New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1928-12-26
CHESTER MILLS IS
winner Of AWARD
Gets $4,000 Prize From Durant
Prohibition Committee

New York, Dec. 20 CP-A former
New York prohibition administrator
and a Is year I'D high school boy
from Herbert Hooyer's homo town
are victors In william c. Durant's
$4,000 pri-> conte for the best pro.
hibition enforcement plan.
Major Chester p. Mills. who re-
signed az prohibition administrator
for the New York city district year
ago last June, won the main prize
OF $4,000.
Malcolm d. Aln..ck. a junior In
Palo Alto, Calf. high school. won
the 5000 school prise. The boy re-
ceivea $4,000 and his school $4,000.
More drastic restrictions and
closer supervision Of the traffic in
industrial alcohol to curb diversion
into illicit cha els were suggested
by Major Mills.
Education Needed
I Education OF tho people concern
ing the prohibition law. teaching
more respect for the law and more
scientific selection of enforcement
officers were the high points in AL
mack's plan.
Checks for the prizes were re.
ceived yesterday by Major Mills at
his home in Green Farms. Conn.,.
and by Almack and the principal of
his school in Palo Alto.
Approximately half OF the 2s,230
plans submitted In the contest were
sent in by women. The total num-
Der OF suggestions offered by the
contestants was $4,000.
| Only IA suggested modification
Of the eighteenth amendment while
$40 urged modification OF the Vol.
stead act. OF these 1886 favored
manufacture and sale of intoxicants.
and 400 wanted light Wines and
beer.
Better use OF Federal organizations
was offered as a solution by $3.50
while better state and local CO.
operation was suggested by 1850.
Recommendations for education
and propaganda were made by 49,
los. Church training formed the
, theme Of 1902 suggestions. General
education was urged by 2,62s.
Many Replies
' The prize offer which was made
by Mr.. Durant August ~ evoked re-
plies from every state In the union,
every territorial possession of tho
United States, Canada and many
foreign countries.
New York state with 2.104 plans
led In the number of contestan ts.
Pennsylvania was second with 1,455,
California offered 1.l2S. Massachu-
sets 1872 and Missouri 6S3. Among
the foreign entries was one from a
general in the Brazilian army and
one from Chinese officials.
The plan offered by Major Mills,
he says. follows closely the policy he
pursued during his administration
of the prohibition law In New York
a policy not consummated when he
resigned. 49,
In the handling Of denatured al
cohol, Major Mills urged closer scru-
tiny Of paid concerns to whom per-
mits are issued and declared for the
elimination of the independent de-
maturing plans, which he says have
no economic place in the bushes So
and are forced to divert Of their out :
put into bootleg channels to make
a profit.
Stricter supervision Of perfume
plants and similar concerns which
holds permits for special denatured
alcohol to prevent them disposing o.
the alcohol to bootleggers through
cover houses" Is urged in the Mills
plan.
! Major Mills was appointed prohi-
bition administrator for the New
York district in February, 1925. and
resigned June - 1927 after an
nouncement of his transfer to the
position of Eastern zone supervision
West Point Graduate
He is a graduate of West Point
and served as a member of the gen.
eral staff In the world war.
At the time OF his resignation and
in subsequent series OF magzine
articles Major Mills blamed the &C.
Invites of politicians in the seiec
ton OF prohibition officers for thu
lack OF enforcement.