Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1916-11-10
ADVISES ALL OFFICERS TO
USE GREAT CAUTION
Prohibition Commissioner Peters
Says Conditions Should Not Be
Unnecessary Severe.
WHY ONE QUART is ALLOWED

Says his Department Will Act at
| Solicitation of Local Authorities,
and Only in fragrant Instances
Over Their Heads.
Prohibition Commissioner J Sidney
Peters has issued the following
statement of the position taken by his
department in regard to the enforce
nent of the new liquor law:
l believe that all of the people of
Virginia now realize that there will
become effective Il change in certain
conditions throughout the Common
wealth exceedingly revolutionary; that
notwithstanding the long anticipation
Of this change the changed conditions
will. nevertheless, come with sudden
| ness that will be felt keenly. This
will imply a change in laws and neces-
state change in feeling. For in
stance, the Legislature did not con-
emp!ate that women engaged in the
'rofession of pharmacy should be adj
Iersely affected in business by the
prohibition act when it provided the
qualified voter" clause in this CON
nection. And yet in three distinct in
stances women pharmacists have suf-
fercd under this provision of the law.
Sou1eSGlOileTS nave also Deen emDuf
raised by the statute.
And yet it should be remembered
that, while handicaps and hardships
must necessarily follow the passage of
new enactments, there are other laws
than the prohibition law which have
caused hardships to others altogether
unlocked for. This is true in the laws
creating the State Fish and Game De-
partment. This is no less true of the
new system of taxation in Virginia.
When such hardships are brought
about the officers of the law should
exercise great caution not to be I'M
necessarily severe, while at the same
time doin~ no violence to the laws
themselves.
Basis For Reform is Not Emotional.
The enactment of prohibition in Vir-
ginia is predicated upon scientific data
and research and is, in its principles,
upheld by practically all of the think
lea. The basis for the reform is not
emotional. The reform is scientific
endeavor and progressive step toward
improved social and moral conditions.
The people of Virginia, with charac-
teristic conservation, approached the
matter of prohibition, in its present
form, very carefully. They were not
precipitate, but moved slowly. Local
option was enforced by the Mann law,
offering protection in the rural dis
tricts. This was followed by the Byrd
law, a most wise enactment which re-
moved alcohol from districts where
police protection was limited. Then
came the prohibition act itself
The prohibition act it will be OBJ
served, provides certain exceptions, as
in the case of alcohol required for
pharmaceutical and medical use. The
necessary use OF alcohol has appealed
to the people by virtue of it's reason
b.cness and has strengthened lhnhioi-
ticn in the hearts and minds of tile
public.
AS further concession to the con-
servatism of Virginia and to that
policy of slowness to charge so char
acteristic of its people, the prohibition
act permits a small allowance of al
coholic beverages imported into the
State, with many safeguards thrown
around such privilege. This conces-
sion of the quart it should be point
ed out, was a part of a tactical move
ment, growing out of a pen ling de-
cission from. the United States Sup
RENE Court of Appeals. as TO the right
of Commonwealth absolutely to ex-
Glide all commerce in liquors. fine
appellate court has ruled that
y State. under its present powers, las
traffic in liquors. And when the
Supreme Court of Appeals has ruled
with regard to the former question
the shipping privileges for liquor
dealers may be withdrawn in the
near future from Virginia. The re-
cent privileges in this regard rests
upon the pending decision from the
Supreme Court.
Tell How New Law Will be Enforced
The enforcement of the prohibition
laws of Virginia is specifically laid by
section % upon the police of cities
and upon sheriff's and constabulary
of the counties, and the prohibition
commissioner and his staff conferred
with the same powers. will take this
occasion to state, however, that any
department will exercise such powers
only in very rare instances. The fixed
policy of this department will be to
act in cooperation and at the solicita-
ton of the local authorities, the CEN
trail Office expecting the local authori-
ties to attend to such matters.
In this connection / may say that
have been greatly encouraged by
conferences with the chiefs of police
in my assurances that the prohibi-
ton laws throughout the cities of the
State will be rigidly enforced. The
same is unquestionably true with
also of the opinion that the large
majority of the people everywhere
throughout Virginia will uphold the
hands of the local authorities and of.
ficers. There are unmistakable indi.
cations ell through the State of earn
est and honest desire to see the pro.
hibition laws upheld and given fan
test. Those interested in the sue.
cess Of prohibition desire nothing