The New York herald., 1921-10-10
Haynes DCNOUNCES
DRY Law DEFIANCE
Man Who Violates Act Fos-
ters Spirit OF Anar-
chy, He Says.
TT CAN BE ENFORCED'
But New Commissioner Adj
mits Present Difficulties
Are Serious.
TT CAN BE ENFoRcED'
PERSONAL LIBERTY SAFE
Charge That Prohibition In
fringes on Tt Is Not Real,
Speaker Says.

Roy A. Haynes. Federal prohibition
commissioner. speaking in the West
Side Y. M. C.. a. yesterday afternoon
vigorously attacked the belief that il
is not possible to enforce the Eigh-
teenth Amendment. ITO say that il
Is impossible to do so," he declared
'is to do violence to American tradi-
tions and to underestimate the Ameri-
can spirit"
The speech was Commissioners
Haynes's first public discussion in
New York OF the task he has under
taken. He made it plain he regards
the enforcement OF the law as larger
matter than prohibition itself, that he
considers the lightness in which many
persons hold the prohibition amend
nnent as q menace to American insti-
tutions. He recalled the prophecy Of
Macaulay that the civilization OF the
United States would be destroyed by
iawlessness engendered within her
own institutions.
The personal liberty argument, the
Commissioner said, seems to him like a
soap bunble--''it appears iriaesccnt and
real but when punctured there Is
nothing In it
>"Thcy say the amendment infringes
upon personal liberty by restricting ones
personal habits" he continued. Every
law does that.in larger or smaller de-
gree, but these restrictions do not seri-
ously limit the man who puts the COM
rnunity good above his own self indul-
scace. One o. the greatest dangers now
confronting this Republic Is that we shall
lose our vision Of the sanctity and
majesty OF law. No part of the Consti-
tuition Is less sacred than any other part
We cannot permit the open violation OF
any specific law without at the same
time fostering the spirit Of anarchy that
viii eventually hold all law in contempt
and disrepute.
TT is time that the citizen upon
whom we depend to uphold our Areri-
canism awakens to the realization that
pootlegging is not o. mere pastirle but
2 nefarious and traitorous business.
Whether he be i'll the highest or lowest
walks OF life the bootlegger is In the
last analysis law siolator and crinl-
inal.
THAT Il 10 difficult at this hour TO
enforce prohibition laws we do not deny.
and that there are violations OF the law
We do not doubt but the laws against
murder have been known on this con-
tjnent since the Puritan. and yet many
times we have seen human life held
lightly. The enforcement OF that law
at times seems most difficult. Should
we repeal the laws against homicide for
that reason?
ITO nullify the prohibitory laws or 70
repeal them will cure no evils that arise
from the liquor traffic, but you will set
n nrecedent and make It more easy 20
nulIify any law that may be rendered
difficult of enforcement through propa-
-anda or unAn.erican prejudice"
Mr.. Haynes denied the common aecu-
sation that prohibition was slipped
over on the country. Public senti-
a,ent." he declared. was crystalltzing
into law over period Of years. and this
uas practically an accomplished fact be-
core the first American soldier left our
ehores The record shows that out OF
$50 counties in the United States there
v,ere only 3o5 that had not declared
,l,en,so,ves dry. To. say the American
soldiers vino went overseas were un-
touched by this great movement 10
scarcely compliment TO their intein-
e,cnce."