San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-10-20
COOLIDGE URGES
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Continued from Page One,

CONTINUED from Page One,
we have given our oaths to support
the constitution which requires of the |
President that he shall take care that |
the laws be faithfully executed; and |
the state constitutions lay similar |
obligation upon their governors.
The constitution and the laws are
perfectly plain, and the directions
which they contain 10 the President
and the governors are equally plain.
The counry ought 10 know all this. 1t
ought 10 understand just what duties
the laws have imposed. 1t ought 10
comprehend that when laws have been
made. there is and can be no question
about the duty Of executives TO en-
force them with such instruments and
by such means as the law provides for
securing enforcement. They have no
alternative. They cannot be criticized
| for doing their duty. This Is not a
| political question; il cannot be made
| a political question. II there be any
principle which has been established
| by time. by common consent. by the
! unqualified assertion of fundamental
and ,tatue law. it is that executives
are the law-enforcing officers Of this
nation. II this were not so. there
would be no warrant for the present
gathering. can conceive but one
opinion on this. in which every reSpon-
sible element must concur.
BoOtlegging Great Problem.
mo provision OF the eighteenth
| amendment or the national prohibit
ton 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. 10 be the supreme law
of the land. TheT are binding upon
every inhabitant. But there still re-
mains 10 the states the power, specifi-
cally reserved in the eighteenth amend
ment. 10 pass enforcing acts. and there
is still on them a joint responsibility
TO enact and execute enforcement laws.
which may not always be exercised,
but which can never be avoided.
The Complementary duty TO enforce
ment of the law is obedience 10 the
law. That rests with the people them
selves. The eighteenth amendment
prohibits manufacture. transportation,
sale. export and import. These are
the commercial activities. Trade III
intoxicating liquors, for beverage pur-
poses. is especially denounced. 1t is
in this field that most of the difficult
ty exists. The main problem arises
from those who are bent on making
money by an illegal traffic in intox-
icating liquors. II this could be elm
mated. the rest would be easy.
There problems must be taken di-
rectly 10 the American people. This
government is their government; these
laws are their laws. They have formed
their government and enacted their
laws, with ell due solemnity, TO pro-
mote their welfare and protect their
! liberties. They are not a nation of
!. inebriates they are not people who
n can be charged with being hypocrites.
|. | They have no patience with anarchy.
9 They are n sober, frank and candid
+ people. They have respect and rev
i crence for duty constituted authority
n To them the law is a rule If action.
8 These fundamental national character
. istics are not going TO be changed
+ These fundamental conceptions are
: going TO remain permanent.
Self-cOyernment at Stake.
a The great body Of the people are
: thoroughly law abiding. This grea'
i law-abiding element of the nation J!
entitled to support and protection.
propose TO give that support and pro
: tection 10 the limit provided by tn
{ constitution and the law Of the land
n against every lawless element. The eX
o ecutivts are required 10 enforce tn
: law. The machinery for the enforce
- : ns fnfl Il
, the acts of Congress and the acts o
4 In. state Legislatures. That ma
!. chinery must be used 10 the full eX
Q tent of its capacity TO secure the en-
a forcement of the law. II is certainl,
Ii my own purpose 50 10 use II. IN
, people are going to continue to yiel'
4 obedience 10 the law. This principl
will continue TO prevail whenever tn
a American people shall pass judgmen
n upon it. because il is the foundation o
/ all their institutions.
d I'VE can only make progress wit
e these problems by their frank and can
r. did consideration. They are not 90
e ing TO be decided by prejudice. The
are not going 10 be answered as
result of political intrigue. The -
81, not going TO be determined by eS
l tremists on either side. They are no
going TO be solved in accordance wit
any sordid motive. They will yiel
| to the calm and clear judgment {
the American people, through dete'
| mined expression of their high mori
| purpose. The law represents the voiC
4 of the people. Behind it and SUI
N porting it. is divine sanction. Fl
IL forcement. and law aud obedience
II law by the very nature Of our il
I'll stitutioIs, are not matters OF choi'
in this republic. but the expression :
moral requirement Of living in n
cordance with the truth. They ri
clothed with n spiritual significanc
| in which is revealed the life or III
death Of the American ideal Of Sc
government
As an inducement to early Chris
mas work. we will make photograph