Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-21
PRESIDENT STAND
| ON DRY LAW ASKED
Prohibition Leaders Seek
!. Definite Commitment by
Chief Executive.
ICY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.


Under the leadership of some of the
etanchest and most influential prohi
bitten forces in the country. drive
AS been launched to induce President
Coolidge to take what they call "a
definite stand" for the dry laws. 1t is
declared by this group that Mr.. Cool
iige's attitude. being confined, as far
les the public is aware, to mere belief
in law enforcement" is inadequate
IT is contended in particular that the
Presidents apparent Discrimination to
proclaim himself an uncompromisir2
prohibitionist is giving indirect aid and
comfort to the vets, and contributing
toward lax enforcement of the liquor
statutes.
The Christian Science Monitor is in
the forefront Of the movement to
pledge President Coolidge to take a
stand that will give. less encourage
nent to the wet cause. Men and
women of the United States. stanch
supporters of the prohibition enforce
ment laws" says the Monitor I'm
contemplating their responsibility in
the exercise of the franchise next
year, are eagerly looking TO Mr.
Coolidge for statement of his posi-
ton in these days of overt and insid-
ious Dropa nda. Those who are
: most friendly to the President are the
most anxious that he should take a
strong position in regard to prohibI-
ton enforcement"
Leaders al.
Since the Monitor, with the state
n,ent Just quoted, opened the cam
raign designed to put the Chief Exec
utive more unqualitiedly OH record as
friend of prohibition. a great var'set"
OF outstanding dry leaders have Joined
in the movc:aen- With hardly any
exceptions. they yoica the view that
the President must commit himself,
or, by rcfrain:nT from doing so, not
only do himself ~QIitical harm. but
r~nd-r the prohibition system 4 vital
disservice. Dry spokesman point our
that "mea in high places. some Of
them of. the Prezident's own party.
spca'. without restraint of the so-called
fallacv of prohibition and encourage
its violation" It. Is added, in the
same connection. that, "by denuncia-
ton. ridicule, misrepresentation and
every other means at the command of
clever men, they are seeking to create
a sentiment so adverse to enforcement
as TO make the task herculean one"
Attention is being called--of course,
not for the first time-to; the con-
tinued presence of Andrew w. Mellon
as Secretary of the Treasury. Com
raent is made on the fact that although
Mr.. Coolidge is Mr.. Melons superior
officer, the Secretary of the Treasury
is in ''unchallenged control of Re.
publican politics in Pennsylvanla-the
sll-powerful machine which sent Will
liam, s.. Ware to the. United States
Senate on an unblushingly wet plat.
form. Secretary Mellon being the
cabinet officer responsible for prohibit.
ton enforcement, the dry leaders, now
in fighting toys, are freely suggest
ing that a word from. Mr.. MELONS
boss" would work miracles in the
direction Of effective enforcement of
the national liquor laws.
Cites Harding Warning.
Among the dry authorities calling
for more inspiring prohibition leader.
ship from the White House is DR..
Robert E. Corradini, secretary Of the
World League Against Alcoholism.
He compares, the present situation
with that which existed in 1928, when
President Harding in an address at
Denver definitely pointed out therdan-