There is a call to make the alien respect our institutions while he accepts our hospitality.  There is need to magnify the American viewpoint to the alien who seeks a citizenship among us.  There is need to magnify the national viewpoint to Americans throughout the land.  More there is a demand for every living being in the United States to respect and abide by the laws of the Republic.  Let men who are rending the moral fiber of the Republic through easy contempt for the prohibition law, because they think it restricts their personal liberty, remember that they set the example and breed a contempt for law which will ultimately destroy the Republic.

Constitutional prohibition has been adopted by the Nation.  It is the supreme law of the land.  In plain speaking, there are conditions relating to its enforcement which savor of nation-wide scandal.  It is the most demoralizing factor in our public life.

Most of our people assumed that the adoption of the eighteenth amendment meant the elimination of the question from our politics.  On the contrary, it has been so intensified as an issue that many voters are disposed to make all political decisions with reference to this single question.  It is distracting the public mind and prejudicing the judgment of the electorate.

The day is unlikely to come when the eighteenth amendment will be repealed.  The fact may as well be recognized and our course adapted accordingly.  If the statutory provisions for its enforcement are contrary to deliberate public opinion, which I do not believe the rigorous and literal enforcement will concentrate public attention on any requisite modification.  Such a course, conforms with the law and saves the humiliation of the Government and the humiliation of our people before the world, and challenges the destructive forces engaged in widespread violation, official corruption and individual demoralization.

The eighteenth amendment involves the concurrent authority of State and Federal Governments, for the enforcement of the policy it defines.  A certain lack of definiteness, through division of responsibility is thus introduced.  In order to bring about a full understanding of duties and responsibilities as thus distributed, I purpose to invite the governors of the States and Territories, at an early opportunity, to a conference with the Federal Executive authority.  Out of the full and free considerations which will thus be possible, it is confidently believed, will emerge a more adequate, comprehension of the whole problem, and definite policies of National and State cooperation in administering the laws.

There are pending bills for the registration of the alien who has come to our shores.  I wish the passage of such an act might be expedited.  Life amid American opportunities is worth the cost of registration if it is worth the seeking, and the Nation has the right to know who are citizens in the making or who live among us anti share our advantages while seeking to undermine our cherished institutions.  This provision will enable us to guard against the abuses in immigration, checking the undesirable whose irregular Willing is his first violation of our laws.  More, it will facilitate the needed Americanizing of those who mean to enroll as fellow citizens.