Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-13
LAW ENFORCEMENT PLEDGED
AT LINCOLN DAY DINNER
Bishop Freeman Stirs 400 at Gathering in Address
Playing Recent Attack of Temperance Board of
Protestant Episcopal Church on Volstead Act.

4 some 4uO men ana women gain
, cred in the banquet hall of the City
Cup last night TO pay tribute TO the
memory of Abraham Lincoln and
with the immortal words of the
great Emancipator, to call America
back to an era of better law en-
forcement and more sincere law OBJ
servance. Without dissenting voice,
the diners enthusiastically pledged
| themselves to fight for perpetuation
OF the eighteenth amendment to the
Constitution.
Although the sponsors We're disap-
pointed in not having Secretary OF
| the Navy Wilbur as their guest or
honor and a number OF other high
Government officials either found il
| inconvenient to be present or had
not had time to prepare speeches To
| be read, several Government officers
| in whose hands has been intrusted
! enforcement OF the prohibition law
We're present and pledged their ut
most to see that the eighteenth
amendment is respected so long as II
| remains a part of the Constitution.
Bishop Freeman Speaks.
Right Rev. James f. Freeman. Bish-
| Cd of Washington, reused the assem-
| bIed diners to the very peak or enthu'
siasrn when he delivered a strong adj
dress that seemed to fay the recent
attacks Of the Temperance Board of
the Protestant Episcopal Church on
the Volstead act. Bishop Freeman de
clared that "any utterance that comes
from the Episcopal Church that is au-
lthoritative must come from the voice
! Of it's great Legislative body, the House
of Bishops. and the House OF Clerical
and Lay Deputies
II confess chagrin and humilia-
ton" Bishop Freeman added. that
any man Of any church should call
in question any law. 1t is not our
business to question the law or the
lawmaker; it is our business to obey
it. MY word to you is: Don't spend
your hours questioning the value or
wisdom Of the law, but look to It that
you are Strengthening the moral char
acter of the people, for without that.
all law Is futile"
Holds Lincoln Bible.
Bishop Freeman held in his hand
during his brief address a tattered
Bible, which. he explained. had be-
longed to Abraham Lincoln, and in
which the youth Lincoln had signed
his name at the age OF 10 years. 1T
was this book" Bishop Freeman con
OF the man whose memory we are here
TO honor tonight"
Brig. Gen. Lincoln G. Andrews AS
sistant Secretary of the Treasury in
charge of prohibition enforcement de-
clared that the police forces of the
Government can arrest dry law viola
tors, but their punishment remains
with the courts. Unless that punish
ment is certain. prompt and real" he
said. there is no hope of creating a
proper respect for the law.
The citizen can help" Gen. An
drews continued. by developing a
public opinion which Will popularize
law observance, and he can see to 1t
that his own local affairs and courts
faithfully meet their responsibilities
for local law enforcement. lie will
thus weaken the enemy bootlegger by
cutting of his market, and strength
en- the arm of Government by reliev-
ing it OF the burden OF local police
work.
when the people wrote the eight
zenith amendment, the Federal and
state governments signed joint note
for its enforcement. They assumed
this obligation as partners. Good citi.
zens may well interest themselves In
seeing that their community is good
sport enough to live up to this obi.
cation.
States Must Enforce Law.
These are serious considera tons
for every citizen. 1t was never in
tended that the Federal partner should
pay the whole note. l do not believe
that any community really wants the
Federal Government to step in and
enforce the law locally.
The Federal Government is mar
shaling its resources to meet honestly
its obligation. The Coast Guard is
we'll under way and has already per
formed splendidlY in breaking up the
notorious rum row and in reducing
materially the amount of liquor i'm
ported from overseas. The Customs
Service has developed a facility for co.
operation with the Coast Guard We
are training all our forces. with here
and there a smart skirmish Issuing
new instructions and regulations as
experience teaches; getting laws that
will work to the advantage of Govern
ment rather than the bootlegger; de
veloping treaties with our neighbors
to prevent smuggling; learning how to
work successfully with the judicial
machinery, and in every known way
getting in shape for a successful cam.
paign."
John r. Mahoney was introduced to
the diners as a man who had once
gone to the White House to see Lin
coin personally on the subject of pro
hibition. Mr.. Mahoney said he was
Is years old at the time and q mem
Der of the Sons Of Temperance. After
discussing temperance for awhile, Mr.
Mahoney said Lincoln raised his hand
above his head and exclaimed: 1.-The
next great question before the Amer
lean people will be the liquor traffic"
Mr.. Mahoney, now Is, said he was
glad to have lived to see Lincoln s
prophecy fulfilled.
Refers to immigration.
Assistant Secretary Of Labor w. w.
Husband was to have read a speech
prepared by Secretary Davis. He ex-
planned, however, that Mr.. Davis had
been 50 busy that he could not get
around to the address, but Mr.. Hus.
band spoke extemporaneously instead
He pointed out that the immigration