Norwich bulletin., 1922-05-03
KRAMER SAYS PROHIBITION
ENFORCEMENT IN PEG


The federal government viii never I'M
der the sun be able to enforce the prohi-
oition law. alone. No man at Washing
ton can police the country and drive the
oootleggers out of business. In enforc-
Ing prohibition you should look to the
people, The people must get back of it,
These are few of the statements made
by Hon. John F. Cran1er. former national
prohibition director, in an address on
the prohibition question Tuesday evening
az, community meeting held at Trinity
M. r. church under the auspices Of the
Anti-Saloon league.
me audience was not as large as was
expected, women outnumberfng the men,
but nevertheless those who were priv
legged to hear the former prohibition d.
rector learned few of the reasons why
the enforcement of the prohibition Law
has not been as effective as was EXPECT
ed by the dry" supporters.
Rev. Robert L. Roberts. Phi. D.. pas
! TOR OF the church, presided at the meet
ing. Prayer was offered by Rev. W. H.
bath, district superintendent Of the
Methodist church. after which Rev. DIR
Roberts introduced Mr.. Cramer.
II we get our bearings there Is no
doubt but that we will complete the
work we undertook to do two years ago
said Mr. Cramer. The speaker said ne
| mad been troubled by the attitude the
people have taken in regard to the pro-
hfbition law adopted two years ago. We
undertook big JOB. he said. We under
took job that couldn't be done in a day.
In his opinion. he said the work won't
be completed for the next five years.
The class Of people he Is afraid Of 70
garding effective enforcement Of the pro-
hfbition law Is the class who are discour-
aged over its enforcement so far. The
most unsightly thing we can have is a
g foundation with no building on It. The
prohibition supporters wrote into the
Constitution the 18th amendment. Then
they Jagged. installing the foundation
for the building. From an economic
standpoint we were spending an enor-
nous sum of money for intoxicating II.
quor and had invested in the business
countless millions of dollars. In view Of
this I desire to suggest that whenever
you ATTEMPT to tear up by the roots {
principle that has fastened Itself deeply
Into the personal. the political. thu
economic history Of a people. you hav'
undertaken a difficult jon. 1t is a worl
which cannot be done in a day or IN
year. nor in five years. You canno
change the current Of history and chang
1t over night; you cannot get millions .
men. who have been headed in one direc
ton. to face about and move in an op
posite direction without some difficulty
A second mistake which our peopl
, made and from which we suffered al
most as grievouslv as from the first mis-
! take. was that most people felt tina
J what enforcement was necessary to max
this principle effective should he don
{ by the federal government. Possibly g
per cent Of our people-and in the be
ginning. 90 per cent Of our local officer
| H.
tion should be policed from the city q
( Washington and the bootlegzers an
d moonshiners eliminated therefrom. TIL
can never be done.
The sentiment of the people for oa5ed
ence to the laws could be so strong ths
there would be no crimes committed. TIL
conditions in cities can be made niue
better than they are by creating sent
ment for obedience to the laws.
e The federal government will never III
der the sun be able to-enforce the prob
J, bition law alone No man at Washingto
e can police this country and drive III
bootleggers out of business. When I wa
:; national prohibition director. how man
K men did have under me? 1 had loo
6 rnen and the people expected me to d.
e lice 110.000.000 people with 1000. Fl
=, the IS months / was in office there wa
hardly a local officer who was willir
IT to give any help. In enforcing the pr
hlbition law you don't. need to look
the officers but to the people. The PEI
pie must get back of it.
2 At the close of Mr. Cramer's addre
:, Rev. DR.. Roberts introduced DR.. Erne
IL V. Claypool. superintendent Of the Ant
st Saloon league in this state. DR.. ella.
! pool told briefly of the need Of 'Christia
n use of the ballot by the men and w
e men. He announced that a two-ds
Is convention will be held at New Have
ie May and 9. called by 200 clergymen
le the state. to decide upon more aggre
"a sive programme in connection with Il
e. Anti-SaIoon League Of America.
T. d. Claypool made an earnest appe
/ for contributions for the furtherance
ts the work and subscription cards and e
l. velopes were circulated among tho
/ present.