The New York herald., 1921-02-24
PICKED FORCE OF
DRY AGENTS HERE
FOR BIG ROUNDUP
Fifty Former Officers Dis
charged for New Ones,
Tried and True
WARRANTS ARE READY
Federal Plans Bar Police in
Quiet Move to Corral
Rum Sellers.
KRAMER ANSWERS IS o s.
Many Imported Rum Hunters
Now Receiving Instructions
for First Big Drive.
KRAMER ANSWERS IS 0 s.

The long threatened, honest to
make the enforcement of the Volstead
act something more than a joke in the
city of New York. will start this week
Hundreds of search warrants have
been issued, and trusted men from
other cities have been brought in to
serve them. The greatest Of the pro-
hibition drives has been quietly or
ganized and is ready to be launched.
The police have not been asked to
take any part in it. The reason given
is that they are oyerburdened with
their regular duties. Most Of the en-
forcement agents who will be used are
strangers to New York, brought here
because Of their record as moppers up
elsewhere and because Of the neces-
sity of avoiding leaks which have
nullified other raids.
After the Restaurants.
1t is intended not only 10 make n con-
centrated attack on saloons and speak
called high class restaurants and
cabarets where drinks can be had for from
$3.50 to 50 apiece. These places have
not been bothered much in the past
It is reported that evidence against them
can no longer be ignored and that the
restaurant proprietors must share the
lot of the dive keeper If the enforcement
agents get the evidence.
More than sixty agents already are in
town receiving instructions and search
warrants at enforcement headquarters,
SO West Twenty-seventh street. Daniel
r. Chaplin chief enforcement officer here,
Is in charge Of the preparations for the
grand slam.
A good many OF the imported rum
hunters are. from Boston. They were
chosen because they have succeeded in
making that centre dryer than most
cities. few men have been brought
from Philadelphia.
No Federal officer would admit yes
terday that anything unusual was in the
wind, but the facts were learned else
where, including the fact OF the is
suance of search warrants. Specific evil
dence is required before such q warrant
can be obtained. This evidence has been
gathered in places where booze has been
sold more or less openly for the last two
months the evidence having been
secured by Mr.. Chaplin and his assist
ants
scores Lose Their Jobs.
In the past violators OF the Volstead
act have been tipped off when general
raids were contemplated by Mr. Cha
pins force. He has had to discharge
between fifty and seventy-five en-
ployees because their conduct was not
satisfactory Some OF them had rather
large bank accounts and owned dia-
monds and automobiles on yearly
salary of s1.750. II is reported that
because of this situation and the deple-
ton of his force he sent an IS o s. to
Prohibition Commissioner Kramer In
Washington saying that II New YORK
was going TO be cured Of its sadly dewy
ance from outside the city boundaries.
Evidently the call has been effective,
for many strange faces have appeared
at enforcement headquarters since last
Saturday. The strangers have been
tested for vigilance and have been
studying the city's map with special ref
erence to street corners where only one
half OF one per cent. beer Is supposed
to be available.