Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-06-24
SAYS DRY LEADER
A PILOT LOBBYIST
CONTINUED From F!rs. raxe.Y


A PILOT LOBBYIST
CCon;lnued From FRS. I'age.)
to cope, or who were unwilling TO
prosecute. 20 tho department. which
you helped to cripple and which va.
unable 10 function properly Tor lack
OF funds.
Your friends ought to know that
| YOU saw your mistake and the error
OF your way. and tina, the increase
In crime and lawlessness was due to
the impo;ency Of the department.
| and that you were honest enough to
recommend large Increase In the
appropriation FOR law enforcement
and an amendment TO tho Constitu-
ton requiring a "tonc-dr oath" In
the closing hours OF your admits
| tration.
| Notwithstanding the fac, that YOU,
friends In the Legislature regarded
this move on your par, as an cnor,
| 10 embarrasS the dry members. and
the newspapers commented upon 1,
| as wis" and shrewd political move.
am willing to give you fun crcdi,
| for honesty OF purpose. Yet your
record for four wears as Governor OF
| Virginia does not commend itself TO
| mo.
| You address me rs "Rovcrend and
Dear Sir" Evidently Wcstmoreland
Davis, candidate for the United
| states senate. is more courteous In
his attitude toward tho ministers OF
, Virginia than Mr.. Davis while Gov
crnor &C Virginia. who denounced
! the ministers as Clerical knlsers.'
| ACCnrIi,,o ia, hr
| Dispatch OF January 81, 1921. you arc
| reported TO have said:
Now that the guberna,orlal cleo
! zion is upon us. those who are tco's
of political propagandists who seek
/ political preference by tho exploita-
| ton OF "a settled issue like prohibi-
ton, are again making themselves
| heard that they may establish In
! Virginia Clerical Kaiscr!sm' and dis
credit. through misrepresentation.
the government OF our State"
With such record on prohibition.
! and the author Of such an unkind
! and bitter attack upon the minister,
! OF Virginia. IL would seem to require
considerable nerve even for a poll.
| t!cIan 10 ask any OF them for their
supper, or influence. With thirty
! four liquor organizations. two OF
i them actively campaigning in Nir-
ginia; with Congressman j. T. Deal.
| Of Norfolk, voting for beer and wine.
and actively campaigning In tho in
tercst Of liquor organizations. ana
with your record OF four years At a
! critical period OF reconstruction,
when iawlessness was rampant,
| cannot soc my way clear To give you
! my support or amy influence may
! hive.
With highest personal regards. I
! am,
! Sincerely yours.
tSigncD DAVID HEPBURN.
Letter From Governor Davis.
Lcesburg. Va. June Il. 1922.
REV. David Hepburn.
Supt. the Antisaloon League.
Richmond. Virginia:
| Dear Mr. iIcpburn.-I have Your
letter. which has appeared in the
press. written evidently in reply to Il
| circular letter with rubber stamped
signature. sent out by my campaign
Headquarters to list OF the minis
tcrs OF the State.
| Your criticism Of my pardon OF
| liquor outlaws" while Governor Is
intended to be anvcrc, yet concerning
| similar pardons granted by my pre-
dcccssor or by my successor there.
! has been from YOU no word of re-
proach. Likewise you refer to my
recommendation To tho General as
| scmbly. 1890. TO abolish the rrohibi-
ton Department. but fail 10 add that,
at tho same time. recommended
| TINT the enforcement Of the pro-
hibition law be transferred 10 tho
| Attorney Gcnerai which was done
with your approval by the General
Assembly. 1922. Reduced appropria-
ton for tho department was had be-
cause 1t WAS anticipated. with the
| advent OF the Federal prohibition
| law. that the Federal government.
| with It's many agents. would, In adj
ditiOn 10 the efforts OF the general
law enforcement officers Of the State.
| efficiently enforce the prohibition
laws. and when It. became apparent
that the Federal government failed
in the enforcement Of the law. in
creased appropriations were subsc-
aucntly recommended by me.
Tho prohibition law specifically
places its administration In the
hands OF the Prohibition Commis-
sioner, providing him with the
custer law" as n method of sum-
| mary procedure, which was not in
voked. The "bone-dry" amendment
TO the Constitution failed because
you refused it your support. You
feared 10 apply tho test to your no.
li,icai friends. who are politically
dry, but personally wet.
Would Not Have Written.
You have written mo with frank
moss and must expect candid reply.
II seems that your name appears
upon list OF ministers that was
| circularized. Had these letters heen
] personally signed by me you would