Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-05-12
HAYNES CLAIMS
PROHIBITION IS
PAYING ITS WAY
Shows That $4,000 900
Cost Is More Than Over
balanced BY Fines, PEN
aIties and Special Taxes,
tBy The Associated press.)

Louisville, KY, May Twin
drawals of whisky from bonded
warehouses for this year. on the
basis of the last three or four
months, will amount to about o.
900, 900 gallons, (which is perhaps
only about one-half million gallons
In excess of normal medicinal re-
quirements," r. A. Haynes, federal
prohibition commissioner, told the
Churchmen's Federation here to-
day. Mr.. Haynes compared this
figure with 130,000,000 gallons OF
American made whisky which ne
said were consumed in the United
tates annually during the years I'M
mediately preceding prohibition,
and with about twelve and half
million gallons withdrawn from
bonded warehouses on permits IN
1920 and about three and a half
millions in 1921.
TT Is significant" Mr.. Haynes
continued that at time when
liquor is more difficult to obtain
than at any other time in our his
tory; when drunkenness has de-
creased to very appreciate de-
gree; when convictions for the vio-
lation of law are becoming most
numerous; that at such times the
largest amount of space Is given in
some of our newspapers to articles
most flimsy of facts, which set
forth the idea that prohibition is a
failure / am inclined to believe
that this propaganda has its origin
in the interest of large persona,
gains on the part of comparative
few, who have felt most forceful-
ly the effects OF the law. AS long
as enforcement officers could be
easily bribed; as long as the traffic
went on unimpeoed either by taxes
fines or Jail sentences, as long as
only the small offenders were
brought to justice, there was lit
tie cause for the insidious propa-
ganda.
Nothing can affront the Ameri-
can people more than the state
ment that we cannot enforce our
laws. In this statement lies the
death warrant of the republic, for
this nation cannot endure without
reverence for law, without the re-
cognized authority of law. The
perpetrators of this new treason
have overlooked one of the great
essentials of the American people:
that law is but an expression of the
nations will. and the will power
of America has ever met apparent
ly insuperable difficulties and
changed them into world amazing
achievements.
This law was ratified by forty
six states, the largest number of
states that had ever ratified n
constitutional amendment,
The real issue that underlies all
the contest over prohibition en-
forcement is Americanism In con-
flict with old world customs ard
concepts; it is democracy against
avarice. lawlessness and anarchy.
II is no mere expression of pride
to say TINT when America Wills to
do that which other nations have
not done. she will not fail of that
achievement.
This is an hour when the bruden
of the war rests heavily upon peo-
pie through the imposition of tax
es and the astute propagandist has
pointed to the fact that prohibition
will cost the government nearly
100000 this coming year. How
ever, If we were to collect the
fines, penalties and special tax
imposed upon violators of the law
in the first six months of this ad-
ministration, they would more
than pay two and one-half times
the estimated cost Of enforcing the
prohibition law for the next year
These enormous figures do not in
clude nearly 100000 in bonds
that are being forfeited to the gov
eminent. or 100000 that have
been offered in compromise by
twenty-one of the largest violators
Of the law, and do not include
s6,00e,00e in dlfferential or pro-
hibitive tax"