New Britain herald., 1929-12-04
THE PRESIDENT ON PROHIBITION

said the other day that prohibition is something that everybody talks about but which few do anything about. President Hoover. in his mes sage to Congress. concluded f with rather forceful observations on pro- hibtion and law enforcement, giv- ing the impression he considers these subjects as needing more concen- trated and effective attention There will be many who thoroughly agree with him. To others the situ- ation as to prohibition remains more or less hopeless.
 Congress itself seems negligent in aCceding to tho Presidents wishes regarding the appointment Of a joint | committee to collaborate with exc cutive agencies in the preparation Of l legislation. The president in one short sentence let his disappoint- | ment be known at the failure Of such action. Tt would be helpful if it could De so appointed" he plead | ed
 The first steps that the President | thinks should be taken are not new. He favors an immediate" concen- l ell i1 strengthening Of enforcement agencies of the government by transfer to the Department of Jus ticc of the functions of detections and prosecution, functions which now are lodged in the prohibition bureau in the |. $. Treasury. But the control and distribution of in- dustriaI alcohol and legalized bev- erages he believes should remain in the Treasury.
 These suggestions have been ad- rocated in the past, and the failure of action by Congress might be due to its attachment to other questions of the moment; or perhaps it is in no hurry to make the changes with out due Investigation and study. The President strongly favors modifying and simplifying the pro- cedurc dealing with the large num- , Der of prosecutions under the fed eral acts, and also favors a codifica- ton of the laws relating to prohi- bition. There have been many voices favOring these points, and if action in the future is no faster than in the , past the present spectacle of 25 statutes enacted during 40 years will still largely guide procedure for an indefinite time.
 Again MT. Hoover has recourse 10 his previous opinion that a orfCs,- ed legal mechanism, snoulu 1t be evolved, is not sufficient 10 induce law enforcement, but that this must come through the cooperation of the individual citizen.
 However We may perfect the 1 mechanism he says. still if the citizen who is himself dependent | upon some laws for the protection of all that he has and all that he holds dear, shall insist on selecting the particular laws which he will obey. | he unfermines his own safety and that Of his country. His attitude may obscure, but it cannot conceal. the ! ugly truth that the lawbreaker. | whoever he may be. is the enemy of society. We can no longer gloss over the unpleasant reality which should | be made vital in the consciousness of every citizen, that he who condones or traffics with crime, who is indif- ferent to it and to the punishment of the criminal. or to the lax per l tormance of official duty, is himself the most effective agency for the breakdown of society"
 These are idealistic words and they refer to the prohibition law as well as all others; most particularly ! 10 the prohibition law because that IS the one most frequently broken
 There are many who will not agree with the President in his ideal istic conceptions about the prohibit ton law. They include good and worthy citizens who cannot be con- Ninced with idealism. Others who sympathizc with his efforts to in- prove it's enforcement will hail his words with satisfaction.
 But, as Mr. Tilson said. much is said about prohibition and little done about it.
 WARNING THE RECALClTRANTS Secretary StiDtSOD's nStp to China