Evening star., 1925-11-09
Where the Fault Lies.


Law? Gov. Clifford Pinchot of Penn
sylvania ana other dry" leaders, ad-
dressing the Anti-Saloon Leagues
convention in Chicago. insist that it
must be enforced by the Federal Gov
ernment. Assistant Secretary Lin
coin c. Andrews of the Treasury, di-
recting head of the Federal prohibi-
tion enforcement, addressing the same
convention, declared that better CO.
operation of the States and local COM
nunities was an essential in proper
enforcement of the law.
The eighteenth amendment to the
Constitution, prohibiting the manu-
facture, sale or transportation Of in
toxicating liquors within or their i'm
portation into the United States, in It's
second section, says:
THE Congress and the several
TO enforce this article by appropriate
legislation"
Clearly it seems TO have been the in
tent of those who framed and adopted
the prohibition amendment to the
Constitution that the entire burden
of the enforcement of prohibition was
not to be placed upon the Federal
Government.
The addresses delivered at the Chi
cago Anti-Saloon League convention
by the friends of prohibition can be
interpreted in only one way, that the
prohibition .sw is not being enforced,
certainly not with that degree Of ef-
ficiency and success that has been
the hope of the friends Of prohibition.
Bitter criticism Of the highest officials
in the land, Federal and State, en-
anates from the convention. Diatribes
that might have been expected from
the VETS" rather than the "drys."
Gov. Pinchot, however, has cited
cases Of alleged misuse OF Federal
permits for the withdrawal of mil.
lions Of gallons Of alcohol which he
charges have found their way into the
bootleg trade. 1t is a remarkable and
terrible arraignment. II it can be
supported BY evidence, only one con-
vitally wrong with the prohibition
machinery.
Assistant Secretary Andrews has
urged that local communities carry
on a campaign of education against
the violation of the law and in sup
port of prohibition. II prohibition Is
to be really effective it can only come
through such a campaign Of educa-
ton. Unless the people really believe
in prohibition, unless they are willing
to support prohibition for me as we'll
as thee" there is little chance Of it's
ever being properly enforced. The
Federal Government Is expending
some ten million dollars this year for
it's prohibition enforcement unit; the
Federal courts and the United States
attorneys and marshals and all their
forces are giving much Of their time
to the enforcement Of this law; the
Coast Guard is being used extensive
ly to dry up the sources Of supply
from abroad. But unless the people
themselves are willing to obey the
law there is no hope for 1t. The peo-
pie of the American colonies were not
willing to obey certain tax laws which
the British sought to impose upon
them, nor was Great Britain, even
with the use of its army and navy,
able to enforce these laws. Unless
the American people Of today are
willing to obey the prohibition law,
the Federal Government nor any
other is likely to have marked de-
gree of success in enforcing it.
Friends Of prohibition may talk un-
til they are hoarse about the need OF
great and better enforcement units.
Federal or State, or both. 1t is the
people in the last analysis who en-
force all laws. If there is no will to
live up to prohibition there will be lit
tie substance to law enforcement.
Passing the buck from State to Fed
eral government, or vice versa, will
avail little.