The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-11-01
WILL ENFORCE LAW
KINDLY BUT FIRMLY
Commissioner of Prohibition Says All
New Systems Cause Apparent
Hardships mt First.
NOT AN EMOTIONAL CHANGE.
Reform Scientific Endcavor and
Progressive Step Toward Improved
Moral and Social Conditions--Ob-
serve Points Clarified.

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Practical application of the proh'-
bition law, without any laxity that
would act against the statute itself,
In the method of enforcing the State-
wide law against the liquor traffic.
which will he pursued by the COM
missioner of prohibition. j. Sidney
Peters. The law went into effect at
the stroke of IL o'clock. midnight.
DIR. Peters yesterday gave out the
following statement regarding his po-
sition towards the enforcement of the
prohibition law:
II believe that all Of the people of
Virginia now realize that there will,
November i. become effective a change
in certain conditions throughout the
Commonwealth exceedingly revolu-
tionry; that. Notwithstanding the long
anticipation of this change, the
char/ed conditions will. nevertheless.
come with a suddenness that Will be
felt keenly. This will imply
change In laws and hecessitate
change In feeling. For instance. the
Legislature did not contemplate that
women engaged in the profession of
pharmacy should be adversely affect
ed in business by the prohibition act
when It provided the qualified voter
clause In the connection. And yet
in three distinct instances women
pharna cists have suffered under the
provision of the law. Confectioners
have also been embarrassed by the
statute.
And yet IT should be remembered
that while handicaps and hardships
must necessarily follow the passage
of new enaotments, there are other
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have caused hardships to others alto
eether unlocked for This is true in
the laws creating the State fish and
game department This Is no less true
of the new system OF taxation In vir-
ginia. When such hardships are
brought about the officers of the law
should exercise great caution not to
be unnecessarily severe. while at the
same time doing no violence TO the
laws themselves.
Not An Emotional Change.
'"The enactment of prohibition in
Virginia is predicted upon scientific
data and research and is. in its prin-
ciples, upheld by practically all OF the
thinking classes in both Europe and
America The basis for the reform In
not emotional The reform is a scien-
tific endeavor and progressive step
toward improved social and moral
conditions. The people of Virginia.
with characteristic conservatism. ap-
preached the matter OF prohibition.
in its present form, very carefully
They were not precipitate. but moved
slowly. Local option was followed
In the rural districts This was fol-
lowed by the BYRD law, a most wise
enactment which removed alcohol
from districts where police protec-
ton was limited Then came the
prohibition act itself.
No Disposition to BE Harsh.
1.-THE prohibition act. 1t will be OBJ
served, provides certain exceptions, as
in the case of alcohol required for
pharmaceutical and medical use. The
accommodation OF the law to these
necessary uses OF alcohol has appealed
to the people by virtue OF its reason
ableness and has enlightened prohi-
bition in the hearts and minds of the
public.
LAS a further concession to tho con-
servatism Of Virginia and to that
policy OF slowness to change so char
acteristtc of its people. the prohibi-
ton act permits small allowance of
alcoholic beverages to be imported
into the State with many safeguards
thrown around such privilege. This
SohSecStosA IA tAio q0dL IN EiiouId pt
pointed out. was a part of tactical
movement, growing out OF the pend
ing decision from the United States
Supreme Court of Appeals. as to the
right OF a Commonwealth to abso-
lutely exclude all commerce In liquors.
The Appellate State has ruled that q
State. under its present powers. has
an undoubted right to restrict such
traffic IN liquors And when the Su-
preme Court of Appeals has ruled
with regard to the former question,
the shipping privileges for liquor deal
ers may be withdrawn In the near
future from Virginia. The present
privileges in this regard rest upon
the pending decision from the Su-
preme Court
HOW Laws WIN BE Enforced.
"The enforcement OF the prohibi-
ton laws in Virginia is specifically
laid by sections % and IS upon the
police OF cities and upon the sheriffs
and constabulary Of the counties. and
the prohibition commissioner and his
staff conferred with the same powers
win take this occasion to state, how
ever. that my department will exer-
cise such powsrs only In very rare
1nstanoea. The dIed policy Of this de-
paxtxnonE will be TO act In Oo-opera-
ton and a& the eol3o4tAt1on Of the To-
cal authorities, tho central ONCE ex-
pe0tfng the local authorities to attend
to such matters.
In hts connection may say that I
hA~e been erea&ly encouraged by oon-
fsrenoes with the chiefs OF police in
my Assurances that tho prohibition
law throughout the cities Of the State
wi1l b zagidiy enforced. Tho same
70 unQueationably true with regard to
tho rural sections am also Of the
opinion that the large matoy sty of the
people everywhere throughout vir-
ginia WIN uphold the hands of the
local police authorities and officers.
There are unmistakable indications all
through the State of earnest and hon
est desire to see that the prohibition
law 10 upheld and given a fair test
Those interested In the success OF
prohibition desire nothing more and
will be content with nothing less.
Fees In An Cases.
In addition to some changes in
procedure heretofore mentioned by
The Vfrg1nian. including the exclusive
original Jurisdiction in the trial of
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