Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-19
HOOVER ASKS AID
IN LAW CAMPAIGN
Tells National Loyalty Com
mission Nations Problem
Is One of Morals.
Continued From First Page,

continued From FIRST RACES
ments or other problems that may crop
up during the life of the commission
It is proposed to make the crime sur
vey general in character, on the theory
that few common faults lie at the root
of the whole breakdown in law abedi-
ence.
Three Ma Or Divisions.
Three major divisions entering into
the problem, it is said, are the cause
of crime. the cause of laxity in appre-
hending criminals and the reason for
delays in administering justice. In
conformity with this set-up, the corps
of experts will study criminals ana
their activities, police departments ano
their administration and courts ana
their procedure, the chairman lndicaUeo.
In following this policy Chairman
wickersham will be taking heed OF re-
peated suggestions on law enforcement
made in the past by a former Presl-
dent. under whom he served as Attor-
ney General This former CHIEF Execu-
tive. who is now Chief Justice Tart, 1or
wears has advocated an intensive study
of criminals, the methods OF bringing
them to justice and the procedure used
in administering punishment. ne mas
advocated enlargement OF SUBURBAN
constabularies and urban police forces,
simplifcation Of court processes ana re-
form in the jury system.
The White House conference followed
the converting of the commission, an
oroanizat ton from the Northern Presoy-
terrain Church. at the New York Ave-
nue. Presbyterian Church this morning
After brief conference with the
President, Dr. McAfee ana otneI mem
hers of the delegation mace IL pam
that in calling upon the President 1t was
their intention to pledge him the sup
mort of their church in behalf OF all
laws, and not merely the pronloiuon
law.
Recalling Mr.. Hoover's pronounce
rnents on the subject, the statement
which DR.. McAfee made to the Presi-
dent in presenting the commissions
view made clear that 1t officially repre-
sented the church, whose membership
numbers more than 1900. 900, and whose
constituency is more than 100000.
1--WE know of no division OF senti-
rnent in our church regarding your
words of warning and challenge, ne
said.
Observance Is Task.
"while not concerned with the max
ing or modifying of laws nor chle1ly
with their enforcement" he continued,
''the observance of law, the spread OF
the spirit of lawfulness, is clearly our
task"
IF any agency may feel responsible
ity for developing spirit which nnos
in law a binding obligation, surely IL
is the church. We find many citizens
to whom law is merely reStrlctlon,
limitation set upon some by others;
whereas it should be only the way by
which we may live together In broth
erly society"
DR.. McAfee added:
I'VE feel that recent months have
misled us seriously by center1ng atten-
ton upon a law; many public Journals
and officials have heaped scorn upon
1t and upon all efforts to enforce u,
they have leaped upon all mistakes or
excuses in enforcing it and have mag
nifled them unjustly. They have ex-
planned all neglect of law by the OPP
position which this one law has aroused
Ian opposition which they themselves
have steadily fosteTed. We are not
satisfied with the logic of this argu-
ment, and we are glad that you have
followed a fortunate precedent OF the
society of Friends in stripping this
issue of it's cluttcring externals and have
brought us to the beating heart OF 1t.
No law is here involved because 1t Is
law itself which is involved. 1t is to
the task of reviving and reasSerting the
dignity and right of law itself that you
have called us.
Pledge Loyalty to President.
In concluding his remarks, DIR. NC
Afee told the President that I'VE gladly
express loyalty to yourself as national
leader who has put himself on the side
of this moral issue in bewildering
time"
After the conference at the White
House members of the commission had
luncheon at the Willard Hotel with
Secretary of War Good and Senator
Watson of Indiana. This afternoon
the members of the commission were
to confer on methods to bring the at
tention of their program to the con-
science of the church.
The commission, to which Is mem
bers were appointed from wide areas
of the church, was created by the Gen.
eral Assembly and appointed by the
moderator
DR.. McAfee, in explaining that 1t
was a religious body, unconcerned with
politics, said the commission feels 1t has
nothing to do with enforcement OF the
prohibition, or any other law, but that
its purpose is concerned with keeping
the laws from being violated.
unnVrp AupEAT SIrppRTSES