Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-05-11
SAYS PROHIBITION
IS NOT A FAILURE
Haynes Tells churchmsn Law
Can and Will be Enforced;
Accuseo Propagandists.

Louisville. Ky. May lI.--With-
drawals ~ whisky from bonded ware
houses FOR this year, on the basis of
tho last three or four months, will
amount To- about 100000 gallons,
which II perhaps only about ono half
million gallons In excess of normal
meiicinni requirements" II. a. Haynes.
federal prohibition commissioner. told
tho Churchmen's Federation hero to-
day. Mr.. Haynes compared this figure
with iso.o0o.ooo gallons OF American
made whisky which he said were con
aurned I'm tho Cnitod States annually
during tho years Immediately proceed
Ing prohibition. and with about H.
600 900 gallons withdrawn from bond
cd warehouses on permits in 1920 and
about $500 900 In 1891.
II "a significant" Mr.. Haynes con-
tnucd. that az a time when liquor is
more difficult 20 obtain than at any
other time IN our history: when
drunkenness has decreased 90 very
apprcciahlc degree. when convictions
for tho violation OF law are becoming
most numerous; that ut such times
The largest amount of space is given
in some of our newspapers 10 articles
most fimsy Of racts. which set forth
tho idea that prohibition is n failure.
/ am inclined 10 believe that this
propaEanda has its origin IN the In
tcrost of large personal gains on the
part ~ a comparative few. who have
folt most forcefuily the effects of the
law A long ~ enforcement officers
could be easily hrihed; as long as the
traffic went on uniinpeded either 10y
taxes. fines or fail sentences. as lonr
ss only tho small Offenders were
hvought 90 Justice there was little
cause FOR tho i0Sidious propaganda.
Nothing can anront the American
people more than thu statement that
we cannot enforce oar laws. In this
statement lies tho death warrant of the
republic. FOR this nation cannot endure
without reverence for law. without
tho recognized authority 81 law. The
perpetrators 90 this new treason hav,
ovcrlooked one 81 the great essential.
of tho American people: that law Is
hut an expression of the nations will
and tho WIFI power Of America has
ever met apparently insupcrahle dif
nouitics and changed them into worl,
mnntins achievements.
"This law was ratified by forty 81,
etatos. tho largest number ~ state,
that had ever ratified Constitution
amendment.
The real Issue that undcrlies al
the contest over prohibition enforce
mont IN AUericanism in conflict witt
old world customs and concepts: ~ n
democracy against avnricc, lawlcss
ness ana anarchy. II is no mere cx
Trcssion of pride 20 say that wh hei
America Wills to do that which othe
nations have not done she VIII no
fnil ~ that achievement.
This h. an hour when the hurdei
of the war rests heavily upon peopl,
through tho imposition of taxes. an,
tho astute propaea ndist has pointed Z,
tho fact that prohibition will cost IN,
government nearly SiO.0OO,0 900 thi
coming ycar. However. II we were Z,
collect the nnes penalties and epecia
tax imposed upon violators of the Law
in 'he FIRST six months of this admin
istration. they would more than pa,
two and one half times the estimate,
cost % enforcing the prohibition Law
Tor the next year. Those enorrnou
figures DO not include nearly $4,000.
600 in bonds that are being forfe!te,
90 the government. or s. 900. 600 tha
have been offered in compromise b,
twenty % tho larges; violation
of tho law. and 10 not include SO. 600.
600 IN dinercntal or prohibi.ive tax.