Prohibition in America

Hokitika Guardian, 22 November 1922, Page 3

Prohibition in America

A SENSATIONAL REPORT. STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT. WASHINGTON. Nov 18. Apparently unfounded reports that President Harding, in two letters io prominent Republicans, had expressed the viuw that while he did not expect that the Prohibition Amendment would ever lie repealed, h" believed tin* public mind was changing, and dial liberaiisation in thn enforcement, of tinlaw wonb 1 result, have caused such a sensation that all authorised spokesman. gave the press the following outlines of the President’s views; Definite .hostility to Prohibition is expressed" in certain quarters, but Prohibition will be u political issue for years t<> come. Prosident Harding’s position as a Senator for Prohibition’land tbo \ olstcnd Ait us a Presidential candidate, he declared for its strict cnfoiTcnuait. and ns President he ordered its enforcement through the Daugherty ruling. 'I he Prfiiideut, however, has taken cognisance of the ‘wot’ gains at the recent elections, lie has no intention of asking Congress lor oecr and light winds at present, but if be is assured that the country is not merely undergoing a temporary reaction, and icnllv demands beer and wines. lu< will 'endeavour to meet the demand. While tin’ aforementioned letters were sent Abe recipients did not divub'e their contents, but reports of meetings at which the outlines ol lhe letters were read indicated that the President favoured a less rigid prohibition. While tins recipients of the letters biter denied that these reports wore accurate, their insist; net resulted in n statement of President Harding’s position. ’