opinion as to what meth ods should be adopted looking to the enforcement of the prohibition laws. Some of the governors, a respectable minority, at least, men like Smith of New York, Silzer of New Jersey, Par ker of Louisiana, and Richie of Mary land, who have not been known for their activities on behalf of prohibit tion, and who are generally classified as "wets," are expected to take the position that prohibition as at present in force is not success, and that en- forcement of the law is rather a mat ter of theory than of practice under the circumstances. The majority of the governors assembled are looked to for the expression of different view by suggesting plans and methods along lines of more drastic policies and more complete cooperation between federal and state authorities.
 Since Governor Pinchot threw down the gauntlet to the president, charged that laxness in the federal authorities and an alleged fragrant disregard # the law at Washington, which is under complete federal control, have done much to bring about widespread dis regard of the prohibition law, the impression has been widespread that there is good deal of politics behind the whole situation, and that the forth coming national political campaign is factor to be considered in this con- nection. Prohibition and the alleged failure of prohibition enforcement are already an issue in the presidential campaign, both as respects the Repub- lican presidential nomination and the fight between the leading parties. Governor Pinchot did much to develop this situation. He got support from both prohibitionists and anti-prohibi- tionists, because the former believe that the liquor question is closely as- sociated with the campaign as legiti- mate issue, while the latter are always ready to drag prohibition in as a po- litical influence whereby there may be more confusion and more uncertainty
 There is no doubt that prohibition will figure in the national campaign more or less conspicuously. President Coolidge is reported to be anxious to avoid 1t; but seems to have little hopes of so doing. He has been put on the defensive, in way, and there are al ready indications that he would will ingly pass the buck, as he did in the anthracite situation, the question of reduced freight rates for the benefit of the farmers, and in other vexing problems. Whether Pinchot will ac- quiesce in such a situation is prob lematical. There seems no doubt that he is undertaking to capitalize for po- litical advantage both his achievement in the settlement of the anthracite coal strike and his somewhat spectacu- lar move to pass the buck to Wash ington for what he claims to be a fragrant violation of the prohibition laws, a condition which is notoriously bad in his own state.
 All of this will doubtless be ana lyzed by the governors assembled in conference. They are more or less astute politicians, and will therefore be prepared to look beyond the surface in their efforts to discover political motives and purposes. The conference was called for the consid- eration of several important questions; but prohibition bids fair to overshadow most of the other things. A lively situation growing out of the difference in points of view might be looked for unless President Coolidge succeeds in dominating the conference by virtue of his official position on the home ground, supplemented by talent for keeping down an avalanche of talk.