Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1929-08-31
MRS. WILLEBRANDTs BLUNDER


brandt crowned her blunderbuss ca
reer at Washington with the greatest
of all her blunders by going into the
public press and giving out intorma-
zion that has embarrassed her friends
and delighted her enemies now ad-
mits of no question.
After all, what has she said and
what has she done to merit praise
from anybody or to elevate her in the
good opinion of the justice-Ioving,
right thinking people of the country!
Much she has admitted was known
throughout the country and she has
emphasized the fact that prohibition
under existing conditions is not en-
forceable Let US see.
In her concluding chapter q, she
says:
'You admit that liquor is being sold
in large quantities throughout the
country" Western lawyer said to me
recently, "and you do not claim that 1t
is much harder for man who wants
drink TO get it now than it was
eight years ago, though millions and
millions of dollars have been spent
for enforcement. And if you still con-
tend that the law can be enforced, how
in h do you propose to enforce
it?"
think that is perfectly fair ques-
ton, and l think the profanity IS JUS
titled in view of the apparent lncon-
sistency between the facts that have
related and my belief as to the posi-
bilities of enforcement.
Prohibition is NOT being effective
iy enforced. | have stated some of
the reasons. Because the prohibition
law is being violated, often with and
by the cOnnivance and collision of
public officials, we are told by anti
prohibition organizations and by many
newspapers that a new and alarming
threat to our whole system of govern
ment has been created by the Eigh-
teenth Amendment. | will not argue
this other than to simply call atten-
ton to the undisputed fact that in the
days of the open saloons and local
or State option there were countless
violations of the laws regulating the
liquor traffic.
The difference is that regulation
was attempted with utter failure over
q period of more than century,
while enforcement of the national pro-
hibition act has had less than ten
years trial
Here is her reply, which is in fact
no reply at all;
-re
Another anti-prohibitionist said to
me recently: "You are retiring from
office after eight years futile attempt
to enforce an unenforceable law. Why
not be honest and admit enforcement
is impossible"
NY answer to that was and is that
all my experience tends to strengthen
the belief that the prohibition law is
enforceable. 1t is as enforceable as
any other law was in its early stages
the law against burglary, against
murder. against embezzlement. l
know of no law that is not violated,
and frequently violated. A law is a
failure not when there are frequent
violations, but when it fails to pro-
5ect society as a whole against de-
structiye forces.
The mere fact that prohibition
closed 178.000 saloons, where liquor
might be obtained night or day in al
most unlimited quantities, is the out
standing proof of prohibition worth.
Even if proof could be adduced that
for these saloons were substituted
$4,000 bootleggers or even 278,O00,
there would, in my estimation still be
justification for prohibition.
The failure of prohibition enforce
ment, It's lack of effectiveness so far,
is due very largely to failure definitely
to centre personal responsibility.
This is the way she concludes the
chapter:
It is a hard, thankless job. No one
knows better than L. But | have the
comfort of knowing, too, that | have
served in its most difficult period, and
enforcement has made some advance.
There are some who will count me
lust another "out" in the game; 9TH
ers will say, "She made sacrifice
hit" What is said matters little be-
cause of my sure conviction that the
man who follows me will advance the
policies in which believe.
In one sense Pm sorry to leave.
For in looking back over the past
eight years (the full measure of
public service for any lawyer who