New-York tribune., 1921-05-09
Can't Enforce
Dry Law, Is Cry
From Upstate
Police Chiefs of Hudson,
Saratoga, Kingston, Tona-
wanda and Other Towns
Declare IL Impossible
Federal Agents Blamed
'sMake 100 p. C. Americans
100 p. C. Squealers," Is
One Remedy Suggested
From, q stutf coyyespondens

ALBANY, May 8.--The upstate
police officer, whether he pounds beat
swinging his stick or pursues the law
violator in sleuth fashion, is, on the
average, not the proper medium for
the enforcement of the Mullan-Gage
dry law, according to reports received
by the State Conference Of Mayors
from police officials of upstate mu-
inequalities in answer Co queries sent
out by the conference.
The QUESTIONABLE asked upstate
city officials If they have been sue
cessful in enforcing the state dry law
and the majority of them answered in
the negative.
Some of the police chiefs are very
emphatic in their belief that neither
the patrolmen nor the plainclothes
men can cope with the bootlegger, the
moonshiner or the owner of the "blind
tiger"
Others say that it can be done. but
that it is hard work, while still others
maintain that it is not difficult for
police officers to obtain evidence of
cry law violations and make arrests.
Some chiefs suggest that the employ
ment of private investigators is one
way out of the difficulty, but they are
loath to enter into any definite work
ing agreement with private detective
bureaus.
LaSity on the part Of the Federal
officers in enforcing the Volstead act
in this state prior to the time the
Mullan-Gage law became effective is re-
sponsible for the general disregard of
the dry law in the state to-day, ac-
cording to the Chief of Police of King
ston.
cat the present time" he says, "men
who have never before shown criminal
traits are engaged in the liquor traffic
in some form or another. The reason
for this is that the Federal forces have
been SO lax in the enforcement of the
Volstead act that the fear Of violating
the Federal law has passed.
"Make all laws more drastic---so dras-
tic that a policeman will have some
thing to back him when he makes. an
arrest"
The tone of some of the replies shows
that the police officials are not at all
enthusiastic over che Mullan-Ga law.
The Chief of Police of Amsterdam de-
clares that, in order to enforce it, "it
is necessary to develop 100 per cent
Americans into 100 per cent squealers."
hlS view Is ShdTeG IN Oy Cne ponce
chief of North I Tonawanda, who openly
charges that the enforcement of the
Eighteenth Amendment is Federal
pror sition and should be enforced by
the Federal government.
Police chiefs of White Plains and
Niagara Falls hold that the small town
police officer is too well known to rem
der him of much value in stamping out
illicit trafficking in liquor.
In Saratoga, the mecca Of the states
sporting element during the racing
season and summer resort of note,
the state dry act is rated as "impos-
sible,' and much the same views are
entertained by police officers Of Hud-
son, Glens Falls Johnstown, Ithaca,
Lockport, Plattsburg, Newburgh. Ma
chanicsyille and several other cities.
The opposite stand is presented by
the city police head of Albany, J. Shell
don Frost, who says that the regular
force is able to handle the situation.
This is concurred in by police officials
of New Rochelle, Auburn, Oswego,
PouphkeepSie and Yonkerg