Evening star., 1928-12-19

A tremendous difference between the
Federal prohibition authorities esti-
mate of the cost of effective enforce
ment of the liquor laws and the amount
Congress is likely to appropriate is the
subject of widespread argument. 1t is
predicted that the appropriation will
be about IL per cent OF the $500, 1000, 900
figure proposed by DR.. Doran. Some
critics say it is an outrage to with
hold the funds needed. Others insist
that it is not any particular amount
of money, but completely different
official and public attitude, that is es-
sential before there can be real prohi-
bition.
'It is folly to contend that any sum
is required for the adequate enforce
ment of the Volstead act" says the
Atlanta Journal (Democratic). Money
isn't the only question involved in
prohibition enforcement. The success
Of the effort depends very largely upon
the efficiency and honesty with which
it is attempted. There are those who
believe. and with good reason, that the
Government has never made sincere,
honest effort to enforce the law"
Prohibition enforcement Is possible
only where public opinion sanctions it,
and not always then, as witness po-
litically dry States where liquor is OBJ
tainable by those who demand it, re-
marks the Brooklyn Daily Eagle (inde-
pendent), and the Chicago Daily
Tribune (Republican) adds the opinion:
Prohibition enforcement is dealing
with crime only in most restricted
sense. It is encountering resisting
citizenship, otherwise orderly and law
full, to which the Volstead act is or
~, @rix YTQRt1Nn
Neither Congress, the administra-
ton nor the prohibition unit,
states the Boston Transcript dnde-
pendent), knows what to do with
this enforcement problem. It Is, in
the last analysis, up to the peo-
ple to decide what they want in the
matter of genuine enforcement, but
they have at present no means of ex-
pressing themselves. There has
been too much loose prohibition senti-
ment and not enough of a solid, col
lective character to inform Congress
what it should do with the problem" ;"
The Kalamazoo Gazette independently
expresses the hope that at least when
the President-elect assumes oftlce, he
will use all the influence at his COM
mand to end the sham sort OF en-
forcement' from which the country
has suffered" -,
"The prohibition law has to do with
the moral and social welfare OF the peo-
pie" declares the Oklahoma City Okla
holnan independently "but law en-
forcement involves the very life OF the
Government itself. Let the Nation ad-
NIT it's inability to enforce one law. and
it will soon reach the point where 1t
can enforce no law at ALL" The Rock
Island Argus independently asks, Can
the country afford merely to stand still
on the prohibition question:" That
paper adds: Ideal enforcement will
probably never be realized under the
most favorable conditions-that Is,
there will always be evasions ana VIOLA
tions to some extent. In fairness this
must be acknowledged. But, as things
are, liquor is almost universally OBTAIN
able"
'The prohibitionists are tinlid souls !"
exclains the Charleston Evening Post
independent Democratic), with the
comment that they ought to give the
thing a real trial, regardless OF ex-
| pense."
"Let the Government undertake gen.
| uine enforcement" urges the Philadel-
| phia Record independent Democratic)
s'Whatever the cost, the undertaking
| would be worth while, because 1t would
| settle one way or the other an endless
| controversy and wipe out an intoler-
! able disgrace. Either prohibition would
become fact or drastic change would
| be forced. When will Congress have
| the courage to face this issue honeStly?"
| The Omaha World Herald tinde-
| pendent) presents the query: If pro-
| hibition is the undiluted blessing Its
supporters assert, would 1t not be worth
| $3.50 100000 or $300,000,000 year?
Would it not be a good buy at that
price? These questions ere asked N