“ MODIFIED ” PROHIBITION

Hokitika Guardian, 13 September 1929, Page 3

“ MODIFIED ” PROHIBITION

NEW YORK, July 22 Prohibition, like the punching-ball, always ready for use, is again in the arena. Three words in a letter written by Air Gecvge W. Wickersham to Mr Roosevelt, the Governor of New Voik State, are the cause of a new commotion on the subject. Mr Wickersham is the chairman of President Hoover'3 Law Enforcement Commission recently appointed to find a way to make the United States less lawless, and although the President expressely stated that the Commission would survey the whole field of crime, the public has fixed its attention on the Commission’s study of the working of Prohibition.

The State Governors are holding a conference in Connecticut, and in his letter Mr Wickersham suggested that if the States would assume a larger burden of their enforcement, the Prohibition laws “might be modified” to make them reasonably enforceable.

Those words “might be modified” have flashed like a challenge through the country. Thei “Wots” are seizing on the word ‘modification” as though it had a pleasant ring in their ears.

The White House denies any Knowledge of the letter previous to publication, and there is a suggestion that Mr Roosevelt published it through inadvertence.