The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-07-14

2 ri +
enforcing the law or Tor NOT snf0r0.
ing II. It has chosen to perform ~
duty and accept whatever criticisms
such course would arouse.
The results of Prohibition in .vir-
ginia have surprised and con-
vcrted most of its erstwnlle enemies.
The number of convicts sent to the
penitentiary has been reduced nearly
/ one-half those sent to jail have been
scarcely more than third of the
average number sent during corre-
spohdlng period of the wet regime and
tie number of prisoners cared for at
charitable institutions has been d.
minished on the average TO the extert
OF more than twenty-five thousand
persons. The actual net gain in reve-
nue. to the state after deductinR all
costs or this department have been
pear from statement in the Ap-
penulx headed, "Will 1t Pay?" which
IS uesig lated as Exhibit H.
surely no fair-minded critic could
IieIp admitting that these results more
man Justify the promise of the friends
~ " pnonioluon made to the people OF
virginia when they adopted that
poncy at the polls by majority of
more man thirty thousand votes in
i'l4. Nor will it be denied that these
results are in a large measure dus n
me me actiVtties OF The Department of
IIonioltion, which has made directly
ABOUT one-fourth of all the arrests mn.
der the law. How then can sny
friend OF the policy favor the aboli.
uon or the department. If thu ren.
efal assembly should be convincea
mat the present commissioner OF pro-
hihition had been guilty of maiad-
H1inistration II should elect another
IN ms stead; but 1t should not destroy
the department unless ii be mads
plain that some other denartmert
could more effectively enforce the Law.
NO state department that has been
suggested as substitute has either
the force or the means to continue its
own work and also take over that 81
the Department of Prohibition.
With the advent Of national rro-
nihltion now imheaded forever in the
constitution of our country, the prob
ieins or law enforcement may be
changed hut they viii not become less
acute. With the disappearance of
regal manufacture e intoxicating hev
erases will undoubtedly come mui.
tipltcation Of Illicit stills and brew
cries II will require the active CO.
operation Of the state and federal
governments 10 suppress them "A
TINS statement goes 70 press il is re-
ported that congress will make an an
preparation Of $500, 600. 90 for the
enforcement of national prohih itiop
rms amount, so inadequate in IT'S
proportions. when the magnitude OF
the country and of The problems to be
met is considered. was evidently de-
cided upon with III" idea that not only
virginia. but all OF the states, would
make appropriations for the enforce
ment of the law, which the Cons,ttu-
ton says shall he enforced by the con.
- re H.sf xs,
eFal governments. Virginia should be
the last state in the Union to fail of
its patriotic obligation to approximate
money for the enforcement Of its own
laws as well as those OF the nation,
especially when It is manifest that for
every dollar the state spends in the
enforcement OF the law the public
schools receive al least TWO dollars
from Tie literary fund to which, un-
der section "a OF the Code of Va
giuia, ali fines and forfeitures az.
crue. II viii DO apparent that the
large revenue now being received by
the State OF virginia will be entirely
diverted 10 the Federal government If
the cases are not tried in the state
courts. II will he unfortunate to rob
the school children Of Virginia Of
these revenues.
AS long as there is one place at
which intoxicants are manufactured
theFe VIII be attempts al the Illegal
transp~ rtation and sale or its pro-
ducts SO long as the deprived appe-
tite for alcohol and other drugs exist
in any portion of the population, SO
long the illiet satisfaction of its
appetite offers opportunities for enor-
nous profits. just as long will all the
energies of organized society he
necessary tn combat the evil
In the meanwhile, friends of Law
and order must not permit them
selves TO be deceived into placing any
STUN bling block In the way Of those
who have expended SO much time. en-
ergy and means in the effort to rid
this country Of the plaques that have
followed in the wake Of the traffic IN
alcoholic beverages, The time should
speedily arrive when no person
claiming any title Ia responsibility
will he found fighting against the
Constitution of his country,
Respectfully submitted,
J. SIDNEY PETERS
Com missioner OF Prohibition.