Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-08-27

even haErant offenders. like real
beer brcwerles or large scale boot
lcEEcrs
The Faycttc County Committee Of
ono thousand" at Uniontown-tho lato
Senator Crows homc-is the most
notable example OF effective private
aid TO law enforcement. Recently
tho committee secured the conviction
OF Frank c. Monaghan, wealthy
business man. who ranked as the
back bone OF tho bootleEEinE indus
try In the Fayettc County region. BE-
cause OF his wealth. social position
and business and political conncc-
tons. many people, including Mona
gan himself. bclivced il would be
impossible TO Jail him.
His case was fought through the
courts OF the State and ultimately
through tho United States Supreme
Court. Each time tho decision was
against tho plutocratic bootlcEger
who called United States Senators
and Governors by their first Names
In July he was sent to the Allegheny
County workhouse to servo prison
sentence OF ono year. He drove TO
tho prison in his Limousine. accom-
panied by his son. his physician and
friends.
Another prosecution !nstirated by
the Fayctte County citizens commit
tee resulted in the conviction of
Charles w. Johnson. wealthy owner
OF brewery at New Salem a race
course and other valuable properties
Johnson was sentenced to nine
months In tho workhousc and fined
$500. lie fed on the eve of ap-
pearance in court 10 enter upon his
sentence. forfeited his bond. and is
now fugitive from Justice.
Johnson was able. while a fugitive.
TO secure permit for transfer OF his
cellars contcnts--a carload OF
liQuor-to an address IN Philadel-
phia. The permit having been is
sued IN duo form by the Federal pro-
hib!tion director for Pennsylvania. et-
forts to intercept the shipment proved
ahortive. Johnson, like all OF his
kind. enjoys powerful political af-
.iliations.
Pinchot will go to the root of tho
prohibition problem In Pennsylvania
II he can secure the repeal OF tho
Woner licensing law and supcrsede il
with enforcement statutes. like those
OF New York and Ohio. akin to the
provisions OF the volstcad law. At
present tho Federal enforcement au-
thorities arc Handicapped because
local authorities are under no com
pulsion to cooperate. In countless
localities they not only withhold CO.
operation, hut directly fruetrate tho
activities Of Federal agents
Under the laws OF PENNSYLVANIA,
local authorities cannot seize truck
proceeding down tho State highways
even IL they know Il Is loaded with
Illicit liquors. Pinchot is expected,
with the aid Of a supporting Legis-
laturc. to remedy these defects The
Governor appoints tho Attorney
General and the Superintendent Of
the state constabulary and their
executive chiefs
Through them an effective control
OF prosecuting and State police au.
thoritics can b" exercised through
out the Commonwealth with tho
repeal of the law licensing near
beer" saloons and enactment of an
effective state enforcement statute
containing reasonable s"arCh-and-
seizure provisions. tho Pinchot adj
mnistration Is confidently expected
10 make prohibition IN Pennsylvania
something approaching n reality.
The dry millennium will not be ush-
cred In. but the bacchanalia OF
booze is bound to be radically
checked.
&c, 1922. Public Ledger Coz