The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-12-27
Drys Seek Adoption of Legisla-
ton That Will Garry Out
Will of People.
THINK THEY CAN CON-
troll BOTH BRANCHES
Brewers Refuse to Discuss
Their Plans if They Have
Any; May Seek to Keep Pro
hibition Out by Referendum

HeHSlFe plans for enforcement OF
laws designed to carry into effect the
prohibition amendment to the con-
stitution are being prepared by the
Anti-Saloon League. The first of
these bills, providing for a Statewide
prosecuting force, is already prepared
for introduction when the new Legis
lature meets January g.
This bill will provide for the APP
pointment by the Governor of com
missioner of safety" who will be the
commissioner will have a staff con-
sisting of a deputy commissioner and
ten assistant commissioners. These
men will have all the powers and du-
ties of county prosecutors. but the
range of their activity and duty will
be Statewide. They will be empow
cred to appear in any Circuit Court
with full prosecuting powers.
The bill is now in the hands of
Grant Hudson. head of the Anti-Sa-
loon League forces. and while in De-
troit comforting with Walter Hoshal
chairman of the dry campaign COM
miteee, and District uperintendent
Simpson. of the Anti-Saloon League.
be outlined the commissioner of
safety department plans.
Not Confined to Liquor Cases.
The work of the department will
not be confined to liquor cases alone. -
he said. 1T Will find other work that
there is now and always has been
need for The county clerks of Mich
igan have virtual head in the secre-
tary of State. The prosecuting attor-
neys can always call upon and look
TO the attorney general for guidance.
But the police and sheriffs have no
such central authority to aid them.
The commissioner of safety will fill
this want Moreover. with a central
State authority charged with the duty
of seeing that the laws are properly
enforced. the danger of individual or
local desire or prejudices or lack of
interest, or concession to law break
ing elements, will be done away with.
We are not yet ready to announce
our exact course with reference to
a liquor-shipment bill but something
of the kind will be agreed upon. To-
day and tomorrow we will hold a con-
ference in Lansing. at which. at least.
twenty of the best attorneys of the
State will give their opinions. We shall
have at the conference u number of
members of the House and Senate
such men as Representative Lewis.
of Van Buren,. and Senators Covert,
of Pontiac, and Foster, of Ingham.
When this law is drafted, it will be
drafted right"
Mr.. Hudson declared the l,egisIa-
ture was so safely dry that there will
be no danger OF failure of passage for
any program the drys may agree
upon.
Control Both Houses.
We will have sixty-two members
in the House who will be with us a b.
solutely." he said. In the Senate we
will have twenty-five members who
are with us, We are credited with
twenty-four Senators; l believe We
have the extra two, but twenty-five
doubt.
We have also decided to create
a new department of the Anti-Saloon
League to carry on our propaganda
among the workingmen. We term it
our industrial educational work, and
we will seek to convince all workers
that the use of alcohol is deleterious
to their bodies and IA foe to their
finances
This, of course. to strengthen the
prohibition forces in case the ques-
ton is ever again submitted?'
Certainly and because of its moral
benefit, as we'll" responded Mr.. Hud-
son.
With the brewers refusing, almost
to a man. to discuss their plans, If
they have any, for a legislative pro-
gram, numerous stories of their inten
tons have gone the rounds. but if
the liquor interests are considering
action in Lansing. they are proceeding
without the aid or device of the mem
bers OF the Legislature who in the
past have been their champions.
Il haven't heard a word from a
brewer or saloonkeeper relative to
legislative program said State Sena-
tor James Murtha. And | have met
and talked with brewers too"
Senator Murtha was the most out
spoken wet in the last three sessions
of the Legislature. and frankly and
avowedly the wet leader of the SEN
ate.
Representative Culver. who was the
wet leader in the House at the last
session. and who will go back. also
declared that he had not heard an
authentic word regarding concerted
action by the vets.
There are plenty of stories; heard
lot of Them" said Culver. Il have
talked to a number of brewers. and
as far as | know. there's nothing on
foot in the way of program"
Fight just Begun.
1t is the opinion OF Dairy and Food
Commissioner James w. Helme that
the victory of the drys in the recent
election in Michigan is only the initial
step. and he declares the fight to en-
force prohibition has only begun.
Other dry leaders are of the same
opinion. and 1t is believed that it viii
be necessary for the drys to go
through another campaign at the No
vember election in 1918 In order to
clinch the victory they won last
month.
1t is said that the liquor men are
planning to use the referendum pro-
vision Of the constitution to prevent
any dry legislation passed at the next
session from becoming effective uni!
it has been submitted to a vote OF the
people. w.
The prohibition amendment will go
into force May /. 1918, If the next
Legislature provides the necessary
machinery. If the liquor men circu-
late petitions and obtain $4,000 sig
natures and file them with the secre-
tary of State within ninety days after
the close Of the session, the dry legis-
lation cannot be made effective until
IT Is submitted to vote of the peo-