Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-08-09
The Failure of Enforcement

Z ENFORCEMENT OF the prohibition laws
L. is rapidly taking on an Importance
which raises ii 10 the dignity of an issue
before the American people-nOt an issue
between the prohibtionists and the anti
propibitionists. such as was tho prescription
of alcoholic beverages which the eighteenth
amendment was designed to accomplish but
an issue between la and disorder between
law observers and law violators II is TAX
ing on this Importance because tho enforce
mcnt machinery. if it has not completely
broken down. is functionng so ineGiciently
that the very name prohibition" has be-
come byword and joke breeder of
disrespect and contempt not only for that
law but for all laws. Violations Of the
prohibition law so frequent and so
shameless that il is looked upon with de-
rlsion by millions OF people in this country.
most OF whom before its enactment were
law-abiding law-respccting citizens The
larger crimes defined under the prohibit ion
statutes. such as illicit distillng blockade
running and wholesale bootlcgging continue
to he dealt with in Il more or less desutory
fashion, but the minor violations. committed
by tens OF thousands OF men and women
daily, 90 on without serious thought on the
part of the volators and with little or no
EFFORT on the par, OF the government to re-
strain them.
Under the present ineffective functioning
OF tho Federal State and city enforcement
machines, prohibition is "a joke-albeit an
expensive One-to all except the poorer
classes. who cannot pay the eXorbitant prices
demanded by the Illicit dealers. Dis,iling
is iiourishing throughout Virginia. and the
bootlcggcrs are prosperous as never before.
No one who has the thirst and the money
need suffer the pangs OF the former Nor
are these conditions peculiar to Virginia
and Richmond. They exist in practically
every other State and city
Meanwhile. Congress is being beseged by
advocates of modification OF the prohibit
ton laws. Some OF these advocates belong
TO the old antiprohibiton forces while thou.
sands Of others are urged TO this stand by
dissatisfaction growing out of the break
Gown IN the enforcement division Con-
gress has turned a deaf ear TO the modifi-
cationlsts and the repcalists. who now pur-
pose to take the fight direct to the people
starting where the prohibitonists started
many years ago. There is slim chance of
iheir success in such a campaign, certainly
ih"Y Will make no progress before prohibi-
ton has.had an honest opportunity to prove
It's benefits. But If the Federal govern
ment and the several States do no, take
enforcement in hand and by making il i'm
possible for the wealthy and wcll-,o-do
classes to purchase intoxicants in unlimited
quantities. while the less fortunate ones are
deprived OF everything except their uoyjous
nome brew, II is difficult TO forecas, tho
ultimate result of the popular unrest
Here in Virginia and the same holds
true OF other Statcs-thc breakdown of
enforcement, perhaps is due largely to tho
assumption Of police powers by tho Fed
cral government While The Jurisdiction o,
the government and the States is concur
rent, the result is the usual one Where 70.
sponsibility l. divided and neither Federal
nor State officers are enforcing the laws
Jisrespcct for the Law is something new
in Virginia The Federal goyernmen, bav
ing failed so miserabiy, it seems tha, viz
ginia must take up enforcement where I,
left on when the government made its fresh
incursion into its police powerg. and r..
cover the ground II mas los, The !ncorujny
Governor is a lighting prohibit.oa!.t and
as Governor it Will be- his wish a. w.u "a
mis- duty TO see yIat 'he prohibition layg
ar" respected and enforced !, vI3 he an
ardnons task. a"d liz pDwef lrn hedY.a
about with constitutional Limitations. but
with the united supper, ..s. za-fes.,.e,.5., 3.
citizens b" shouid be equal 81. ,..a e..e.ge.,.
OF returning Virginia ~ tn :zt.s D.,
abiding States 10 49,. aa,, ..s ......
law as a poweffIl weapo. {. .r ,a
u he undertake q c!sza.ay air =. -s.,.,
! dis'icr- ana ne 'e.t8aY - i.a gs.. a.,,,
| OF boOtiegge', ne p.l ae,s ~. z..5.-..
OF all who arc "o'.y = .sx >. N.
! giuaug
Lover. Of >re .s,..
| Fre' that aDanez a"te.t<..a ,..,,
I 'Hc Petersburg '4.. ". =. .....