Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1922-07-21

GOVERNOR DAVIS
ANSWERS HEPBURN'S
VITRIOLIC ATTACK
DECLARES THAT SUPPORT OF
ANTl-sALooN LEAGUE LEADER
WOULD CAUSE LESS OF PUBLIC
CoNFlDENcEA AND SELF-REsPEcT

Richmond. Juno 2s.-Making Il
quite clear that his Difference to law
and his enforcement OF the Mapp Act
must not BIO construed as subseryienco
to Rev. David Hepburn, Superlntend.
ont OF the Virginia Anti.Saloon
League. Governor Davis has sent the
following plain, direct letter:
Leesburg. Va. Juno IT. 1929.
Rev. David Hepburn,
Supt. Tho Anti,Saloon League,
Richmond, Va.
Dear Mr.. Hepburn:
have your letter which has ap.
peared In tho press. written evidently
IN reply to multigraphod circular
letter, with rubber-stamped signature,
sent out by my campaign hendquar.
tors to llst of tho ministers Of the
State.
Your criticism of my pardon of
Liquor outlaws" while Governor is In.
tended to BIO severe. yet concerning
similar pardons granted by my pre-.
decossor or by my successor there haa
been from YOU no word OF reproach.
Likewise you refer to my rsoomlnen-
dation TO tho General Assembly, 1890,
to abolish tho prohibition department,
but fail to add that at tho same time,
L recommended that tho enforcement
or the prohibition law BIO transferred
to the Attorney General, which was
dono with your approval by tho Con,
eral Assembly. 1922. Reduced appro-
priation for tho department was had.
because 1t was anticipated, with this
advent OF the Federal Prohibition law,
that the Federal Government, with It's
many agents, would In addition to the
erorts OF the general law enforcement
officers of tho State. efficiently enforce
the prohibition laws and whom Il be-
came apparent that tho Federal Gov.
ornnent failed In tho enforcement Of
the law, increased appropriations were
subsequently, recommended by mo.
Tho Prohibition Law specifically
places Its administration In tho hands
OF tho Prohibition Commissioner, pro.
viding him with the "ouster law" az a
method OF summary procedure, tphtch
tCdS not tnrOked. Tho Bono Dry"
amendment TO tho Constitution failed
because you refused 1t your support
You feared to apply tho tost to your
political friends. who are politically
dry but personally wet.
You have written mo with frankness
and must expect candid reply. It
seems that your name appears upon
list OF ministers that WIS oiroularlzed
HAD observation-disclosures aligned
by me you would not havo received ono
or them. From my enrlioBt days hnve
held tho cloth" IN deepest reverence,
but somehow never associate you In
thought with the great calling; TO mo
you arc II political lobbyist and one
In, ftn,.
term Clerical Kaisersm" was not In.
tended for that vast number of
ministers. who spend their livcs in
search OF truth, and for tho betterment
of their fellow man, but had you and
your ilk in mind. You naturally resent
tho description, but as 1t Ia appro.
PIRATE. 80 no doubt must IL be CALLING
to you.
While Governor of Virginia regarded
you AZ menace to good government,
for at critical period In our history
you attacked without cause constituted
authority. and as q lobbyist misused
the influence of moral cause In tho
aid OF the Pilotage monopoly, the most
pernicious political Influence in Vir.
glnia Your detection as a lobbyist OF
the pilots. and tho publicity that on.
sued gave the public proper measure
or your citizenship.
You arc critical and censorious
whero prohibition ia concerned: You
arc kind to your political friends and
bittcr TO your enemies: You hnvo one
standard for the former, and another
for the latter. but you haze never had
the courage to inquire Dhcther pour
political associates toho Hue on pro.
hf6ftton, liUe prohibition. Such regret.
fully Is my estimate OF you. l would
rather not have given.it to you, but the
insolent and arrogant tono OF your lot.
ter compels me to do SO.
I do not wish, nor have ever de,
sired your support for any Office, for
political association with you would
forfeit my claim 10 the confidence of
the public, and would be most distaate.
ful to mo.
Very truly yours,
(Signed)