Should President Assign Army, Navy to Capture Rum Runners? May 17, 1925

Too Much Rope?

Wayne B. Wheeler and his Anti-Saloon League want the United States to turn out the army and navy against the rum runners, which is an admission of one of two things—either the United States is in a bad way for law enforcement forces or there are a great many people in the United States drinking a sight of raw and refined liquor.

Of course, President Coolidge has refused to turn the country over to the Anti-Saloon League just out of hand and Mr. Wheeler will have to turn to Congress with his appeal.

We don’t know just how far Congress will go. It’s hard to tell what the federal legislative body will do. But Mr. Wheeler ought to keep within reason even in enforcing his pet law. They say given enough rope any man can hang himself. What Mr. Wheeler might well do is keep an eye upon the reaction his excess of enthusiasm may create.

From the editorial page of The Durham Sun, Sunday morning, May 17, 1925, John R. Barry, editor.

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