The New York herald., 1921-06-27
COUNSEL RESIGNS,
SEES DRY ANARCHY
Alfred Van Buren Quits After
Clash With VOlstead Over
New Demand.
DENOUNCES HIS METHODS
Statement Warns Entire Issue
May Be Subjected to Judi
cial Intervention.
Special Despatch 10 THE New YosK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington. ID. C.. June 26 4


New York Herald Bureau, I
Washington. ID. C., June e6.
warning that the entire prohloi.
ton situation may be thrown open tc
judicial Intervention and review" un.
less saner methods displace the con.
slant cries from extreme drys fos more
severe enactments by Congress, was
sounded tonight by Alfred d. Var
Buren,, in formally announcing his
resignation as chief counsel to the
Federal Prohibition Commissioner
THE country is drifting toward pro.
hibition anarchy" said Mr.. Van Buren,
Unless calm and sane judgment dis.
places popular excitement and hys-
terra. the respect for the law. so es-
sential to enforcement, will be lost and
the entire situation will be thrown
open to judicial Intervention and re-
view"
Mr.. Van Buren, resigned after tilts
with the Prohibition Commissioner over
the Palmer opinion legalizing beer and
stead of the House Judiciary Committee
He scored Mr.. volstead for attempting
TO embarrass enforcement by adding new
restrictions which he said woald render
enforcement more difficult.
Mr.. Van B'iren's statement denounc-
ing the latest moves OF prohibition lead
ers in Congress came on the eve of a
vote on the Willis-Campbel bill In the
House tomorrow under n suspension OF
the rules. The bill is not now subject
to amendments and will be rushed
through without delay. It's passage
through the House before the close OF
the day Is expected.
The measure prohibits beer for medic
inal purposes. gives to the Prohibition
Commissioner authority to limit the num-
ber Of prescriptions issued by physicians
for whiskey to 100 in ninety days and
clothes the Commissioner with discre-
tionary power to stop the importation
and manufacture of intoxicating liquors
for periods that may be believed justi-
fed by surplus stocks I'm bond. 1t Is ex-
pected to be before the President for
signature by the end of the week.
The American people did not fully
understand that Congress would go 80
far as It did In the volstead law when
the Eighteenth Amendment was adopted
said Mr.. Van Buren, in his statement.
He said there can be no doubt that
when the amendment was adopted the
people intended to prohibit for all time
Intoxicating liquors for beverage pur-
poses. But he added:
There Is reason to doubt that the
people intended. or at least fully under
stood that the measure for its enforce
ment would be carried to the extremes
which Congress deemed necessary to in
clude In the national prohibition act.
Consequently when the people realized
(and they are just beginning to realize)
that the practice OF medicine. pharmacy
chemistry and even religion is affected
surprise and CONSERVATION have pre-
vailed which In many sections have
given way to resentment and indlgna-
ton
From all over the country profess
sional and business men, ardent sup
porters Of prohibition against beverage
liquors, and generous contributors to the
cause and among the dryest of the drys,
are raising their voices In vigorous pro-
test against further encroachment upon
rights guaranteed In the pursuit Of law
ful operations"