The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1921-04-06
HARD TASK AHEAD
FOR DRY OFFICERS
Enforcement Of Prohibition Far From
Easy. Letter From Kramer.

GhIOrCeHenC OF trOh1DltlOD Far From
Easy. Letter From Kramer.
Washington, March 31.-Difficulties
in enforcing national prohibition in
clude hostile public sentiment, lack OF
cooperation by the states, bootlegging
on the borders and issuance Of too
many dealers permits, according to
John u Kramer, federal prohibition
commissioner. What he terms as his
honest views" on prohibition were
given by Mr.. Kramer in letter to
Senator Capper OF Kansas and made
public today by the latter.
Commenting on charges that liquor
was being sold openly by 1913 New
York saloons, Mr.. Kramer detailed the
problems Of the dry" enforcement au-
thOrities.
I'm view Of all these conditions
and circumstances" said Mr.. Kramer,
Il believe we have made remarkable
progress during the year or more in
which the national prohibition act has
been in existence. We still have much
to do and will have for years to come
You cant turn the current OF history
overnight. Anything that has fastened
itself upon political, econonyc and
personal history Of our country as has
the liquor traffic can not be removed in
a day or a year"
Mr. Kramer said the Vols cad law
itself was sound, that he was not ad-
vocating any radical revision Of the
law by congress and that enforce
ment problems largely were adminis-
trative.
Too many permits for medicinal
preparations containing alcohol were
issued originally, Mr. Kramer said.
! These have been reduced. Permits
for manufacturing industrial alcohol
also are being curtailcd and refused
to those selling illcgitmatcly.
Summing up, Mr.. Kramer said he
believed failures OF enforcement dur
ing the past year were due to the
administration of the law more than
lneS "cle W lllc ldW llSSl.
Among recommendations made by
the prohibition director to tighten up
enforcement was; Removal of whis-
key to few large and well guarded
storchouscs; increase of prohibition
agents on the Canadian and Mexican
/ borders, and enactment Of prohibition
codes by all the states.
| To the specific charge that 1893 sa-
looms in New York are violating the
law openly, Mr.. Kramer wrote Sona-
tor Capper that there are places in
New York city where liquor is sold
more or less openly but in none as il
was sold prior to Wrhibition.
The bulk of the people. Mr.. Kramer
! explained must favor enforcement be-
fore substantial Roadway can be made
and this sentiment he said was large
ly absent in New York and some other
communities.
J Mr.. Kramer said that while con.
grcss had been criticised for providing
inadequate prohibition enforcement
funds, he was disappointed" in the
reduction Of deficiency appropriations
which ncccssitated discharge Of about
80 men.
! But | believe" Mr.. Kramer contin-
ued that the appropriation made for
the next fiscal year, of 100000 is
sufficient to enable the federal govern
mcnt to carry on the work which it is
possible to do"
i Mr. Kramer said the government
had TO a considerable extent lacked
help upon the part of state and local
oiiicials.' This condition. he said, was
improving and with new state codes
being adopted much prohibition litiga-
ton would be diverted from federal to
/ state or police curtis. In the end he
Said, the bulk Of enforcement work
must be done by the states themselves.
\ The government, Mr.. Kramer wrote
I has been loath to Interfere with
home brew" activities. "rhis. he
said, to my mind is a fad, and advcn-
turc Many Hho have engaged in it
r have already ceased, and ii will, as |
view it, die cut from its own results"
The department. Mr.. Kramer added
also has been uncertain" regarding
the manufacture Of cider and fruit
juices in the home.