The Washington times., 1920-01-24
ROPER DENIES
LEADING 'DRYS'
Internal Revenue Collector ex.
plains Letter Urging Churches
To Detect vIolators.

Declaring that neither the Ante
saloon League nor any other outside
organization was Instrumental In his
sending oat q letter asking clergy
men Of the country TO organize Wall
ance comuittses In their churches 10
discover and secure evidence OF liquor
violations. Daniel c. Roper, collector
OF internal revenue. today defended
this policy OF carrying out the policy
OF prohibition enforcement
Complaints have been reported OBJ
Iecting 10 a paragraph In the eirea-
lar reading:
Your own church members, OF course.
will giye unhesitating adherence 10
the prohibition laws; but 1t Is neees-
sary that they do more. To eo.pr'
dinte and give force and direction 10
their individual efforts IL IL strongly
urged that a committee on law en-.
forcement be appointed to receive all
complaints OF violations OF law and
TO lodge such complaints, together
with the evidence obtained, with tho
proper authorities.
The active support OF such a GQ;o-
mlttee backed by the influence OF
your members will be q very great
help to local officers. Federal, State
and county. in enforcing the law.
Wherever any officer falls in kis
duty, public sentiment should sc 'ure
his removal. Your valiant Leadership,
and your ringing challenge to the
citizenship and the moral sense cr
your church members viii be the
chief influence in creating the right
public spirit in your community.
Has Had CompInists.
Mr.. Roper said today that the let
ter to clergymen and another to civic
and reform organizations originated
within his office. and was in line
with the policy which he announced
when given the duty OF enforcing
prohibition-to seek the aid OF the
public TO assist his employees in pre-
venting and Furnishing violations.
The head OF the Internal Revenue
Bureau admitted today that there had
been some complaints received from
clergymen, but declared that the
greater part OF the responses were
favorable and commendatory.
Adverse Critiei.n,.
"Thc letter was mailed TO about
125,OO0 clergymcn of all denomins-
tions throughout the United states"
said Mr.. Roper. THE letter, OF course,
did not require a written reply but
looked confidently to definite action
way of cooperation on their respec-
tive localities.
There have not been over a dozen
adverse replies received from the en-
tire country. Some of these letters
in opposition have stated that the
writers were not only unfsvorable to
law enforcement, but would do what
they could to protect violators.
This. however, is SO un-American,
especially at this time, that l do not
believe even these writer's will un-
dertake upon reflection to sustain such
a position.
Law and order and the protection
of life and property are all involved
in any question of the support OF the
laws of the land, and Americans Will
not disregard this principal OF demo-
cratic form of government.
THE Bureau of Internal Revenue is
charged solely with executive func-
tons, and therefore has no option in
the matter of administering thor
oughly any and ll laws which the
Congress has entrusted to 1t.
with the general tenders OF CO.
operation which are coming from
every quarter. there should be no
greater difficulty in successfully ad-
mlnistering prohibition than in ad-
ministering other laws"
This circular. another indorsins
proposals for a prohibition enforce
ment Sunday in the churches. and
third giving advice to organizations
and other agencies interested in the
enforcement OF prohibition. were ap-
parentIy used by the AntSaloon
League of Colorado as a basis Of an
appeal for the States quota of sS75.-
900 in a fund of $4,000, 600 for world
wide extension of prohibition, en-
forcement of the laws in this country,
and characterization OF foreigners
within America"
Mr. Roper said he had not author
lied the use of his name in this con-
nection. nor was his office taking any
special part in the 'Americanization
campaign.