The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1921-07-01
New Commissioner
Issues Statement
on Law Enforcement
Calls on Citizens to Observe and
Help Uphold Law

The following statement was issued
on June IA by Major Roy \. Haynes,
the new Prohibition Commissioner,
who has assumed his duties at Wash
ington:
In unmistakable language Amer
lea has spoken for Prohibition. Fed
eral constitutional provision has been
made for il. Laws have been enacted
for its enforcement. The law should
be enforced. The man or woman or
agency which condones its violation,
or becomes party TO its violations,
or encourages sentiment OF laxity
in regard to its enforcement is help
ing to create, consciously or uncon-
sciously, a very serious condition.
Regardless OF personal views,
surely every good citizen will regard
as imperative the enforcement of the
! Eighteenth Amendment and laws to
which it is fundamental. Certainly
every law-abiding citizen will admit
that as long as these laws constitute
part OF the organic law OF the land
they must be obeyed. The first year
of national dry enforcement has been
waged against almost insuperable
difficulties Due credit should be
given to former Commissioners Kra-
mer, man of sterling integrity, firm
convictions and to his helpers dor the
progress made. They were the pio-
neers and pioneers are always seri-
ously handicapped.
AT the very outset of my admin
istration OF this office. | want to
preach the gospel OF the need of law
enforcement. II there was ever a
time in the history of America when
all good citizens should unite on a
program for law enforcement, i'll the
home, in the school, in the church,
and in the press it is now. Winking
at the breaking oil one law and
preaching the observation OF another
is unpatriotic and un-American. On
that basis | believe former so-called
liberals will aid in the enforcement
OF the dry laws, as we'll as those who
have always been dry. Any other
policy toward the law in general
means chaos: means bolshevism.
81 am a newspaper man by profess
sion. | have full knowledge of the
power of the press. | believe no
agency has more power in the weld
ing OF public sentiment and few as
much power. | appeal especially to
the editorial and news writer, to the
cartoonist, to the reporter, to the
scenario writer, to the playwright, to
lend every aid to law enforcement.
"The editorial, the cartoon, the
news story, the film or the legitimate
play which has in it the direct state
ment of inferential suggestions, that
the dry program is easily violated, or
should be violated that it is joke,
is not only harmful i'll the warping
of sentiment against the enforce
ment OF this one law, but obviously
such influence leads to disregard OF
law in general Such suggestions ere
ate in the minds of the young an I'M
| fair and unfortunate attitude and en-
courage among the irresponsible the
breaking of all laws.
81 wish that we might have in
f! America revival of regard for the
sanctity and majesty of the law |
wish that it might be preached by
the parents in the home as we'll as
by the teacher in the school, by the
preacher in the pulpit; the writer and
cartoonist. throughout the press, the
actor on the stage. by every good cit
izen and agency. No greater blessing
can come to America and the world
than this. want the help OF every
good, loyal citizen. | pledge, God
helping me- every ounce OF vigor and
ability there is in me to this end.
With comparatively few officials to
enforce the Eighteenth Amendment,
it can not be effectively done without
the cooperation OF a patriotic and
helpful citizenship. My ambition is
to see the dry law as all laws, gen
orally and properly enforced.
1--WE can readily bring about this
splendid result and high aspiration,
If we all dedicate ourselves to the
patriotic program OF believing, preach
ing, talking, and practicing the Cos
pei of law enforcement.
ITO this platform ! shall devote all
OF my energies, and | believe that |
shall have the cooperation of all
true, broad minded. patriotic Ameri-
cans, who put love OF country and re-
gard for its very foundation-law and
order-in their proper relationship.
u. S. CHAMPAGNE MARKET
DIsCoURAGING, SAY FRENCH