The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-06-25
HARDING FOR
PROHIBITION
: ENFORCEMENT
Regardless of Views of Vol
stead Law, it Must be Up
Y held, President Says
SPEAKS IN DENVER, COL.
Declares Belief, that Volstead
Law Won't be Weakened,
or Amendment Repealed
SPEAKS IN DENVER, COL.

Denver, June 25-Presidcnt Hard
ing served notice in an address here
today that the federal government:
was determined to enforce the pro-
hibitioD law even should the burden
Cf enforcement continue to be in
creasingly thrown upon it by the
states.
Moreover, the executive voiced the
conviction not only that the prohi-
bition amendment will not be repeal
ed, but that whatever changes may
be made in the Volstead Act "wiil
represent the sincere purpose of ef-
fcctive 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 recog-
nized not as one between the "wets"
;M "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 l am
very sure also, SO far as concerns the
very great majority of the state gov
ernments and the local governments,
\ will be enforced. A gratifying,
Indeed it may fairly be said, an amaz-
$ng progress has been made in the
last few years toward better enforce
ment."
While Mr.. Harding made no direct
reference to the situation in New
York state, he did say that "the
spectacle of state multiplying its
own authority, and asking the nation
al sovereignty to take over an i'm
portant part of its powers, is new"
He added that when the implica-
tions of this strange proposal are
fully understood by people and par
Of the states, the new nullification-
lists, | venture to say, will discover
ghat they have perpetrated what is
flkcly to prove one of, the historic
;" blunders in political management"
The President disclosed that a 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 prohibi-
tion are disposed to abdicate their
and to turn over the burden of pro-
hitition enforcement to the federal
authorities.
Misconceived Nation
"Doubtless," he said, "this is large.
ly 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
eYhment is not equipped with the
instrumentalities to make enforce.
ment locally effective. 1t does not
maintain either a police or a judicial
establishment adequate to or design
ed for such a task. If the burden of
enforcement shall continue to be in
cicasingly thrown upon the Federal
government it will be necessary, at
.l1rge expense, to cerate federal
police authority which in time will
invariably come to be regarded as
an instrument upon and interference
with the right of local authority to
manage local concerns. The possibil.
tiles of disaster in such situation
hardly need to be suggested. Yet il
is something that we must recognize
as among the menaces in this situa.
tion.
"The Federal government ought tc
perform, in connection with the en-
forcement of this policy, those func'
Nions which are obviously within its
proper province. These arc com
pliance in all its aspects as it re-
lates to international commerce, tho
importation and expectation o1
liquors, the collection of federal rev.
enue, the prevention of smuggling
and in general the enforcement of the
law within the proper realm of Fed
eral authority. But the business o1
local enforcement, by states and cit
les, ought to be in the hands of the
state and local authorities, and il
should be executed in all sincerity
and good faith, as other laws are
presumed to be executed.
No Relaxation
what l am saying must not be
construed as indicating any relax
alton of the national government:
purpose to do its full duty in this
matter. I have no doubt that if the
burden is cast, in undue proportion
.. upon the national authority the Fed
skl government will, not only under
this administration but under what
sver others may come in the future
assume and discharge the full obliga
/ ton. But / am pointing out thai
! this ought not to be made necessary
The national policy ought to be sup
ported by the public opinion and the
administrative machinery of th'
whole country. For myself, I am con
fident that we are passing nov
through the most difficult stage o.
this matter, and that as time passes
there will be more and more willinf
acceptance by authorities everywhere
of the unalterable obligation Of Law
enforcement. The country and tn
nation will not permit the law O
the land to be made byword.
aft is a curious illustration O.