Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-07
Woodcock Faces Rigid Test
In Dry Enforcement Change

New duties as director of the Bureau
of Prohibition, which have been as
sumed by Amos w. w. Woodcock, as
the work is transferred to the De-
partment of Justice, are believed to
offer rigid test of his executive
ability The former district attorney
in Maryland is credited with high legal
ability as well as a record of success
in a less important position. His de-
votion to strict enforcement within the
law is commended, and his record for
energy and integrity is declared by
some to be likely to please both vets
and drys. though others doubt that
either side In the prohibition battle
will wholly approve of his measures.
"A presidential appointment which
does not have to be submitted to the
Senate for approval or disapproval, puts
President Hoover in charge Of prohibit
ton enforcement" says the Louisville
Times, recalling the title Of a once
much read novel by Bulwer-Lytton,
What Will He Do With It?'" OBJ
serving that the appointee was chosen
from the free State of Maryland,
which has no enforcement law" that
paper continues: "A President who
was the candidate Of the drys now has
personal responsibility, self-sought for
dry enforcement. If the Presi-
dent, elected by the drys, cannot show
that the situation can be bettered, his
case, and that of those who elected
him, will suffer, for the question will
be asked, If not Hoover, who2'"
x
ut is creditahle to Mr.. Woodcock. !"
thinks the Baltimore Sun, that his
record as district attorney in Maryland
and the impression made by him upon
no, Z ,f...-
mission, which drafted him to aid in
its work, we're responsible for his selec-
ton for the trying and difficult posi-
ton to which he now goes. The ap-
pointment is tribute TO his character
as lawyer, as man and as an adj
ministrator. Both vets and drys should
applaud his selection. The drys should
be pleased because his heart is in the
cause and he has demonstrated that he
is both vigorous and fearless in prose-
cution of offenders. The vets should
portunity to show to what extent these
qualifications can succeed in making the
law effective.
His good record as q single -handed
fighter for prohibition enforcement in
wet Maryland has won for him the dis
tinction of this appointment" 1t Is sug-
gested by the Los Angeles Express, with
the dQQeu comment. PRESIDENT hoover
has selected a man who believes en-
phatically and enthusiastically in the
law which he is to administer. AS Fed
eral district attorney in Maryland, the
one State that never has enacted an en-
forcement law, it fell to the lot of Mr..
Woodcock, unaided, to see that the law
was respected. a task which he per-
formed surprisingly well. Friends of
law enforcement are well pleased with
the appointment"
\
There is every evidence" in the opin-
ion of the Springfield CMass) Union,
that Attorney General Mitchell at
taches much Importance to this APP
pointment AS United States attorney
since 1922, the appointee has had valu-
able experience. He has an excellent
war record and his professional career,
along with his experiences in a State
which has co-operated we'll with the
prohibition forces and the United
States courts, though having no en-
forcement act Of its own, seems to have
fitted him to direct enforcement under
the Department of Justice
He lays down a set of fundamental
rules. which he asserts will govern the
policy of the prohibition ONCE under
his regime" states the Milwaukee Sen
tnel. He denounces arrests brought