Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-10
AMERICA DRY, AND DRY TO STAY,
SAYS PINCHOT, HERE TO FIGHT
Declares Enforcement Pos
sibIe if Treasury Depart
ment Really Wants 1t.
People Overwhelmingly Be-
hind Prohibition, Asserts ex-
Pennsylvania Governor.
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

America is dry, and dry to stay.
The people of the United States are
overwhelmingly behind the eighteenth
amendment Prohibition can be en-
forced. But far better results could
be achieved If the Treasury Depart
ment really wanted the law enforced
Thus. Clifford Pipchot. archpriest of
prohibition, lately of Harrisburg, now
of Washington. in the first public
statement he has made since retire
ment from the governorship of Penn.
svlvania. Fresh from four years of
battle-years which he thinks of as
the best of his life-Pinchot has re-
sumed his old place on the firing line
at the National Capital Here he
means to fight for the progressive
ideals long nearest his political heart
law enforcement and conservation of
hydro-electrical power. Respectively,
he considers them the outstanding
moral" and economic" problems fac,
ing the American people
enforcement Greatest Issue"
The writer asked Pinchot how the
former governor feels about law en-
forcement. The answer left no doubt
of his position.
Il regard the question of law en-
forcement. said Mr.. Pinchot, las the
greatest moral issue now before the
country. The men and women who
are fighting for it are in just as sound
a position as the men and women who
were fighting half a century ago for
the freedom of the slaves. They are
right, and that is why they cannot be
beaten"
But there are great forces work.
ing against the prohibition amend
ment," ii was suggested,
Yes" said MIR. Pinchot, there are
noisy forces working against it, and
the way to meet them is precisely the
way Andrew Jackson met the multi
fiers a good many years ago. Either
the Constitution of the United States
amounts to something or it does not
II it does, there is Just one thing
decent American can do. and that is
to stand by it. If it doesn't, then the
nuIlifiers will have their way. l am
q good enough American TO believe
that notification has no chance
whatever, and | have just the same
respect for nullifier that Andrew
Jackson had--and that is none what
ever
Says People Back Dry Law.
THE people OF the United States
are overwhelmingly behind the
eighteenth amendment. They have
so declared by the method laid down
in the Constitution. A referendum
such as will be held in several States
is a mere device of the vets to cast
doubt on the permanence of the dry
victory. 1t will have no more effect
than whistling down the wind, and
the proof of that is the constantly in
creasing dryness of the Congress Of
the United States. A few wet Repre-
sentatives from seaboard cities can
not swing this country, and they
know 1t in their own souls"
Then you do not regard the move
naent for the repeal OF the eighteenth
amendment as a serious one" was
suggested.
"Of course, not" said Mr. Pinchot.
Neither does any one else. That is
why there is all this loose talk about
trying to nullify the eighteenth
amendment by State or congressional
action. Everybody knows that the
great mass of the solid people Of the
United States is behind the eighteenth
amendment. and neither the East
Side of New York nor the river wards
of Philadelphia will ever prevail
against them. This country is dry.
and dry to stay"
Enforcement Called Possible.
''Can prohibition be enforced?"
Gov. Pinchot's reply was definite:
Most emphatically it can" he said,
land the proof is what we have done
in Pennsylvania during the last four
years. When l came into Office the
State was dripping wet and had long
been under the control of a dripping
.ar.a'.as.s..a..a..ar.as.
The Fine Value