Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-09
Woodcock's Dry Law System
Makes Impression on Public

Efforts to reach the larger sources OF
bootleg liquor and less spectacular
methods of prohibition enforcement, as
announced by Prohibition Director
Woodcock, have created an impression
of sincerity which the public declares
has not always been seen in the Gov
ernmentS approach to this proplena.
There is substantial doubt as to COM
plete success, but improvement Is widely
forecast.
lone OF WoodcockS relianceS," accord
ing to the Newark Evening News, Is
the cultivation of q more favorable
public attitude toward II. That IN es-
sentiaI. yet q Herculean task Wltn a
large part OF the population opposed W
the principle OF prohibition. Results al
ready are apparent, even thousn
probably not based directly on the
Woodcock program Raids iii Brooklyn
and the capture of New York garbage
scow laden with liquors have struck
hard blows at the contraband traIic'
such achievements have Immensely
more effect than a dozen minor cap
lures In night clubs and speakeasies ana
maze apparent that the promised
steady pressure against law VIOLATION
already is more than promise =,
The aim Of lawful steady pressure,
"a viewed by the Cleveland PAIN DeaeF'
fought to get somewhere II anythhs
can" while the Milwaukee Journal nolos
that Mr.. Woodcock lis apparently
man OF good sense; that more than
anv of his predecessors, he seems 10
understand what has been wrong Win
enforcement In the past and ne pro-
noses to correct the evils which ne mas
seen"
S"Should the bureau succeed in put
ting the Illicit wholesale distributors
ont of business" in the opinion OF the
san Antonio Express that virtually
would do away with the small boot
leegers' traffic by shutting of their
supply. And so far as the new cam
paisn shall reduce the big men
operations, the petty traf1ickers VIII ma
themselves handicapped. TINS scheme
is SO obviously sensible the only WONDER
is that 1t was not adopted al the out
set"
"One of the most significant features
of the formal statement issued by the
prohibition director" says the Pitts
bursh Post-G Gazette, sis the absence OF
a lecture to the public on criticism OF
dry agents" That paper finds that NAT.
Woodcock "is credited with showing a
disposition to discharge his difficult
duties in o brosdened spirit" The
Lincoln State Journal feels that III he
has any success at all he will win for
prohibition enforcement much greater
respect than 1t has hitherto enjoyed"
1.-The policy of warfare the prohibi-
ton enforcement heads are starting out
TO wage" according to the Charlotts
Observer will be q drive on the COM
mercial violators TO be carried on from
every angle, but chiefly through aid of
Nf 1tu nf
trained experts. Alien violatorS will be
searched out and deported. There will
be an expansion of the field forces OF
the Federal anti-liquor squads by at
least 500 men, while there will be an
increase in the forces handling alcohol
permits. With effort concen-
trated on the commercial liquor corpo-
rations and minor offenses ignored. the
new administration not only expects to
make enforcement more effective but to
remove the popular antagonIsm to the
operation OF the law"
1.-THE methods he lays down, II adj
hered TO-" in the judgment of the San
Francisco Chronicle, will at least be
salutary example Of Government respect
for its own mandates. And IL is
reminder that should not be lost upon
the various branches of authority under
the police power that are sometimes
tempted TO step over the line"
That larger force of dry agents is
needed or Is reasonable is agreed by
the Grand Rapids Press and the Flint
Daily Journal. The Savannah Morning
News Is impressed by the fact that he
realizes what his Job Is" and the Akron
Beacon Journal, recalling the method
Of "terrorizing the lesser Offenders,
while the commercial lawbreakers, who
can brthe thar way, "a, immunity. 60