AMERICAN PROHIBITION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18999, 23 October 1923, Page 9

AMERICAN PROHIBITION.

PROBLEMS OF ENFORCEMENT. STATE GOVERNORS PROMISE CO-OPERATION. Pzvm Association—By Telegraph—Copyrli'at NEW YORK, October 20. The annual convention of State Governors was held at Westbaden in Indiana. After a stormy debate the convention adopted a formal resolution pledging the Governors to give President Coolidge the “fullest cooperation,” and asking Federal aid in the enforcement of bone dry prohibition. —A. and N.Z. Cable. THE PRESIDENT'S ATTITUDE. LAW TO BE ENFORCED. WASHINGTON, October 20. President Coolidge, in opening the Governors’ Conference, pledged his personal support and the Government’s support for prohibition enforcement. He urged the State legislatures to extend their aid for the same purpose, declaring that any Government which did not enforce the laws was unworthy of the name of a government and could not bo expected to hold the support of its own citizens, or the respect of the informed opinion of the world. The people formed their Government and enacted the laws, and the machinery provided by the Congress and the State legislatures must be used to its full capacity to enforce the law. “We can solve the prohibition problems by frank and candid consideration,” ho said, not by prejudice and political intrigue. The American people arc not a nation of inebriates. They are not changeable beings or hypocrites, and they have no patience with anarchy. They are a sober and candid people and for the greater part they are thoroughly law-abiding. They are entitled to support and protection and I propose to give them support and protection against every lawless element.”—A. and N.Z. Cable.

A PLAN FORMULATED. CO-OPERATION IN ENFORCEMENT. WASHINGTON, October 20. The Government and President Coolidge have agreed upon a plan for the enforcement of prohibition. The principal features are as follow:-Co-operation between the Federal, and State, and county, and muncipal authorities. The enlistment of the support of the press on behalf of enforcement. The education of school children concerning the evils of liquor. The adoption of whatever means are practicable to cause lawless citizens and aliens to respect the majestjy of the law. Governors Smith, of New York, and Ritehic, of Maryland, asked for modifications of the Volstead Law, the latter declaring that it was an invasion of the State’s rights.—A. and N.Z. Cable. EXTENSION OF MOVEMENT. CRITICISM OF LEADING OFFICIALS. WASHINGTON, October 21. - (Received Oct. 22, at 8.30 p.m.) The recent movement among various bodies and individuals for the better enforcement of prohibition continues to grow in strength. The Methodist Episcopal Temperance Board has issued a statement that Mr A. W. Mellon (Secretary of the Treasury) and the Commissioner of Internal Revenue (Mr Blair), neither by conviction nor by inclination, are fitted for the responsibility of enforcing their duty. The board claims that the Commissioner of Prohibition (Mr Haynes) would completely enforce prohibition if he were given the opportunity, and calls upon President Coolidge to take personal charge of_ the enforcement of the Volstead Law, asking him to demand that the American people shall obey prohibition because it is the law fixed by American policy. The board also calls upon, the Governors to co-operate. , Governor Pinohot (Pennsylvania) has issued another statement declaring that the States can do little. The Federal Government must assume the chief burden. Charges are now being made that Pennsylvania is probably the wettest State in the^Union.—A. and N.Z. Cable.