The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-06-04


In the absence Of Rev. DR.. r. II.
Pitt. who was prevented from helms
present by illness. Rev. Mr.. Scott pre-
sided. Several vocal selections were
rendered by. the choir OF Broad Street
church.
HoAeEtaEaGS Hammond. president
of@kx&e NAt4trN5ian alliance, declared
kksslffSS Australia. America Is the
fhexnk M most discussions: the In
spirMtfpn arAgthe hope of the country
In the csu@gsof prohibition. in Sid
liquor problem in extent Is the most
terrific that a people nave ever sought
to rid themselves OF.
On behalf OF his country, he APP
pealed 10 tho people OF America 10
help Australia In solving the Iiquor
problem, American machinery ard
American whiskey. he said. is get
ting in its deadly work in Australia.
Yen aven't finished the job yet" he
said. "You did ~splendidly for the al
lies in the world war" he said, but
you can do more for Australia in its
tight against the liquor evil"
Rev. DR.. i. Sidney Peters. state
prohibition commissioner, declared the
prohibition law Is the most benehcient
law yer written upon Virginia's sta
ute books. Other states. he said. that
have subsequently, adopted prohthi-
tion laws have sent representatives 10
Richmond and 10 Virginia for point
ers" and have modelled their laws af-
ter that Of this state. they have
adopted the distinctive features of the
Virginia law.
'sAnd this law he added. has
been reasonably enforced. The an
mails Of the courts Of the state will at
test this, Notwithstanding the mis-
carriages OF justice in some courts,
which have been disgusting" In
Richmond n Norfolk, he said. the
percentage OF convictions for viola
tion OF the prohibition law has been
Just as high as have been those for
larceny.
There In one thing necessary to
enforcement of the law" he said. You
must have force to go into those To-
c~alities where they will not enforce ii"
He alluded to the indifference of some
officers and the hostility of iuries. He
told OF ono county in the state where
officers of the prohibition department
have averaged two seizures of Illicit
stills a day for the last two and a half
years. during which time not a SELF
ure has beer mad by the sheriff or
constahles of h county in question.
He defended maintenance of a central
authority Wnltn Niu Eo lHt0 certain
localities and arrest n~aIefactors, hale
them into court and prosecute them
where the officers of these localities
will not do their duty.
EXPOSED TO DANGER
"The brave men Of the prohibition
department. he said, have gone
hither and thither throughout this
commonwealth. exposing themselves
To danger, taking their lives in their
hands. subjecting themselves to abuse
and SANDER and villification and vi
tupefation, to uphold the law which
you have made"
Lynchburg, the speaker said sell
dom has to be visited by members OF
the prohibition department.: the Hill
City officers, he said, enforce the pro.
hibition law. adding. But. alas. there
are some cities in this state where
the police are not in sympathy with
the prohibition laws and it is neces-
sary for the department to step in.
'It Is not a pleasant ask that these
men have enforcing your law" he said.
People along the highways and by
ways refuse to succor them. to take