PRESIDENT HOOVER AND PROHIBITION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 72, Issue 90, 16 April 1929, Page 12

PRESIDENT HOOVER AND PROHIBITION

By HARRY N. HOLMES Field Secretary, World Alliance for International Friendship through the Churches, and one time General Secretary, Wellington Y.M.C.A. It was a memorable occasion when Herbert Hoover stepped out to the covered platform in front of the glistening white Uopitol to take the oat I; of office as President of the United States. Surrounded by the most ent persons of American official life, lie faced thousands of his fellow citizci s and was listened to by unnumbered millions over the radio. Throughout the land there is a deep and almosLuniversal feeling that his administra'ion will mark a now era. Confidence in this 44 efficiency engineer’’—has been expressed in the press, on pulpit ami platform. 'Phere is a yearning Herbert Hoover will guide his people to the solution of difficult and intricate national ami international fpiest’em •. I hat trust in him may load to undue hopes an<l expectations quite boson I his power to fulfil. However, it is P most significant and prevalent attitude of mon ami women in every s'ate. I heir faith is in the now J’resideiU. ■ 1 mention in this artiele only his do- ; 'duration on one issue—that of P:ol-i- j bition and the Eighteenth Amen ! i niout. Phis i< the most important of I doino-tii* problems. It runs acree-s party platforms and has behind it in. nieriso moral passion and idealism. The I strength of American sentiment mas j demonstrated in tho election. Mr Tlooex r had spoken of tho Aniond'i.en' ) as an ‘ ‘ experiment noble in purpose.' ’ I enacted f or Die f 4 protection of the | American home.” and said that 1:< ‘ 4 \\ ishod it io succeed.'’ What would he say as President? His! utterance was eagerly awaited by ‘‘wets and 4, drys.Would the pies sure of high responsibilities lead to' any iMjuivocation or evasion I (_)n noli other subject was there such keen anticipation. Democracv hail given :!• p verdict in successive Uongressiom'i p elections, choosing each, time a ibTcriami drier Parliament, lint for the iirst / time there was a Presidential ide.-i.ioi; p which wa.s almost a referendum on d Prohibition All this produced an unusual eagerness for the Presidertt s statement. 1 Within ten minutes after the admi.i-| ist rat ion of the oath, I’resident Hoover I had begun bis address. Willi strong,, purposeful sentences which revealed, convicrion, he outlined his policy on I this controversial and thorny element in political life. It was the first point of his address and the courage of it, haprofoundly impressed the nation. Mr Hoover has clearly accepted the resu’t • of the election as the decision of the people regarding Prohibition. To him it was their deliberately accepted policy, and his response was tremendously powerful in its challenge to patriorisr.i and duty. The call is clear cut. The only path for American citizens to follow is indicated in language that allows of no misunderstanding. Nothing finer has ever come from the White House. “Our whole system of self gocern ment will crumble either if officials cleet, what laws they will enforce or citizens elect what laws they will support. The worst evil of disregard for some law is that it destroys respect for all law. For our citizens to patronis.f the violation of a particular law on the ground that they are opposed tu it is destructive of the very basis of all that protection of life, of homes, and property which they rightly claim un der other laws.” The application of this forceful doctrine was direct and specific. It. left, no uncertainty as to the direction in which honourable citizenship should move. “A large responsibility rests directly upon our citizens. There would be little traffic in illegal liquor if only ; criminals patronised if. We must awake to the fact that this patronage from largo numbers of law abiding citizens is supplying the rewards t.nd stimulating crime.” Thon came the climax. Mr Hoo\er accepted his share of the responsibility and pointed out the inescapable obligation of private as well as official citizens: “I have been selected by you to execute and enforce the laws of th<‘ country I propose to do so to tho extent of my own abilities but the measure of success that the government shall attain will depend upon the moral support which you, as citizen.’, extend. The duty of citizens to support the laws of the land is co-equal with the duty of their government to enforce the laws which exist. No greater national service can be given by men and women of goodwill—who, 1 know, are not unmindful of the responsibilities of citizenship—than that they should, by their example, assist in stamping our crime and outlawry by refusing participation in and condemning all transactions with illegal liquor.” The greatest moral reform of this generation has a chance of complete enforcement as all good citizens rally to the clarion utterance of President Hoover. The enheartening and stimulating effect was immediately apparent Six hours after the delivery of that address I sat in conference with representatives of thirty four national temperance and prohibitional groups. The meeting was held within a stone’s throw of the Capitol. Two hours were spent in listening to men and women, famous in the history of this crusade, tell what they thought regarding this magnificent leadership. They obviously were still under the spell of the appeal. Their speech was distinetlv moved by deepest emotions. Some of the words they used will illustrate what friends of prohibition think with reference to the first Presidential speech of Herbert Hoover. “It fills us with cheer and hope.’’ “It was as if the Drys were holding another big meeting.” “It was a marvellous message.” 44 Our opportunities under this President are greater than ever before and our responsibilities arc infinitely heavier.” “We have reached another milestone in Prohibition history. ’ ’ Looking through the window emil I , ho seen the dome of the Capitol brilliant and glowing in Hie night by focussed electric illumination. Tt seem- , od symbolic of what had that day transpired. The nation’s highest official had given the mighty aid of his personality and position to the fur- , thoranee of an heroic, endeavour to rid the national life of an ancient curse.