The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1924-01-25
HON.. W. B. WHEELER, LID.
General Counsel OF the Anti-Saloon
@ League of America
"The Fighting Program of the
League"

The main objective OF this great
convention ] would suggest in these
words: loyalty to the Constitution OF
our country, obedience and enforce
ment of laws to make our Constitution
effective.
The first words in the program are
enforceable law. That is the reason
why we must keep a solid front against
any so-called beer and wine amend
ment to the national prohibition act, or
other amendments that will weaken it,
and make it uncomfortable.
You have been hearing that the
lines have weakened, and our OPP
ponents have announced that a great
committee before which this question
is to come has become convert to
that program.
II have here in my possession a let
ter from the chairman OF the great
ways and means committee, Mr..
Green, and also from the ranking
Democratic member of that commit
tee, Mr.. Garner, saying as for them,
individually, nothing doing for the
beer and wine interests OF this coun-
try.
1--WE must strengthen our lines, as
Senator Tess has said and they are
needed at some points.
I'VE must give greater protection to
those honest federal agents who are
trying to do their duty, and one thing
that will do it will be to put them
under civil service instead OF having
them political appontees.
n We must create higher regard
for law on the part of those who come
to our country, and receive its bless
ngs, and those who refuse to respect
our great institutions and our Consti-
tuition. -
Deport Law Defying Aliens
That bill is in and has already
passed the House, four to one, and
will come up again. Let us urge
every senator and representative to
vote for it, and send back to that
country from which they came every
lawless alien that is not loyal to the
Constitution OF the United States.
1--WE are not able to send our citi-
zcns abroad, but as for every selfish
rich man who violates the Constitution
let's send him to Jail, as we send the
aliens back to their own country.
Remember that Congress has
demonstrated that it is loyal to the
Constitution. Two-t thirds and more
OF them, on every roll call answered
} that pledge of loyalty on this measure
but the people are now on trial,
whether they will be loyal to the Con
stituton as their representatives on
the hill.
, Then, it is up to us to go back
into our congressional districts and sec
to it that every loyal man is sustained
or an equally loyal man is sent here
in his place and every beer and VINE
man. on the hill, where we can do It,
is removed from the temptation OF go
ing wrong in public life.
Next, we must cooperate with
every public official who is doing duty
some of them are not getting that CO.
operation today--and keep up hght
in every jurisdiction against the
wobblies, the corrupt and the dereilct,
until he is driven from oftlce, OF does
his duty, and enforces the law OF our
country. That is a tremendous task
Many of them are appointed. some
are elected. We must go back to that
source of power and see to 1t that only
LOYAL public officers are on guard
under the Stars and Stripes. 1T IS
big job.
Today it is a Government Program
Next. there must be whole hearted
cooperation to back up the most con-
structive program for law enforcement
that has ever been outlined by the chiei
executive of the United States, or OF
state, and of the 4S governors or states
repre- sented in that conference mere III
Washington. A.
III that program adopted by the
governors. on the initiative OF the presi-
dent. is carried out, law Will be en-
throned in the 4S states of the Union.
Heretofore we have outlined pro
grams and fought for them. oday II
is government program. 1t is the
official program. All we have to do IS
to get back of it and help put. IL
across. We want to get back OF II
and aid in carrying this program
home. 80,
mo compromise with lawlessness on
the part of public officials or private,
he he rich or poor. high or low, should
be tolerated. Let's hold to that
standard and see to it that we main
tain that respect for law that is essen
tiai to the perpetuity of the Republic
until we reach that point where Lin
coin said respect for law will become
the political religion of the nation.
"Ihat is our great program and we
should carry it home, holding to that
standard until every nation IN the
world with the help we can give H.
follows the consummation of this pro-
-zram for national sobriety."