New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-06-27
Drys w armed
Extreme Laws !.
llnperil Cause
Prohibition Being Over
done, Says Vanburen, Re-
firing Counsel TO Conn
missioner. iii Revue W
Fears Popular Reaction
Abusive Restrictions of Per.
sonal Liberty Will Stir
Indignation, He Asserts
From The Tribane's washtn 0toa Bnrea,

ffo"' ifte ifto"aes VdshsnQfoa Bureau
WASHINGTON, June 26. - Prohibi.
ton enforcement is being overdone and
II prohibition is to succeed further
eurtailment of personal liberty must be
avoided and abusive and ruthless re-
strlctions must not be attempted. &C.
cording TO Alfred d. Vanburen. Of
Kingston. N. Y. VINO has resigned as
chief counsel to the Federal Prohibition
Commissioner
Mr., Vanburen deplores the movemen
Tor more. drastic legislation and the
iurther encroachment upon rights
guaranteed by the Constitution in the
pursuit Of lawful occupations He
Tears that this will cause increasing
resentment and indignation, that re.
spect for the law will be lost and the
entire situation thrown open to Judi
cial intervention and review.
There can be no doubts' Mr.. Van
nuren SAID, that when the Eighteenth
amendment was adopted the people in
tended to prohibit for all time intoxi-
eating liquors for beverage purposes,
put there is reason to doubt that the
people intended or at least fully un-
derstood that the measure for its en-
forcement would be carried to the en-
tremes which Congress deemed neces-
sary to include in the national nrohibi
ton act.
consequently, when the people real
lzedd land they are just beginning to
realIze) that the practice of medicine
pharmacy, chemistry and even religion
was affected, surprise and consterna
ton prevailed, which, in many sections,
nave given way TO resentment and in
dignation.
Resented Even by Drys
The influence of this legislation and
the regulation and control of the traf-
nc as exercised by the Commissioner
mas penetrated into legitimate indus
Try to such an extent that business
conditions are intolerable. From all
over the country professional and bust
ness men, ardent supporters of prohi
bltlon against beverage liquors. gen
erous contributors to the cause and
among the dryest of the drys, are rails
ing their voices in vigorous protest
against further encroachment upon
rights guaranteed in the pursuit of
lawful occupations.
Liquor as defined by Congress in
cludes not only alcohol. whisky. wine
and beer. but also all other liquids or
compounds whether medicated, pro-
prietary, patented or not and by what
ever name called, containing one-half
OF one per centum or more of alcohol
by volume which are fit for use foc
beverage purposes One can readily
see that when such liquors are pro-
hlblted for beverage purposes and the
manufacture. purchase, sale, transpor-
tatlon and even possession thereof for
non-beverage or legitimate purposes
are subjected to the drastic regulations
and control of the government, the
problem is very serious one.
"If the good people who have been
enjoying the benefits of state prohibi-
ton for many years and the so4called
drys, whoever they may be, could real
ize and appreciate the many difficulties
encountered by those who are en-
deavoring to supply such articles as
alcohol, medicines, perfumes, toilet ar
ticles, fiavoring extracts and like prod
ucts for legitimate purposes, be they
manufacturers, dealers, chemists, doc
tors or druggists, they would not allow
their spokesman to be too insistent in
their demands or suffer their Congress
men to be apprenensive of the folks
back home
Restricting Physicians
"There is bill now being rushed
through Congress which further re-
stricts the physician in the practice
Of his profession and clothes the Com
missioner with the responsibility Of
limiting the manufacture and sale of
spirituous and vinous liquors to such
quantities as he may believe sufficient
for non-beverage purposes. In this
connection. the definition of liquor
should be kept in mind, and though the
Commissioner were endowed with the