The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1920-09-27
DRY Law FAILURE
in new YORK CITY
b. 8. COLER SAYS ANTI-ALCOHOL
CONGRESS- COULD CLEAN
UP CITY.

Washington, Sept. 81. The
scientific calm of the deliberations
of the fifteenth International Con-
gress Against Alcoholism was shat
tered Thursday when scheduled ad-
dresses of Prohibition Commissioner
Kramer and Bird S. Coler, of New
York, turned into a spirited debate
as to whether prohibition enforce
ment, especially in New York. was a
success or failure.
Coler asserted prohibition had
practically been a failure in New
York City for the last six months
and that prohibition agents could
clean up New York in so days. il
they wanted to-"
eff the administration does not
take a hand there will be a worse
scandal over prohibition enforcement
than there was over a whisky ring
expose, /" he added.
Delegates, however, rose to their
feet and gave Kramer an ovation as
he appeared on the platform, and
abandoning his address, launched
Immediately into a reply to Coler.
"You have listened to these flam-
ing statements" Kramer said, "and /
for my part have enjoyed them and
am planning to have personal in
terview with Brother Coler after
wards if he will trust me with the
names of the viOlators."
II have no doubt that great deal
of what Brother Coler said is true.
But we have had eight secret service
men in New York for four months
and they have not been able to get
evidence against our enforcement
agents. And a special grand jury
that started out to indict all our
New York force has been dissolved"
Kramer charged politics with be-
ing the cause Of partial failures in
enforcement
"At first we we're confronted with
varying opinions of courts and law
yers," he said. Finally we were
getting along all right--when along
came politics"
He asserted enforcement started
with the handicap of guarding CO.,
100000 gallons of whisky.
"And whisky is the most slippery
thing in existence" he said.
Other difficulties he said, were
offered by patent medicine manufac-
turers, "who were manufacturing
enough medicine to treat all the ills
Of the world and enough hair tonic
to put hair on all the bald heads on
the globe"
II have been a prohibitionist for
| 80 years, but never thought that
writing the law into our constitution
would Immediately wipe the liquor
traffic out of existence. Our 1,0OG
men cannot police 110,000,000 peo.
ple."
Following Kramer's answer, Colel
again took the rostrum.
II never heard q better sermon,
he said, "and IL l had time l wouli
| take up collection this minute.
believe in the personal integrity o.
Mr.. Kramer and know that he is I
refined gentleman, but q refined
gentleman cannot handle this thinl
I've neetd something of thug t
handle 1t.
Prior to his address. Coler issuet
. statement violently attacking VIII
liam G.. Anderson, head Of the Anti
Saloon League in New York. assert
ing Anderson IL using the Anti-Sal
oon League Ito launch . crusade Q
bigotFy."
~Tke desire Of this person. b
said, sis to turn the prohibition
movement IN New York into an an
ti-Catholic and Jewish program
which should cause his banfshmen
from every civilized nation"
| Delegates also heard DR.. Helenius
Seppala, the Kramer Of Finland
and the only other prohibition com
| missioner ii the world.
Herman r. G. Lin, president ~ II
Chinese League for Prohibition. ~
clared American brewers we're y
/ tempting to recoup by fastening IA
i s'becr ovils' IN China.
i Every boat that brings missional
/ les 4 aIso bringing brewers. 40 sait