The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-10-21
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ANSWERS
CRITICS
Says Public Opinion, Not Gov
eminent, Is Most Potent
Factor in Backing Law

With a challenge of his own,
President Coolidge has answered
those factions of the nations pro-
hibitionists which are, first, charg-
ing the Administration with lax
and haIf-hearted law enforcement.
and, second, demanding the use of
the army to suppress Bookkeeping.
This was the Interpretation gen.
orally placed here today upon the
Executives speech last night be-
fore the annual council Of the
Congregational Churches.
Puts Responsibility on Churches
Mr.. Coolidge placed upon the
churches themselves the response
bility for building up a whole-hearted
sentiment In favor of the law. and
he further advised the church people
that neither the national nor local
governments were established to
reform all public morals.
In the current issue OF, "Thc
Voice" official organ Of the board
of temperance, prohibition and public
morals of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, presided over by the Rever
end Doctor Clarence True Wilson,
the following challenge appears:
If this administration does not
wake up and enforce the law, we
will project that issue into the next
Presidential election and elect our
next president distinctly on the
issue of fearless and impartial en-
forcement of the prohibition laws
Prohibition will prohibit as the ak
will cut II the right arm swings
It,"
Sentiment Behind Law
In his speech last night, the Presi-
dent said:
Without doubt the law acts az
a deterrent to wrongdoing and will
usually go long way in the re-
preston of crime. But this reaches
its highest application only when
there is a very healthy and deter
mined public sentiment in favor of
the observance of the law.
THE utmost ingenuity on the
part of the police powers will be
substantially all wasted, In an ef-
fort to enforce the law, IL there
does not exist a strong and vigor-
Gus determination on the part of
the people to observe the law.
Such a contribution can not be
produced by the Government. Ny
own opinion is that it is furnished
by religion"
Appearing simultaneously with
1.-The Voice" was prepared state
ment by Wayne B. Wheeler, gen.
eralissimo of the Anti-Saloon
League, declaring:
mo one can doubt that the ex-
ample of George Washington, in
calling out the army to deal with
the whiskey rebellion of 1893, will
be followed by whatever President
occupies the White House, If the
criminal element, now boldly en-.
couraged by the liquor crowd to
violate the law. can not be handled
by the civil authorities"
Easy To Criticise.
On the score of Federal and local
enforcement activities, President
Coolidge said:
1T is natural to attempt to shift
the blame from ourselves to others
when evil conditions arise. 1t is
always easy to criticise the Govern.
ment for failure to reform all
morals, to prevent all crime, and
generally to abolish all evil. / have
great faith in the local and ma.
tional governments Of the United
states, Out IIluCH VI ILLS IlelQ. Is
beyond their reach. They were not
established to discharge this duty;
they are utterly unable to accom-
plish it. The chief function of
organized government is to main.
tain order, provide security for per.
sons and property and set up the
instrumentalities for the admins.
tration Of justice.
This means the making, inter.
probation, and the execution of the
law through the legislature. the
judiciary, the executive, and all the
various machinery of. administration
which these imply. But it ought
always to be remembered that our
institutions have undertaken to
recognize that the human mind is
and must be free.
This is one CT the reasons why
it is neither practical nor justifi-
able to impose upon the Govern
ment the responsibility for the
ultimate provision of the instTu.
mentalities which minister to the
spiritual life