Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-10-02
On the Same Level.


To The Editor OF The Times
Sir.-The correctness Of >, r.c,.,'.
editorial I'm The Times Dispatch INA.
thc men who make or cell Il,ci,
liquor could not pursue their n.f,r-
'onS business unless they found cug-
TONER'S ~ not ana cannot no ono.
toned. The man who make, or .ei,.
liquor liz not one whit more puil,.
OF infraction OF the laws Of the STATE
'h"n me man who buys II. The pur
| chhscr - on the same level AS tina,
type ~ man who would, when saloon,
wcr: here. walk half way around :.
block to enter u backdoor To pct I,
drink But there is more than tbc
SHE or buying OF liquor: the viola
tloh OF one law encourages dJar.
gard for ali laws. When once n Iaw
liz violated II is an easy step for thc
, vloiator--thc buyer or the seIIer,,,
save ms conscience with the belief
mat Others are doing tho Same"
hui the men and women who buy
"iuor"wh" support. encourage, aid
anu ahct The producers OF liquor re-
ahze that It is their duty To refrnin
such practice, there will be less ana
less chance 10 enforce the law. Dis
respect ana disregard for law lends
10 anarchy. lawlcBsncss and to ALI
inhnhcr of cNccsscs. Every man and
woman owes IL TO the law to UNFOLD
lac law.
suppose that there were on tho no
lice force OF the city one man who
should wink NJ the sale OF liquor and
let the maker dispose OF n package
TO purchaser. and later the facts
should become known. The public
would ut once say that the entire no
lice force wns Infested with mon who
ne encouraging the violations of the
lava thing which they are sun
Sod 10 uphold and defend
There Is ample Jaw for the removal
of every man In the State from Of
fec in case he shall decline 10 dis
charge his duty. There ~ not n law
Yer but whose duty. as an officer Of
the court, II Is to report every viola
ton of the law In every respect. This
applies to judges. to scrEcnnts. Eh,r-
I IFS. deputy sheriHs ana scrEcants
constahlcs. game wardcns. policemen
cOroncrs court clerks ana Ia all 9th
crs who are in the employ of tho
state or who take an oath 10 dis
courage prescribed duties. Let them
read the code md see Tor themselves.
II the officers or the State but half
way do their sworn duty II will DO
easy To rid the State OF all manner
OF liquor tranic. If the Law is un-
ter and thus create Il demand for its
repeal. So long as the law remains
on the hooks, II is the solemn duty
NJ every man and woman in every
walk M life TO see TO II that II Is
enforced SO long AZ men counter
ancc violations OF the law. So long
VIII they fail IN their responsibility
TO society, to dcccncy. To morals, To
sobcrness ana 10 due regard for the
State In which they live. II is ~ sad
commentary on any community 10
have II said that tho people are 90
lacking In character that they re
fuse 10 support a law. that they arc
willing Ia countcnancc and encour-
age violations so long us they can
appcasc their appetite. and To pro-
mote and foster business that IN.
state and tho nation have decrccd
has no place in public life and 20 al
low the class OF law violators to fat
ten and prosper by disregard of law
with the aid and connivance of the
patron. whose guilt Is equal to that
az y man who places himself be
yonl jhc pale OF the law by making
cheap liquor.
II j.. SMITH.
state commissioner Of Prohibition.