The New York herald., 1921-12-08
Anheuser-Busch Says That
Even Ruthless Enforce
ment Efforts Fail.
KRAMER POINTS MISTAKES
Shows Prohibition Weakness
and Declares Work Is But
Half Done.
spectdl Despatch TO THE NEw YoaK HmALD
New York Herald Bureau,
NHae N a -

spectdi Despatch TO THE NEw YoRK HmALD
New York Herald Bureau,
Washington, ID. -, Dee. y :
Delegates to the Anti-Saloon League
convention meeting here were keenl,
interested to-day in two statement.
concerning the results of prohibition
enforcement in the United States. One
statement, from the Anheuser- Busch
Brewing Company, was regarded a:
unfriendly. This statement labelled
prohibition a practical failure. This
other statement was from former Pro
hibition Commissioner Kramer anC
was regarded as friendly and construc'
tive. The former prohibition chief sale
the prohibition job was but half done
The prohibition developments were
these:
Anheuser-B Busch, Ltd. brewers, of
St. Louis, sent to the White House
and all officers having supervision
of enforcement and to members OF
Congress, a pamphlet charging that
ruthless disregard of the brewers
legal rights is driving them out of
legitimate business and destroying
hundreds of millions of dollars in
wealth.
Pohibition officials said permits to
make cereal beverages have been
withdrawn from 200 breweries In
campaign to compel brewers to abide
by tho Volstead law.
Prihibition enforcement officials
agreed upon new plans for sweeping
measures to dry up New York and
other States where wet forces still
are active IN keeping the liquor chan
nels open to bootleggers. Permit
lists are to be further slashed to
eliminate retail and wholesale drug
gists who have been under investiga-
ton The Anheuser-Busch concern
charged that the volstead law en-
forced by the methods now followed
is total failure.
The general tend OF public sentiment
Is that the prohibition enforcement act
Is too severe and is incapab BILE Of being
enforced. Real temperance and respect
for law would be promoted by amend
ment of the law to permit manufacture
and sale of light wines and beer" read
the Anheuser-Busch pamphlet
Law Violated Everywhere.
Liquor is being manufactured and
sold illegally in practically every section
OF the country, the pamphlet declared,
basing the charges on an investigation
which the AnheuscrB Busch Company
claims to have made through question
naires sent to business men in many
parts of the country.
You will understand" reads the
brewing company's open letter. that
the Government In the first place by
enactment of the prohibition laws made
our plant representing an investment
of approximately 100000. practically
useless. Now. by failure of the Gov
eTnment to enforce its own laws. II
has made almost valueless the addi-
tional s1S,000,000 expended 70 save the
original investment"
Former Commissioner Kramer con-
frmed the contention of the Anheuser-
Busch letter that the company had
Cbeyed the law.
The problem of achieving national
prohibition in the United States is but
half answered" said Mr.. Kramer "The
real answer to the question OF how the
United States will be made really dry
is in the correction of three mistakes
made at the beginning of attempts to
enforce the Volstead law.
''First-We underestimated complete
~ the size Of the job of enforcing ma
tional prohibition.
"Second--we made the mistake OF
thinking OF enforcement as a Federal
instead of State and local task.
'Third-We assumed that with the
writing into the Constitution of the
Eighteenth Amendment and the passage
of the Volstead law. prohibitionn work
could be restricted 20 law enforcement
Active prohibition missionary work
must be carried on now more intensive
ly and more energetically than ever be
fore. II the manufacture and sale oi
beer and wines should be made possible
through any legal technicality the coun-
try Will again be wet"
survey New York situation.
Prohibition Director Ralph A. Day
OF New York. r. c. Yellowley, chief
OF general prohibition agents Prohibit
tion Commissioner Haynes and Revenue
Commissioner Blair surveyed the New
York liquor situation from all angles
at n conference at the Treasury Dc.
partment.
Through cooperation established witf
Federal Attorney William Hayward oi
New York, prohibition officials said there
are TO be numerous indictments of in.
6ividuels suspected Of having smoothec
Che way for bootleggers in obtaining
large stocks OF whiskey illegally. Some
OF those who are scheduled for indict.
ment are prominent politicians, II was
declared II also was learned that a few
former enforcement officials may be In.
|B,,ed.
Director Days reports TO Mr.. Haynes
erdicated that hundreds OF druggists
establishments have sprung up under
circumstances which appear TO show
large financial backing of Illicit whiskey
interests. Enforcement officials now
seek TO find and list the legitimate drug
Eists. and will move to cancel permits
bf establishments suspected of beinE
niaintained largely to supply bootleggers
Officials reported that Withdrawals arc
being limited strictly TO 10 per cent oi
D druggists gross sales.
Commissioner Hayaes to-day made Q
Cl,anze In his itinerary and announced
that his New York trip will not be mad,
e az Monday. He will spend severa
days there making close range inspec
zion.