Evening star., 1929-01-01

announcement OF IlrSC ana SecOnQ
prize winners in the Durant $4,000
contest for a scheme to produce better
dry law enforcement is followed by
rather general skepticism toward the
plan of the winner of first award, Mai.
Chester P. Mills, former prohibition ad-
millistrator in New York, and sugges-
tions from some observers that Malcolm
D. Almack, the Palo Alto, Calf, school
boy, who took second prize, really de-
served the first.
"The California boy showed better
comprehension of the general problem
than did the former New York adminis-
TRAITOR" says the Columbus Ohio State
journal. which credits him with a
knowledge of "the fact that eludes some
older persons that the success of a law
is primarily dependent upon the volume
of public sentiment supporting it."
Similarly the Springfield Union con-
tends that plainly the honors do not go
to Mr.. Mills" but that "they should go
where the $4,000 prize went for the best
essay by high school student"
Young Almack's suggestion Of edu-
cation and moral Suasion' in behalf of
temperance presents the only possible
cure for the malady," declares the Chat
tanooga Times, while the Uniontown
Herald accordS greater merit to the boys
scheme on the ground that "it recog-
nizeS essentials of cooperation" The
Detroit Free Press agrees that he zap
pears to have come nearer the mark
than has the reinforcement Official"
and the Little Rock Arkansas Democrat
offers the judgment that his idea is
more fitted to put a stop to liquor
consumption, though the process may
be longer and more painful" The Gin
cinna1 Times-Star concludes: "The
real remedy is to persuade citizens of
the United States not to drink. 1t may
be impossible, but there is no other
remedy for the present situation"
X X X X
zone conclusion is certainly obvious"
according to the Indianapolis News, dis
cussing the Mills award, land that is
that there could be no easier way
to earn $4,000 in so short a time.
So we agree that Maj. Mills Is to be
congratulated and felicitated With this
money in hand he will find it much
easier to pay his Christmas bills" The
Savannah Morning News remarks that
there is nothing new in the prize
winning schemes for making prohibition
prohibit; that "if the public willed it,
law and great army of enforcement
officers would not be necessary"
The Louisville Times calls it "a power
full indictment of failure to enforce" 4"
and adds that it should recommend
itself to the consideration of President
elect Hoover"
The Mills plan is viewed by the
Waterloo Tribune as "the best SUBJ
mitted," but that paper continues:
after all, the public must solve this
problem. It must indorse prohibition.
1t must agree to uphold the law" The
ST. Louis Times similarly states: "The
difficulty in enforcement lies in the re-
sentiment felt by majority of the
American people, who look upon it as
fraudulently obtained invasion of their
natural rights"
A more favorable attitude is taken
by several newspapers. The Philadel-
phia Evening Bulletin suggests: "The
'moonshiner' or individual still operator
probably never can be entirely ellmi-
mated. But if the Federal Government
can continue to repreSS rum-running
over the boundaries, and can largely
shut down on the illegal diversion Of
alcohol--almost entirely through the de-
maturing privilege-it will have closed
the two major sources of illegal supply
and Will have taken long Step toWafa
reasonably complete prohibition enforce
ment.''
X X X X
"It may be that, under an admin
istration devoted to the purest white
ribbon principles, obstacles to enforce
ment will melt away" says the Hart
ford Times. 1.-THE sardonic cynics will
have to be shown" The Jersey City
%0 &c
part" and concludes on that point:
Industries that use alcohol in their
business honestly will have nothing to
fear, for as business engineer Mr..
Hoover may be expected to establish a
check system that will assure industries
the amount of alcohol really needed in
their business and check the diversion
of alcohol to bootleggers that is now
being perpetrated."
"One thing Maj Mills does not sug-
gest-tha -Sappgopyiation Of enough