The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-21
HANDS FORCED
 ON SEIZURES BY Us. AGEN I.
 Gulf City Officers Not Coping
 With Situation,' States Head Of Government Men In Tak-
 ing Charge At Mobile SEES NO ENFORCEMENT WITHOUT FULL SUPPORT Alabama Gradually 0vercom-
 ing Liquor Traffickers, Says Hargett In Noting Better
 Conditions Throughout State

MOBILE. Ala, Nov. 20.-(St ecial Leased Wire )-Conditions surround ing the liquor traffic in Mobile had reached such stage that the federal government was forced to take a hand declared A. w. Hargett of Bir- mingham, federal prohibition director for the state of Alabama. on his ar rival here Tuesday to take charge of the large quantity of liquor seized during the recent sensational raids Of forces of government agents It was evident Your officials here were not coping With the situation" de- clared MT Hargett and as a protec- ton to your law abiding citizens, the federal government was obliged to step in and right things"
 Mir Hargett newly appointed state director in charge of the enforcement of the liquor laws is plain spoken man and not in the least backward in expressing his opinion. He de- . clared Tuesday that his ambition was to rid Alabama of liquor traffickers and said that conditions were unques- tionably improving very rapidly.
 The state director Is here to as- sume charge of the seized liquors, stating Tuesday that he will hold the countraband until the cases are dis posed of and the courts order some disposition of the stocks seized by government operatives in Mobile. Says Conditions Improving.
 Tn order to enforce the prohibition law, said MT. Hargett, we must have the sympathy of those charged with it's execution.
 The law, in so far as the sale of liquor is involved, has Tot been en- forced in recent months is a matter of common knowledge. I don'. mind saying that from the Information at hand, your officials seem to have been slack in bringing to count liquor dealers in Mobile county"
 In discussing the enforcement of the purohibition laws in the state at large, the director reported that Alabama is gradually but surely be- ing rid of the liquor trafficker."
 "Moonshiners are not as numerous as they were two years ago and arg slowly losing out as result of the rigid fight waged upon them by fed eral state and county officials"
 Alabama has experienced change in sentiment as has the nation as whole. and the time is not so far dis tant when the manufacturer and sell Ter of whisky will be forced to get out of business. Our judges are pin ming down and do not hesitate to i'm pose upon the violators the limits in fines and irnprisonments."
 Q O O
 speaks Of Power Of Press.
 Director Hargett maintains that the press can do as much, if not more, to bring about the enforce ment of the Volstead act than any other agency. "YoYr press has the power of moulding sentiment. Give us the unqualified support of your daily papers and we will wipe out liquor in short order,"
 rI wish to commend publicly my men here, who took part in the raids and arrests" he said in conclusion They have done a splendid job. In my force, l am thoroughly confident, there is not man who would sell out This is the type of men we need, and must have. to make Alabama dry"