The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1920-02-11
PROTEST OF WILKINS.

fUy cement RI IstE 3ldlp t&" t4' wa
piss declared he had always voted fol
dry MEASURES
PROTEST or WILKINS.
Delegate wilkins. OF New port News,
v6seed his protest agsiEst abolition ~
the Office at this time.
lit is purely a WEI and dry Issue,
he said. The department ~ prohl
t1ttcn has done it's best to enforce the
iAws and has succeeded very welt under
tiyr circumsta aeea, Dr, Peters may not
have secured the best men, but he got
tie best available"
Delegate Catewood thouRht tt peril
oss to discontinue Ire prohibition de-
partment until the fedora and local
Authorities coordinate in TIE enforce
uynt OF state and nat!9Ga' law Lack
OF law enforcement. he declared is une
Of the r-eat dangers in virginia at
tbs time.
-Deiegate Wilbur { Hal charged
that the existence Of the department
of- prohibition is a reflection on the
people and the local officials Of the
state. and denied the imputation that
those who oppose It are wet men.
He characterized agents OF the de-
partment as an unusual aggregation,
carrying on their activities under the
supposed sanction OF the state. Il
would not be far wrong, he said, TO
estimate that the department had set
on foot not more than 10 or ) per
cent OF the prosecutions under the
Mapp act He declared that Governor
pAvis' reasons for recommending that
he abolished cannot be answered.
1.-The people who were opposed to
,fohibition in 1914 are now trying to
Grove that their assertion that pro-
nfhition. Hnuld- met prohibit was true.
declared Delegate E. Hugh Smith, of
Northumberland. IN strong and
eloquent plea for the retention of the
department.
GENUINE PROHIBITION.
The operation of this department
AAs -she~n sha. there can be genuine
prohibition Were IL abolished at
HIS time the word would go out that
Virginia has receded from her high
stand on the prohibition question
Roeileggers in the state would rise up
and cali Hail and tFiipia blessed We
need all the moral and legal aid we
zan get in the enforcement OF the
Aw,
u Il. nave not been in accora with
,1a,. ri tiers on every act Of the de-
paEsment, ! am frank to say, but
whatever mistakes have been made
we're, ! believe. mistakes simply OF
Judgment L accord To him the high
Is, honesty of purpose He is a gem
tieman Of high character and has
handled a difficult situation with re-
narkable skill
THE charge bay MIR Hall that one
If The "rufnions" OF the department,
Tg.@ Williams has been convicted OF
granddaughter is not borne out by the
facts. Dir Peters has just told me
hat Williams was not in 30 employ
Of the department on the occasion OF
The affair nj Fishers tiili. bGt ~as
present of his own vol!tion
Delegate Fulton charged that the
operation of the department for the
past three years has brought The state
in debt 10 the amount Of $4,000
and that statistics show that The law
has been better enforced whore the
agents of the department. have not
operated. He said he is FOR fewer
officers. better officers and more eff
gienf administration.
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT.
Delegate CARRIER, OF Rockingham
making an analysis OF the third an.
nual report OF DR. Peters, defended
/ IL ably against the enemies Of ths
department, and made a strong ant
compelling plea for it's retention, Ger
t&inly until the federal authorities be
gin 10 function properly in the en-
'orcement OF the law.
AN the buns, hohoes, tramps
beoileggers and scum Of the earth,
he said. favor the abolition of thin
office. ! don't mean TO say that there
aren't some very honest and very con
sciertious men behind the movement
but you find yourself in most doubtful
company. ON the other hand the
good women OF Virginia favor i'll
retention as do the ministers anC
those who really have the best inter
EEtseof prohibition at heart II Is :
very significant thinA 10 me when the
moral forces Of the state are to IA mar
standing for the retention at tn,
Office.
ITO abolish this office in 1921, al
h proposed in the Gilpin amendment
wQulc be distinct step backward p
Delegate Boschen submitted hgurei
pnERorting 10 show that twenty~si
barrels OF liquor for medicinal pur
10ses had come TO Richmond durins
Nc course of single day. DecembeI
10, 1917. on permits issued by DIR
Peters.
NJ Il am persuaded that the people or
my constituency are In favor Of re
tanning the Office declared Delegat'
esS Robertson. OF Bris,ol, Very. fas
have asked me to vote against ii
Their reason was that it IL too grea
u burden to the state. Upon inves
0gntton i fnd that to them is Is M
* 6Mrden at ALL
n Delegate Warren said he worked il
ri ne Interest of prohibition, but wa
opposed from the first 10 special de
4 Artsnent. since the people had no
III een Apprised that any SUCH tbing. wa
ontenapiated.
81 III Delegate Nottingham said the onh
Ming 10 b. decided was whether Vir
1nlA longer needed the prohibiti0i
epa Etrneut and he had decided in tn
80 Drm2tivs.
s# III DS}AGate Hunter frankly admittet
k yg hAA never been prohibition