PROHIBITION IN AMERICA

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 18784, 18 May 1923, Page 3

PROHIBITION IN AMERICA

LAW TO BE ENFORCED. PRESIDENT HARDING’S DECREE NEW YORK, May 16. Arising out of the repeal by the New York State of the Prohibition Enforcement law, which the Governor has not yet signed, President Harding has written a letter replying to representations made to him, authorising the Federal officials to take immediate action to enforce the law should State officers be relieved of duty by the Governor’s signature. President Harding admits that the repeal of the State-enforcement of statutes is likely to result in a conflict between the State and Federal authorities, but adds: “The nation deliberately, after many years’ consideration, adopted the present policy written into the Eighteenth Amendment. It is the law of the land, and every State within the Union. So long as it remains the national policy, there is only one course to pursue, that is to use every means to make the law effective.” The President declared that to do this will be the unquestioning policy of the present Administration. The nation’s executive, equally with the State’s executive, is sworn to enforce the Constitution. It in difficult to believe public approval will ever be given to any other than a policy fuly and literally discharging this duty.