Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-01-25
STATE DRY AGENCY
NOLONGERN NEEDED
Opponents Of Virginia Prohibition
Machinery Open Battle to
Abolish 1t.
GILPIN STATES HIS CASE
sLeader Against DR.. Peters Office
Dlsclaims Intent to Criticize
Commissioner.

IN debate characterized by frequent
iiits between proponents and oppo-
neatn Of the Gilp!n bill. which has for
It's aim the abolition OF the State De-
partment OF Prohibition. factions rep
fescntins the department and those
who would abolish tho Office
clashcd in the opening skirmish OF
what promises to be hotly contested
gates yesterday afternoon. The hear
.nS was before the House Committee
on Moral and Social Welfare. and was
open 10 the public.
At the conclusion of the hearing n,
ALTERNATIVES OF three, composed OF
Delegates Stephenson. McNutt and
The evidence and argument and make
IT'S recommendation TO the full com
nittec Monday night at o'clock.
an audience which taxed every avail
able seat when the session got under
way AT noon was augmented by scores
OF others. who occupied every foot Of
nall and in the gallery. when the hea.-
ing was resumed at o'clock, follow
.ng a recess OF an hour.
Peters, Rev. David p. Hepburn, d. D..
superintendent of the Anti-Saloon
league Of Wig MIA; Rev. George w.
naps chareR Senator OF the wasss
Mapp author o. the Mapp prohibition
lwi Le"Es n. Hachen. counsel for the
state Department, OF Prohibition. and
others appeared in behalf OF retention
of tho department.
sian! Favor Measure.
kenne.h g. G;pln; Of Clarke, who
Of The department.: Lindsay r. Gordon.
.Ir.. OF Louisa: l.. p. Buford OF Bruins
wick; Thomas LomaH Hunter. OF King
George. Senator Robert +. Leedy. OF
i.uray. and Albert Q. Boschen. Of Rich
inond.
Delcsate Mayo c. Brown. OF Lynch
ice on Mo:ai and Social Welfare. pre-
sided, He was tianked on either side
and just in. front OF him by tho other
members of the committee.
In opening the discussion, Chairman
Brown declared that 1t was the inten-
lion OF the, committee TO allow both
vi Doctor Peters" he said. but a
hearing on tho question whether or
not the, Prohibition Department Is to
be abolished"
Delegate Gilpin opened for the pro-
moments OF the bill, which. ne stated,
was in no sense an attack on Doctor
Peters. We arc not here TO hurt tho
cause OF prohibition or abuse tho pres
ant commissioner but TO abolish the
department. he said.
Says L. y. Agents Sufficient.
'tne r.uvFai sv's. ".,e..t. Ac ao.u, has
prosIuuu p.ViiiuAtion Go,niL.iss. Unc.
~ >..'. aIaiv vL e iiiia To cn4vrCu
Ike psoni"Is... Jaws. acquisition -.
tnc ravI.ti asvnC!, oil m.IGn >. H.
DononUe - SJni..Iss.uicr. Oh -,lr. .uaCa-
ca. t'r.eaatr u1.p.I Il. led, cvuIlvi-
.tc!s lnc arGuHIrAt o. 1nu opposi,IVn
tiiat tne r'rurfAi So.ern.nent nas not
luU Dcurnt laal the Slalu has.
Inc rcueTai agents. he continued,
are past MASTERS Nncn II co.uus IL
.uunlnS GOWN niounouiu-rs, auu t.ns
~ tne h4alh tnluS Inc p.uhiu!tion
turCcs wan nave 10 contcnu WIN nov
tnaL nation iuc ptunIuiLion nu-, pccn
uvCIGicu.
Jv.eInor Davie. he went on, has
deC.Arcu tue promotion department IS
an unnecessary cApcusc. luotins from
-1cts katucrcd uS lnc cnIcl executive
ui lac aIa.e anu ~ nan transmitted
III MS recent message TO the IencraI
.hSScmOiy Win respect TO states Mn.cn
nave not special department TO en-
!orce tne promotion Jaws. he said:
Either Nc arc rlsnl aud all otner
states are WRONG. or We are wrong and
me otncr states arc risnt. i.erson-
any. / peuc.e we arc wrong"
Otncrs AbOiisn branch.
Delegate IApin TOOK up IN detail tho
PROVISIONS or the Mapp law and the
changes ,h consequen, on elimination OF
iica.y charges the Attorney General
with the duty OF enforcing the pronipi-
ion law and appropriates $4,000 to his
ONCE Tor proceedings under Inc custer
Ia" against any local officers who fail
TO enforce the prohibition act.
Tacn SIDE was given an hour and Il
nail Tor argument.
Dclesate II. Lindsay, Gordon opened
partment The only other State to
create such a department, he said. was
oHiahoma' hich already had abolished
ana other officials Of that State, the
law was better enforced without than
with such Office.
The department., Mr. Cordon CON
tended not only Is n useless office, nut
tends to prevent the proper enforce
N" wet ct 'H s,a iaw Since there now
SPIRITS can be imported, the question
Of breaking up moonshining is essen
;taliy one nj FOCAL authorities to do
should be made between tho 's rnf6rnon
ment OF the prohibition law and tbs
law aGain s, murder or any other OUT
,,,. Friction in Enforcemen1
some, trouble and criticism Tie did a nn1
attribute the shortcomings OF deputios
to Or Peters. but said it was diT ffieuit
this espionage unless it ist part ne
their official duty in their own coun.
When tho Constitutional convon,,o,
met in 1901. North Carolina, he said
had lo7 State officers to perform the
duties rSs c wnifh required AS in virginia.
said. but the abolition Of one in Viz
Einia lis almost impossible. and, since
the Cons.ftutional Convention. the num-
fold.
Mr.. Gordon wants the law enforced.
and Is not In favor OF any proposition
that will let down the bars ,bnt II ia
impossible. no said. to enforce any law
against the unanimous local sentiment
OF any community.
The chief question now, he said. ia
10 fight local manufacture. No ono can
protect tho localities except those who
know the localities. He denied that an
effort to abolish the office is an effort