The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-12-18

the general assembly, having no exact
precedent. was perhaps guided by
West Virginia, which appropriated
fifteen thousand dollars t15,oVo) per
annum for the enforcement of her
law, and appropriated q sum proper
tionately larger for Virginia. but West
virginia's appropriation was entirely
inadequate. as the following letter
from Mr.. George w. Crabbe. who had
experience with West Virginia law,
will show:
".Anti-Saloon League OF Maryland.
Baltimore, Md. Sept. 81, 1917.
IN ]. Sidney Peters.
Commissioner of Prohibition.
Richmond. Va
MY Dear Mr.. Peters:
II was superintendent of the Anti
Saloon league when prohibition be-
came effective in West Virginia. 1t
was my duty to organize the temper
Rnce forces OF, the state for law en-
forcement. The amount given by the
state for that purpose was only a
small amount of the total used in that
work. Our organization furnished two
lawyers, paid their salaries and ex-
penses for that work; we also paid
the expenses of two men to do secret
service work and in face OF this, the
commissioners ONCE (tax commission
err is here referred to-the law en-
fcrcement officer OF the state) was
out OF funds each year several months
before the end of the fiscal year.
Some of the men were laid Of en-
tirely while the department kept the
ones they felt they absolutely had to
have and the pay rolls for the last few
months were simply sent to the Anti
Saloon league and we a to pay the
salaries that the state Mould have
paid. / thought then and hin now
that II was unfair to the church OF
the state to ask money TO enforce the
law. hope tina II this question is
ever raised again In your state, you
will be able to succeed in counteract-
ing any influence that the smaller APP
preparation In the state Of West Vir-
ginia may have had
Very truly yours.
GEORGE W. CRARBE.
superintendent
This inadequate appron-setion has
been invaded by legal contentious set
Mp In the courts by the most astute
attorneys In the commonwealth, whose
contentious with all OF the attendant
costs had TO be met and overcome by
this department. But for the mag
ranimity and patriotism OF some un-
selfish attorneys who came to our res
Acue adequate defense of our laws
would have been impossible, for we
have had pitted against the law ome
Of the richest common carriers and
some OF the most potential brewers
in the United States.
I'm the midst OF ali these and =
thousand other veKations too numer-
GUS TO mention here. / wish TO record
here and now nay appreciation or the
sustained sym pathy. wise counsel and
unfailing support which you. the chief
executive officer OF the state, have
given TO this new pioneer department.
! do not recall that l have ever called
upon you for any advice that 1t has
not been patiently given. or for any
assistance In your power that has not
been obtained; nor have ] been uu-
! conscious ons hour of your profound
sympathy. The people OF the com
monweaith owe TO you their LASTING
gratitude for you u1swerytnS jealousy
Of the integrity and majesty OF their
law"
The commissioner continues here
telling of the organization of his Law
enforcement force. the employment OF
necessary inspectors, two attorneys
Hon. Thomas Whitehead. Of Amherst,
and Hon. Guy r, Horner. OF South
ampton. and on account OF the large
number Of prosecutions which be-
! ca me necessary II soon became neces-
cary 10 employ Mr. FAY 6. Collier
OF Hampton: Mr.. James n. England
Of Hopewell, regularly for special liti-
CATION: Meswrs. Scott Buchanan, oi
Richmond, and w. Fl. Mann IL Son
of Petersburg.
Praises Loyalty of Employees.
Speaking OF the fidelity OF the forcs
en- ployed in the work Of the enforce
meut of the Law. the commissions
says:
IT also became necessary TO IN
crease the forcs OF detectives and this
force has been supplemented from
time to time as funds you'd admit
but is very inad Hquate now, and should
he doubled. All persons thus engaged
have been not only professionally bu'
personally and intensely interested II
the enforcement Of the law. ] re
greet tina; In not 3 single instance have
I been able to compensate these EN-
pioyes as they should have been TO,
their services, but with commendsbl'
sacrifice they have aggressively prose
cuted their duties Notwithstanding tn
lack OF funds at the disposal or tn,
department. and the remarkable sue
cess OF the law Is attributable to thei
skill and devotion"
/. Tribute liz paid to SIS unpaid cor
:. respondents. thousands OF ~voluntee
assistants from among the best clti
zens OF the state, and to the w. c
\ 7. L. and Anti-Saloon league for thei
help. Referring TO these orgRniza
tons. the commissioner says:
? The Woman's Christian Tenn
perance union, a band Of nobl'
unselfish women who are givin
: of their time. talent. money an
prayers to the suppression OF tn
[ liquor trafac. and the Virginia Stat
, Anti-SaIoon league with its wonderfr
, and powerful organization GOVERN
= every spot IN the state with one G
I their representatives. who la invaria
= bly, a man. full blooded. four-sQuar'
= unafraid and enjoying in the highet
, degree the confidence. esteem and al
lection Of his neighhors. There is n
a city sc densely populated and no rurs
I population so isolated hat these me
\ and women are not found and wheI
ever our men have gone ofttimes +
the peril OF their lives, In one or tn
other or both of these organization
they have found a strong, sympathetic
J |. protecting friend.
AID for Dry Organizations.
I Both organizations are muehs d.
: spised by those whose hurtful bus
: ness has been interrupted and by ur
Q scrupulous politicians who have trie
a In vain tn VISA than for their xelfs