Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-22
President Hoover,s Declaration.


President Hoover did the unexpected
though logical thing when he trans
mitted to Congress the report of the
Wickersham Grimes Commission with
a statement at variance with that one
of its recommendations, which tentative
iy pointed at the revision of the eight
zenith amendment. He did not palter
with the matter, but declared himself as
opposed to consideration OF the revision
which the commission suggested with
an 'if') for some future time In view
Of the decidedly hypothetical terms of
the commissions recomm sndation that
the amendment be changed from man
datory prohibition to a grant to Con-
gress of the power of enactment of pro-
hibition laws, the Presidents words arc
to be taken as specific Endorsement of
the amendment as it stands. With
this statement he couples the declara-
ton that it is his own duty and that
of all executive officials to enforce the
law with all the means at disposal
without equivocation or reservation"
It would have been entirely in order
for the President to send the report to
Congress without comment, other than
explanatory or interpretive. There was
no obligation upon him to express him
self as to the principle involved. He
had previously referred TO prohibition
as a noble experiment" worthy of the
utmost test and trial and the stoutest
efforts at enforcement. He was not
claSsed as Enthusiastically wet or dry"
This fact undoubtedly led many to
look for a non-committal message of
transmission, which would have no po-
litical implications or commitments
However, the President took occasion
in sending the report to Congress to
declare himself as opposed by direct
inference to repeal and specifically op-
posed to suggested revision. He thus
wrote his name in the list Of those who
are favorable to the eighteenth amend
ment and pledged himself furthermore
10 its enforcement, in so far as enforce
ment is possible with the means at his
disposal.
This was an act of personal and po-
litical courage. 1t was particularly
courageous in the light of the cleo
tons in November. Those elections
showed clearly strengthening of the
lines of the anti-prohibition forces
Whether they demonstrated solely a
notable increase in the number of those
opposed to the eighteenth amendment
or in part merely an increase on
the one hand and a decrease on
the other hand in attendance at
the polls is not determined But
there were abundant evidences that
the elections proved also the folly and
the weakness and the unpopularity of a
divided stand, a non-committal atti-
tude, an evasive' position. Those candi-
dates who shufied were almost invaria-
bly, beaten.
Perhaps In view of this fact the
President has politically strengthened
himself by his unmistakable declara-
ton. He has assuredly won the re-
spect Of the country for his unequivocal
expression Of faith in the amendment
AS Executive he is in an impregnable
position. 1t is his duty to enforce the
law as he finds it written and with the
means that are provided to that end.
There can be no quarrel with such a
purpose, let the smoke Of the battle
between friends and foes of the eight
zenith amendment blow where it will