Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-06-12
PERTAINING TO ENFORCEMENT

Federal Prohibition Commissioner,
r. A. Haynes declares that the facts
connected with this work Of enforce
nlent for the past two years warrant
a fair degree of satisfaction with &C
embellishments as a whole. He then
proceeds to verify his declaration
with a fair degree of success. He
saws the Federal forces are now func-
tioning at a maximum numerically on
the basis Of the present appropria-
ton. II he may establish these state
ments before Congress and show the
need Of a larger appropriation. there
should be no question among the up
holders Of law about making the APP
preparation. This country has set its
hand to enforcing prohibition and will
be a gutter If it lies down on the job
and makes effort only to partly en-
force it.
With regard to local aid Commits
sioner Haynes speakes with conf
dence, which in view Of all the con-
ditions may seem over optimistic. He
hopes that the local authorities at an
carly date may be depended on to
care in the main for minor violations
leaving the larger conspiracy viola
lions, coast and border problems, to
the Federal agents. but he admits
some sectional troubles, where local
conditions make the problem more
difficult. He calls attention to fact
which is likely to be overlooked when
heesays: 1T must be clearly under
stood that public opinion many times
reflects the attitude Of public officials
quite as much, If not more than, the
officials in their conduct, express the
public wishes. This follows his opin-
ion that: 1T is my observation that
prohibition is most popular, where it
IL most nearly enforced.
He lays some emphasis on a feature
which we think, needs it when he
says: Another present day difficulty
is a certain type Of Misrepresentation
which is persistent and specious in
type. One purpose seems to be to
destroy the morale Of the public most
interested in prohibition. and next to
"discredit and hamper the officials of
the Government. entrusted with the
duty of making the Eighteenth
Amendment effective. Right here he
said something. which it will be we'll
to consider when we read so much
about violations of the law, to say
nothing Of the jokes and slurs. which
are circulated. There is purpose back
OF much of this. The country Is much
dryer than the jokers-many of them
would have us infer. In many in
stances the jokers, themselves are
doubtless finding it somewhat difficult
to obtain the liquor, which they would
have the public understand, is pour
ing into the country from all sides
and is only waiting to be Tapped UP
for price.
The commissioner remarks that
there are two kinds Of enforcement:
preventative and strong armed. A
proper supervision Of the permit. or
preventive enforcement means fewer
actual violations. And come to think
Of 1t, we are not hearing so much
about trucks backing up to ware
houses and taking away loads of IL
Quor on forged permits.
A feature reported respecting the
enforcement Of the law against mar
cotics Is that this is bringing a reve-
nue. into the treasury, collections over
expenditures last year amounting to
$610.311.13. This situation is not one
calculated to please those who wish
the enforcement Of this law pushed to
the limit. II this were done. it goes
without the saying that there would
be little turned into the treasury at
the end If tho yeor