Evening star., 1923-10-13

otHer iOCallJleS Wnefe enforcement is
difficult and where the press is not
favorable.
Stating that the problem Of alcohol
permits for medicinal and industrial
uses had been solved, he declared
that there are evidences that the Ii
quor interests are carrying on tre-
mendous propaganda to make the
country believe that the anti-liquor
laws cannot be enforced.
Local officials are cooperating in
most states throughout the country"
he said. telling specially of the work
In washington state and Ohio. He
; pointed out that state enforcement
in Ohio had cost $10s,O00, while fines
collected for violation of liquor laws
had yielded s1,079,719.
Only Enemies Discouraged.
The federal prohibition commits
sioner Is optimistic about law en-
forcement. The friends of prohibi-
tion are not discourG ged-only the
enemies, he said. One of the chief
difficulties now. he said. is that the
for granted that once the amendment
was adopted and the Volstead law
enacted everything would be settled
by law and have lost interest. The
most pressing need, he declared. and
the point which he stressed most. is
for those who worked for prohibition
! to see that the law is carried out
Prohibition is most popular, he said.
Wnere tne law Is most nearly en-
forced. The punishment of wealthy
violators of the law, he pointed out,
shows that 1t was not intended for
the poor alone, as many have con-
tended.
Describing the enforcement organ
ization, Commissioner Haynes said:
We'll trained, these forces are now
functioning at maximum numeri-
cally upon the basis of present ap-
preparation. The federal prohibition
n ly ltZl ffrarS r..T,.
, employees employed on office work in
both the Washington office and In
the field, consists of 1881, as of Sep
tember Is, 1928. At the present time
or TINS force there are engaged in
, actual prohibition field operations
1,522 agents.
Under the law the federal gov
efnment alone has the responsibility
for the conduct of the permit sys-
tenn. This system provides for the
distribution and supervision of me-
dicina! and industrial spirits and me-
diclnal and Sacramental wine. In
order to safeguard against abuses,
thousands of inspections are neces-
oisapproVed, and vast amount Of
work is entailed. For instance. as
Of October 1, 1923. there were in
erect approximately 1888 permits
Improvement I'm Control.
Very notable Improvement has been
made. Mr.. Haynes said, in the con-
troi or the withdrawal of liquor for
medicinal purposes
Much has been done, too. he said,
IN the matter OF concentrating supply
70 bonded liquor, which was formerly
scattered over the country in 900 dis
tiiiery warehouses, he said.
Our records show that since .Junn
1921. through March 81, 1929, there
were 1890 criminal cases be- gun in
Ghlted states courts; $500 civil cases
besun In United States courts; 1890
convictions secured on criminal
charges; 2,3lf convictions secured on
clpll charges; also that criminal fines
imposed for period July l. 1921, to
June 80, 1922. totaled s4041,456.s3
criminal fines collected for said
period totaled s2,s24, ,6s5.O1: criminal
to April 81. 1923, totaled 81, 2,755,Ss1.44.
Referred for Prosecution.
''The cases prepared by the nrob;-
bition departm of course are
Iransmitted to the Department of
o9stice Tor prosecution. The report
or the Attorney General recently
Ing the activities of the Department
OF Justice. shows that department is
also In dead earnest in the prosecu-
ton or violators of the prohibition
that since the prohibition law became
operative in 1920 the federal govern
ment had terminated 2O.330 cases: Sc
cured 72,4S9 convictions; secured the
assessment of fines totaling sl2,367,-
$50, and sentences for the past TWEEN
ty-three months totaled 5000 wears.
"A very earnest effort is being
made this year to coordinate the fed
eral forces and their ativities with
those of the states, counties and the
municipalities. Let me urge that
every citizen support through private
conversation. public utterance and
convention calls the efforts of your
officials from the smallest political
subdivision clear up through your
state and national forces, for when
these co-ordtnating efforts are made
among the officials IL is amazing how
much more successful they are when
supported by the knowledge that the
great patriotic citizenship of the COM
is supporting their efforts
81 pledge my best efforts to enforce
the law. i will not be bribad or
brow-beaten, fiattered or frightened
to swerve from the plain, Straight
path of duty as I see 1t. l call upon
all, regardless of political creeds or
religious belief, as Americans to stand
enthusiastically on the side of law
rally to the defense
of the Constitution and to stand mill
tantly on the side OF American ideals"