The Washington herald., 1915-09-21
Hoke Smiths Real Grievance.

Senator Hoke Smith deserves the sympathy of
! every true prohibitionist Mr.. Smith, while COVER
| nor of Georgia, had the honor and pleasure OF
signing Statewide prohibition law which is said
TO be rigidy enforced throughout the State, espe-
| cially in the rural districts. But while Senator
Smith away from home, fighting the British
prohibition against American cotton going to Ger
man and neutral ports in Europe, the Federal
nue. officers invaded a country estate owned by
him near Atlanta and seized large moonshine
whisky STILL within 500 yards OF the house, which
they destroyed The revenue officers declare that
this the largest plant that has been dscov-
cred in recent years, that there evidence of
recent operation but they found no one in charge
when the raid was made.
The incident shows how little reciprocity there
is between Secretary McAdoo and the Georgia
Senator, when the agents OF the former take ad-
vantage OF the absence OF the letter to invade the
sacred precincts of his farm and destroy valua-
bic and perhaps precious property.
The prohibition law of Georgia, to which Gov.
Smith gave life, does not prohibit Senator Smith
or his tenant from having still on his farm or
from operating it for their personal use. The
Senator or his tenant have a perfect right under
the laws OF his State to make all the moonshine
they consume. The embarrassment comes
from outside interference, and Georgia has been
somewhat sensitive about outside interference
with her domestic affairs This interference with
the domestic control of Hoke Smiths farm came
from the Federal government in spying out those
who seek to cvadc the Federal which it i'm
poses every gallon OF whisky. The Federal
government has been interfering in many Sec
tions OF the country in exactly the same way it
did Hoke Smiths farm, and through long
years OF such interference, it is said to have made
many friends for the Hobson resolution for ma
tional prohibition by amendment to the Con-
sttuton which would forever prevent such inva-
sons by the United States revenue officers just
to collect Federal tax
If VIC had national prohibition of the Hobson
variety this indignity put upon United States
Senator would not have been possible The still
Hoke Smiths farm in prohibition Georgia
would be just free from Federal interference
was the still which George Washington had at
Mount Vernon. and who knows that the vintage
of the Smith farm would not in time become
famous that of the Father Of His Coun-
try? The domestic laws of Georgia would not
prevent such development
The news dispatches record another raid by
these Federal officers in another prohibition
State. which is represented in Washington by
Secretary Daniels. and it illustrates and en-
phaszes the impartiality of Secretary McAdoo in
his invasion of the domestic peace and tranquility
his invasion of the domestic peace and tranquility
great model country estate of Mrs. George Van
derbilt, known the world over as "Biltmore" and
made the raid Sunday morning when the
household was at church. They found large
still there within sight of the mansion, and again
they ruthlessly destroyed private property. The
two incidents show that the revenue officers arc
no respcctors of either States or persons They
ignore the prohibition laws of Georgia and
North Carolina, which assure the whole world
that they arc dry and they invade the estates
OF United States Senator and the scion of the
richest family in America just to smash domes-
tic stills and demonstrate that prohibition does
not prohibit