The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-07-22
j. S.PROH|B|T|ON
COMMISSIONER
VISITS THE CITY
FEDERAL HEAD OF DEPARTMENT
IN WEST VA, CHARLES LIVELY,
DETAILS HIS EXPERIENCES
Wheeling Druggists and Others Having
Permits to Dispense Alcohol, Obey
Law to The Letter

Captain Charles Lively, federal pro:
hib!tion commissioner for the state or
West Virginia. was a visitor IN =" 6 nseis
Of Deputy L, S. Clerk John H. Conrad
in the federal building while here.
In speaking Of prohibition and IT'S en-.
forcement IN this state Mr.. Lively
stated that the Job IS a stupendous one
ernment office IN this state IS small.
West Virginia looks small on paper
said Mr.. Lively, but when YOU are
forced TO get over the state by rail-, auto
accessible 10 automobiles. the job looms
UP as che of large dimensions.
Our force consists Of but six, four In
the office force and two inspectors
The ratd!ng force of West virginia,
wi Ich is under the command Of Colonel
Thomas L. stone. Of Baltimore, Mary
I'd consists Of sixteen men.
Forces Are Separate.
We really have nothing TO do with
these men. They look up their own v!o-
latiuns of the laws. spot the stills
gather evidence, do the raidinE and de-
stroytng OF the stills and take their
cases to the United States district AT
lorncy. who In turn. takes them before
the court And. incidentally, thcy take
their lives in their hands most OF the
time while gathering evidence.
Captain w. V. Midkiff. of Parkcrs-
1
example Of the style % the federal raid
ing forces He served in the ArEonne in
France. and il was stated would go
through fire. lie Was especially picked
for this employment and his work shows
that the heads OF the department made
no mistake
Midk!ff did Some work recently In
Wheeling and was the agent TO whom
the Gus Schultz whiSk"y was turned
over by the prohibition Officers Tor
transportation to Iarkrrshurg.
Handles tho Permits.
Continuing Mr.. Lively said. Our
force handles wha; are known as the
permissions. that - the permits issued
| 10 doctors. dentists druggists and
| others 10 handle alcohol There are at
! least 500 permit holders in West Viz
ginia.
In Ohio or Pennsylvania a physician
can write n prescription for pint or
whiskcy under proper conditions. for a
J patient However in West Virginia.
whiskey cannot he handled under any
conditions. The law prohibiting this is
( most drastic.
we issue permits 10 handle grain
alcohol only. Permits are also given 10
J use alcohol 70 steel plants and other
: manufacturers. This alcohol is used in
tests.
! Il am pleased 70 say that IN Ohio
county there has not been single COM
1
| governing permits.
! ALL Obey tho Law.
! Everyone having n permit has ohcy-
! ed the law to the letter. Every drug
! gist in Ohio county. think. has n per-
NIT and | have frequent Inquiries from
! them as 10 the letter Of the law. They
don't go ahead and break the law by
@ taking Il chance and then pretend ignor-
ancc.
West Virginia IS as clean as any
! state in the Union in regard 10 per-
mitS for dispensing alcohol. Druggists
| In this county. l have found. seek 10
| gain information OF all the details OF
| the law and then disseminate IL"
Mr.. Lively then stated that toilet
! waters and all such stuff that contains
percentage Of alcohol and can and
! have been used for beverage purposes,
will not be permitted to be displayed
| for sale.
Mr.. Llvely's trip to Wheeling is one
! OF investigation of the permit phase Of
/ tho prohibition law. He admits that
while his job keeps him on the jump
! 90 steadily that he Is Lively" by ma
/ ture as we'll as by name. Il IS not near
as strenuous as that Of the members OF
: the ra!d!ng forces.