ENFORCEMENT EYEWASH.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 10739, 9 November 1928, Page 3

ENFORCEMENT EYEWASH.

RIVAL PARTIES’ PLANKS. Ono of tha pillars of the N.Z. Alliance was lately instructing, with the authority of one who has never visited America, the statements and opinion 3of an American visitor. Both the American parties, he said, had put “a, prohibition plank” in theiiv platforms. A striking proof* hgnfia'id, oF the extent to wlicli, jffe jeitirlent in favour of pijhihifion tbimeai.es the country, jdf pexacts fwere jfue. it would no! testimonyffcf the domgfnidl of Wrrtmbi ttion |l|#i#ent.«'StlliodF| of tm pol-itidJSjP'nxiJt-yl i#t the proM i bit ioil Jrninority. But lit is nob trie.a l|gsn parties have ’’ plank, because could stand out and openly stand for breaking the law. The law! is the law, w’hether it is good or pad. until it is repealed or altered. Our own judges often enough have mid that this or that provision in the law is bad, but they would not think of ignoring it hr their judgments. The inclusion of “enforcement” planks has no sigificance as to the opinion of the parties or the country on the liquor question. It has this significance, however, that the ‘dry’ law has so feeble a root in public feeling that the enforcement of it is not to be taken for granted. Nobody asks either of the parties if it stands for the enforcement of the law against theft, because that law has a solid opinion behind it. -The Democratic party stands for enforcement, but it "has chosen a candidate who stands for the repeal of the Volstead Act and the liberation of America from the tyranny of the boot-legger and his creator, the prohibitionist.*