The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-01-14
The Prohibition Report

After eight months of study, the national commits
sion on law observance and enforcement has dlscov-
cred that the prohibition law has jam up against
some of the most fundamental traditions and ideals of
the American people. That 10 why observance of this
particular law is not general the drys expected
The commission has rediscOvered the Oldest OF
human laws: That legislative enactment is effective
only the degree it expresses the will of the people
The prohibition law is not effective because there is
such large body of otherwise law-abding citizens"
to use the Presidents phrase in his inaugural ad
dress-who do not believe in it.
The very first point set down by the commission,
in its preliminary report submitted to congress- is the
ee--,'cz:::S S:gcifcant declaration:
1T is impossible wholly to set of observance of the
prohibition act from the large question of the views
and habits of the American people with respect to
private Judgment as to statute and regulations affect
ing their conduct
"We must note the attitude of the pioneer toward
such things We must bear in mind the Puritans OBJ
lection to administration the Wing tradition of
right of revolution the conception of natural rights,
classical in our policy the democratic tradition of in
dvidual participation in sovereignty the attitude of
the business world toward federal regulation of en-
terprise We must not forget the many historical
examples of argescale public disregard of laws in our
past"
OF course such observations by the commission
dc not in themselves take very far.
Some vets will object because the commission fails
to carry our the logical implication of tne above OBJ
servatons by frankly declaring the law unenforceable
unwise and subject TO immediate repeal.
The drys on their side, will be dispeased because
the commission went so fnr as to state these dScour
aging facts even though it then proceeded to recon-
mend more machinery for enforcing the law.
For our part, can not get wildly excited over
this report, one way the other. Perhaps that is
because We expected so little from it.
We can appreciate the apparent policy of the COM
mission not to pass the wisdom of the law as such.
That question can be determined only by the people
themselves and their elected representatives. Any
port by any politically appointed commission the
wisdom Of the law would not be worth the paper 1t
was written And, in the present instance, any
such report by this predomnantly dry commission
necessarily would be a whitewash of the law
Second there is very much needed, however,
nonpartsan scientific report the actual operation
and results of prohibition after ten years OF expert
ment Whether the law is to be intensified, modified
OF repealed it is necessary to have body of verified
data and accepted evidence on which the people and
congress in coming political battle debate and
determine whether the experiment has failed and is
to be strapped
No such data on which intelligent opinion can
be formed are now available in complete form. Ex-
isng prohibition statistics and studies of results
crime and courts are not trustworthy-not even gov
eminent figures
The commissions prohibition job-and it must be
stressed that prohibition study only of its tasks
lis to get the facts.
Meanwhile, the commission in its preliminary
port has made certain recommendations for improved