Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-26
1.-THE Unkindest Cut"

In the past 1t has been a favorite
paStime of the "wets" to assail the man.
ner in which prohibition was being
enforced" But now the wind changes.
1t Is the ardent drys In the Senate who
are taking fling at the executive
branch OF the Government, charged
with the enforcement of the Volstead
act. Senator Harris of Georgia. a Demo-
crat, set the ball rolling with an at
tack upon the Presidents Crime Com
mission. Senator Borah of Idaho has
followed with a statement that pro-
hibition will never be enforced with the
present personnel Of enforcement ON
GERS. Not unnaturally the prohibition
enforcement agencies regard these at
tacks as the "unkindest cuts of all" At
torney General Mitchell, speaking for
the legal end Of prohibition enforce
ment, has replied sharply to Senator
Borah, and Prohibition Commissioner
Doran insists that great steps have been
made in recent months in the matter
of prohibition enforcement and points
out that Q reorganization plan for en-
forcement agencies is about to be sub
mitted. In the meantime, the "wets"
are enjoying the controversy.
Nothing Is easier than criticism. En-
forcing prohibition is q huge task. re-
quiring years of education. There was
plenty Of Illicit trading in liquor IN
this country long before the first State
prohibition law was enacted. There
was . constant conflict between Gov
eminent enforcement of1icers and the
liquor traders. It is obvious that Illicit
trafic In liquor continues today. But
there has been q gain in the enforce
ment OF the law, largely because many
of the American people are taking the
question Of law violation more seriously.
Some of the criticism directed at the
administration and the Presidents
Crime Commission Is undoubtedly po-
litical. Having followed a wet candi-
date for President In the 1928 campaign,
there are Democrats hailing from dry
States who are more active than ever
before in their demands for stringent
prohibition enforcement.
Prohibition has been called by Mr..
Hoover q noble experiment, which
must be worked out constructively."
The criticisms now leveled at enforce
ment agencies and the Crime Commits
sion can scarcely be called constructive.
II the Crime Commission is to produce
q series of recommendations, soundly
based on facts which will be of aid, it
must be given an opportunity to COM
plete Its work.
Proposals for further legislation to
strengthen prohibition enforcement
have been advanced by the administra-
ton. They should be enacted into law
as speedily as possible. One looks to the
transfer of prohibition enforcement In
large measure from the Treasury De-
partment to the Department Of Justice.
The States can do their share, If they
will, particularly those which today
have failed to put through their own
laws for enforcement. The Constitution
Pubo Vic buA0CAl VA ClAAOANChACAt JOAAOAy
on State and Federal governments.
The most drastic proposal yet adj
vanced is that of Senator Sheppard of
Texas. He has offered a bill to make
the purchaser of illegal liquor as guilty
Of law violation as he who sells It,
The National Conference Of Organiza-
lions Supporting the Eighteenth Amend
ment, meeting here two weeks ago, sug-
gested that definite action on this pro-
posal should be deferred, until after
the Presidents Crime Commission has
made its report, at all events. Logically
the purchaser of illegal liquor is no
supporter of the law of the land. But
even the dry forces apparently hesitate
to go the length of this measure. The
President has called attention forcibly
to the fact that many citizens give aid
and encouragement to the traders in
Illicit liquor by their purchases Of liquor
Education and example along this line
may accomplish much. Unless It is
effective, the day may come when the
Sheppard bill or a similar measure is
enacted into law.