The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-10-15
P|NCHOT HITS At
PROH| BETRAYAL
Continued From Page u

fused and troubled prohibition enforce
ment situation Of today. One is the
increasing determination of
decent people to have the law en-
forced. The other Is the steadily in
creasing violation of the law by the
criminal elements The former was
to be expected. The reason for the
latter Is not far to seek.
1.-THE Eighteenth Amendment has
been betrayed in the house of its
friends. Measured by the respect &C.
corded to II. 1t has failed, and the
reason is that no sincere. intelligent
and concerted nationwide effort has
ever been made to enforce it.
I'VE An Know Proof"
1--WE all know the proof of
that. 1t is found in the east
with which great quantities
of liquor are being struggled
into this country; in the huge
amounts of bogus whisky
manufactured from denatured
alcohol and in the continuing
sale of high power beer from
the breweries in truckload and
carload lots.
1T is idle to suggest that the law
can not be enforced That the Gov
crnment of the United States, the
most powerful nation on earth. with
the people overwhelmingly behind 1t.
is powerless before a few thousand.
or a few hundred thousand, of as
sorted law-breakers is simply unthink-
able. The fact is we have never really
tried
THE thing that has protected the
liquor criminal froIl the law Is poll
tics. Bad whisky, with beer to help,
has supplied the sinews Of war for bad
politics. and politics has returned the
favor.
The most elementary principles Of
good business management have been
in the organization Of the
enforcement work. I re-
fer, for example. to the un-wise diyi-
sion OF authority.
Collectors of Graft"
"Under this system, born
and bred in politics, it is com
monty believed, and / share
that belief, that certain agents
of the Federal Government not
only wink at the violation Of
the law, but have served or are
serving, as collectors Of the six
or seven dollars barrel graft
money paid by brewers for i'm
munity.
1.-THE Federal Enforcement Depart
ment will never be worth It's salt until
It is taken wholly out of politics. That
Is the first step. The second, In my
is to make the head Of 1t re-
sponsible directly to the President Of
the United States.
Under the existing organization
the line of authority leads from the
President to the Secretary of the
from him to the Commits
sioner of Internal Revenue, and from
the commissioner to various subor-
iinates What is needed is an organi-
zation in which responsibility is def
nitely conferred; one in which the buck
cannot be passed, and over which
the President can exercise immediate
control.
"Such an arrangement should be
only temporary. The President is
heavily burdened already. and nothing
should be added to his load without
serious reason. But the attack upon
the Constitution and laws Of our
country is so serious as to enlist the
active direction of the President him.
self. He alone, in my opinion, can
meet the present emergency.
Thrown Down Gauntlet"
These brewers, bootleggers, and
saloon keepers have made a larger is
sue than that between vets and drys.
They have thrown down the gauntlet
to all law under the Government of
the United States They defy our Con
stitItion and our laws az did their an
cestors, the outlaws of the Whisky
Rebellion of Washington's time.
Washington, In that emergency.
took personal charge OF seeing that
the law was respected as supreme and
was prepared to use all the powers of
the Government, If necessary. to make
1t so. His example Is sound one to
follow in the whisky rebellion Of to-
day.
"There is another reason
why the President should take
personal charge. Not only has
the political hamstringing of
the Federal Enforcement Serv-
ice had its seat in Washington,
L II