The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1924-01-25
Visit at White House Marks Dry Advance Promise of the
President to Support Law
C0NGRESSMEN DECLARE VOLSTEAD LAW
TO BE NOT in DANGER OF REPEAL
Warn Against Permitting Wet Propaganda Influence to Change Public
Opinion
PROMINENT ILLINOIS men OCCUPY PLACE ON The PROGRAM

The entire field force OF the Anti
Saloon League attended the National
Convention at Washington, d. 6,
January Il to 10. A good-sized dele
CATION of Illinois citizens interested i'll
law-enforcement problems was also in
attendance. In the limited space avail
able in this number of The Issue it
will be impossible to give anything
like complete report of the Washing
ton convention. We are giving space
for the resolution adopted and urge
that all our readers study this COM
bined report and program which rep
resents the best wisdom of America 5
greatest leaders in the fight for law
enforcement.
Many officials Present
The attendance of public officials
occupying high places in relation to
the enforcement problem was a graft
lying and significant feature of the
law enforcement gathering. United
States Senators, Congressman, Gov
ernors, Prosecuting Attorneys and
other officials not only appeared as
speakers but also as delegates taking
keen interest in the proceedings.
Prohibition Director Haynes attended
many of the sessions. The climax Of
the convention was reached when the
delegates marched to the White House
to assure President Coolidge OF their
support and TO, receive from him his
promise to support the law as chief
executive OF the nation. Bishop Thos.
Nicholson, President OF the Anti-Sa-
loon League, spoke in behalf OF the
delegates and presented the President
with an embossed memorial pledging
the support OF the anti-saloon forces
to him in this great task.
March to White House
The meeting OF the convention dele
gates with the President at the White
House was a reminder that over ten
years ago a similar march was made
along Pennsylvania avenue, but the
advance OF this earlier body Of dele
gates was towards the Capitol and its
objective was the securing of prohibi
tion legislation. With the Eighteenth
Amendment now a part OF the Consti-
tuition and enforcement legislation on
the statutes, it was appropriate that
emphasis should now be placed upon
the duties OF the executive department
of the government. The visit at the
White House served 10 emphasize the
fact that the support OF prohibition
laws is now the problem and respen-
sibiity OF the government itself. AT
the same time equal emphasis WAS
given to the equally important fact
that the government depends upon the
support of the people and that Off
cials cannot succeed without the help
of the citizens.
No Repeal Danger Now
Through the entire convention pro-
gram there was a strong, clear note OF
confidence that the Volstead Act will
not be repealed or weakened by the
present Congress. Senators and House
members alike assured the delegates
present that the forces who would null
lily prohibition have no chance OF sue
cess during the present accession.
Again and again the opinion was ex-
pressed that if changes are made in
enforcement laws, they will tend to
strengthen rather than to weaken en-
forcement. Invariably in connection
with predictions as to the present Con-
gress came the warning that action i'll
future sessions of Congress is depend
ent upon public opinion on prohibition
enforcement The delegates were re-
peatedly warned that with an active,
constant propaganda by the foes Of
prohibition, aggressive and continuous
educational work by prohibition forces
will be necessary to prevent the ulti-
mate weakening of the law.
Bishop Nicholson Presided
Two OF the busiest men at the ma
tional convention were F. Scott Nc
Bride, State Superintendent of the IL
1inois League, and Bishop Thomas
Nicholson, President OF the Anti Sa-
loon League Of America. Bishop Mich