The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-02

prohibition mayor in less than two months has changed Chicago from the wettest to one of the driest large cities in the country. Mayor William J. Dever approves of good, whole- some beer" but as this is not legally possible, he holds that "the only way to get rid of a bad law is to strictly enforce it." And he has been putting his belief into effect as few office holders do. As a result, arrests in | Chicago for iHtoxication have de- creased 35 per cent, there has been a sharp decline in the murder rate, and the number of arrests for driv- inp automobiles while intoxicated shows an impressive reduction.
 The mayors campaign against li- ouor law violators and their poitce and other official allies began Sep tember IS after three men were mur- dered in a beer-running war. It in- cluded A shake-up of the police de- nartment in which five captains lost their jobs, and 1t was pressed until the police were satisfied that every cheating" saloon in Chicago had been closed
 Mayor Dever did not seek to divide responsibility with state and federal officials. nor did he wait for CO., oneration from the other law enforc- ing agencies, but struck out with his own weapons. The courts did no. agree in their interpretation of the federal and Illinois dry laws, but the mayor closed his loophole by resort inc. to the simple and speedy method of reyoking the licenses of cafes. stores and so-called soft drink par lors where illegal liquor was dis covered.
 inc drive began, Chief of Police Nor gan Collins. Mayor Devers personal appointee, reported that in slightly over seven weeks 1,031 saloons. soft drink establishments and drug stores had been closed. In the three weeks prior to Septen. Der l, and the begin ming of the drive there were 2,603 ar rests for intoxication. Arrests for the same cause during the past three weeks were 1,723. In 45 days prior to September' IS, 3S murders were com mitted; in the 45 days following this date only 27 murders were reported.
 Of course. the Chicago mayors campaign found violent opposition not only from the bootlegging inter ests, but from politicians represent ing all parties. The political oppo- sition was so strong that serious proposal was advanced to hold referendum upon the dry war" at the recent judicial election. The citi- zens of Chicago were to be asked to vote "yes" or mo" upon the ques- tion, "Do you approve of the city administration present policy In the enforcement of the liquor laws?" Politicians Run To Cover.
 The mayor announced that his pol icy would remain the same in the event of hostile result from the proposed referendum. "I took an oath to enforce the laws" he said. "and if vote is taken which results over whelmingly against the enforcement of the law, it will not make law breaker out of me. I still will en- force the law, regardless of what the federal, state or county officials do. It would be an insult to the body polite to ask it to vote on whether the law should be enforced. If the city council passes resolution to submit the question I shall not op- pose it nor veto 1t. But if the vote is 100 to 1 against enforcement, shall still enforce the law"
 After politicians digested this statement of the major. they decided that a referendum would not break the drive. and the proposal was dropped like a hot coal Nevertheless, Mayor Dever continued to be tar get for criticism, and despite severe pressure he stood upon his program of making and keeping Chicago dry.
 Chief of Police Collins report both pleased and encouraged the mayor. That record of few weeks speaks more emphatically than any volume that could be written" Mayor Dever said in discussing his dry drive with a correspondent of the New York Sunday Times. '1t makes clear an easy way to real enforcement of the law, which, though unpopular as it is in some places, is nevertheless law.
 T am not a prohibitionist and probably never will be, but I am an ardent believer in enforcement of the law and all the law as it is written, the mayor continued. 'I believe that when officialdom selects certain laws to enforce and others to ignore we are dangerously near breakdown of all law and order. In truth, the only way to get rid of a bad law is to strictly enforce it. Repeal or modi- fication of the Volstead act is impos- sible unless public sentiment is aroused against it's unpopular fea- lures by impartial and rigid enforce ment of the whole act throughout the nation.
 "I am engaged in an effort to mold public opinion for or against the Vol stead act or the eighteenth amend ment. If the people desire the law amended or modified, they know the place to look for relief-in the Con- SIeSS. Anu uHtil IL IS dIneHueQ or modified l intend to enforce its provi- sions in Chicago. I have not nor do I intend to shift the responsibility which the law places on me to other law enforcing officials. I do not think the question of law enforce ment is a debatable one. And there fore in all the controversy appearing in the public press it seems to me that a sounder note to stress is that all law enforcing officials should do their duty in what is really a crisis. O O O
 Favors Beer And Wines.
 T believe in good, wholesome beer at moderate prices for those who like it, if it can be fsold legally, but as long as it Is banned by a law of the nation. ratified by the states, and strengthened by auxiliary legislation hof the states. we cannot have it. And if the people of Chicago cannot have good beer,> wines and liquors legally, they are not going to have poisonous green. beer. deadly hooch or moon- shine so long as l can stop it, and I believe I have.
 "A few weeks ago breweries were