The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1924-02-22
Willebrandt and Haynes Dis
cuss Enforcement Problems
LOCAL OFFICIALS MUST
ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY
Cooperation Urged With Existing
Organizations
CITIZENS CALLED TO VOTE APR. 8

VlIlLENO CHLLED ~ VUlE al II. o
The Illinois Citizenship Conference
held in the LaSalle Hotel February Is
brought together large group OF citi-
zens and officials interested in prohibi-
ton enforcement. This conference was
one of series being held in all sections
of the country following the national
Citizenship Conference held in Washing
ton, d. c.. last fall.
Fred B. Smith, executive secretary of
the Committee of One Thousand, in open
ing the program revealed the purpose OF
the vets to overthrow prohibition between
now and March /, 1925. During this
period there will be a presidential and
r congressional election. The program
of the vets as revealed by Mr.. Smith is,
first, to keep the country from going
bone dry, and second to make intoxi-
eating liquor cheap and plentiful for la
Dor, for negroes, and for high school and
college students, three classes they hope
to control through appetite for future
political purposes. The first part OF the
program is necessary from the wet stand
point because, as one wet expressed it, if
the country is ever permitted to become
really dry the people will never permit
the return of the liquor traffic.
World Watching America
Speaking as an authority on world af
fairs, Mr. Smith declared that the fail
ure of prohibition in America now would
be the worst blow against the welfare of
the world in hundred years.
Prohibition Commissioner Roy Haynes
in addressing the conference declared
that very encouraging progress is being
made against fiquor law breakers He
called attention to declarations by both
President Coolidge and President Hard
ing to the effect that support of law en-
forcement is one of the supreme response
blities of American citizens at this time.
Local officials Should Help
Commissioner Haynes made it clear
that the first responsibility for enforce
ment Is on the local community. He
pointed out that there are only ,5zz
federal prohibition agents engaged in
field operations compared with 250,000
local officials in the United States who
have taken the same oath to support the
Constitution and the laws of the country.
Every time you require the federal
government" said Mr.. Haynes. ito take
care of miner violations. you shorten the
arm of the federal government to care
for big cases.
Declaring that 50 per cent of prohi-
bition law violators are of foreign BIRTH
tant and determined not TO obey shoS1
go back to their native country and the
quicker they 60 the better off this coun-
try will he.
But" said Mr. Haynes. Americans
familiar with our laws and our tradi
tions who violate prohibition statutes
Mrs Mabel Walker Willebraudt. assis-
tant attorney general of the United
States in charge of prohibition prosecu
tions, also impressed the Importance of
enforcement work by local officials. She
stated that 80 per cent of the federal
cases last year should have ben handled
locally. Mrs. Willebrandt explained
that when federal forces are taken from
major cases in order to attend to viola
tions of minor local Importance it sub
tracts just that much from the power of
yiolators.
Best Politics No Politics
Referring to the difficulties caused by
appointing federal agents not in sym
patty with prohibition enforcement
through the influence of wet politicians
Mrs. Willebrandt said that politicians
must be taught that the best politics is
no politics where prohibition enforce
ment is concerned.
H. ocotI McDrlde, state superintendent
OF the Anti-Saloon League, explained the
Importance of nominating dry legsla
tive candidates at the primaries on April
s. He pointed out that successful en-
forcement in Chicago and throughout the
state depends on maintaining the Hi
nois Prohibition Act Bishop Thomas
Nicholson, national president of the
Anti-Saloon League, recited the marvel
ous benefits derived under national pro
hbition and appealed to church leaders
to keep up their interest in the fight
against the liquor traffic
Outline of Purposes
At the conclusion of the conference a