Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-28
A Logical Step.

Attorney General Mitchell's rule that
vets need not apply for posts in any
branch of the Government service hay
ing directly to do with the prosecu-
ton Of cases under the national pro-
hibition act is entirely logical and GER
tainly should make for better enforce
ment. It has been the custom for
these supporting wet candidates for
public office to beat their breasts and
proclaim that their candidates believe
in enforcing all laws and that they
would not be derelict in their duties in
connection with prohibition. But, as
practical proposition, the man who
drinks a cocktail or highball when he
has the opportunity is not the man to
lead in enforcing the dry laws against
his neighbors. Furthermore, if 1t be-
comes known, as it usually does, that an
officer of the law takes his own drink,
it is not likely that other persons in the
community will be particularly care
full about observing the law which the
man sworn to uphold the law him
self breaks.
II believe that no man who makes
a practice of drinking Intoxicating
liquor, or who has definite or pro-
nounced views in opposition to prohi-
bition, belongs, during this administra-
ton, in any pos. having directly to do
with the prosecution Of cases under the
national prohibition act" the Attorney
General has written. Immediately there
is an uproar among the vets because
they are barred from United States
posts by this rule of the Attorney Cen
eral
Senator Borah of Idaho is one OF
those who have proclaimed the belief
that the dry laws can be enforced If
the proper personnel is found to en-
force them. The Attorney Generals
limitation on the enforcement agents
should please him. If the limitation
had been adopted ten years ago, when
prohibition became effective, the situa-
ton in this country today might have
been very different. The bootlegging
trade might never have bsen able to
get the start which it did, or have be-
come as houriShing as it has become.
It became a habit on the part of too
many persons in Office, some of them
connected with the enforcement of the
laws, to make light of prohibition.
The Attorney Generals statement
lays emphasis on the fact that the
present administration is committed TO
an effort to bring about real enforce
ment of the prohibition laws. President
Hoover has again and again indicated
that he intended to give the prohibition
laws a thorough try-out when 1t came
to enforcing them.
It is quite clear that laws should be
enforced or they should be modified or
changed. If the officers Of the Gov
eminent permit notification through
inactivity, they become themselves null
hhers. The demand of the Attorney
General for officials who are in SYM
pathy with the prohibition laws and
who do not violate the laws themselves
should be real aid in testing out the
enforcibility of prohibition. The vets
insist that prohibition can never be en-
forced. Some of the drys say that
never before has there been a real eff
fort to shut down all Illicit traffic in
liquor in this country. With the policy
now adopted by the administration, it
may be possible to have q real show
down on the enforcibility Of prohibition.
If the law cannot be enforced, then
the people are entitled to know it and
to know why.