The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-02-21

ment will be challenged" Woodcock wrote. Tt is a confession that pro- hibition cannot prohibit.
 "The answer is that no more ought to be expected of enforcement than of other statutes making 1t unlawful to do certain things"
 Woodcock did not believe the en- forcement burden could be shifted to the states. but thought. the govern ment could obtain better coopera- tion.
 Summary of Opinions.
 Going into detail into the effect of prohibition upon young persons,
 Woodcock offered summary of opinions from 30 educators. On the basis of these, he reported: ter enforced.
 2-Hish school enrolment is far greater.
 3-Uses of liquor does not in large measure contribute to juvenile delin- quency.
 4-There is less drinking by both boys and girls than before prohibi- ton.
 5-Home conditions insofar as they affect school attendance are far greater.
 6-There is less drinking at so- cial gatherings attended by youths of high school age. "No one can read this evidence | the prohibition director said, end | be anything but optimistic regarding American youth of the high school age" In concluding, Woodcock opposed
 federal liquor dispensaries and said that if the 18th amendment were changed the responsibility for liquor
 sales should be on the states. He added that for congress to attempt
 to solve the problem merely by re- pealing the Volstead act would be
 "unthinkabl ble."
 Differ With WOodcOck. Reports of the investigations of Dennison and Albert E. Sawyer in from Woodcock's conclusions in that they thought the small violator could not be ignored in any enforce ment plan, among their recommen- datoins were:
 Sixty per cent increase in num- Der of prohibition agents. 2-Abolition of practice of requir- ing agents to drink in order to ob- tain evidence. Dennison said it had g. bad effect on the agent and on
 on public sentiment. 3.-Extreme care in issuing indus
 trial alcohol permits. 4.-Closer cooperation between permit and enforcement authorities
 5.-Adoptionr of nationwide sys- tenn for exchange of informa tion re- lating to criminal activities, and ere ation of clearing house for the in-
 formation in Washington. 6.-Creation of a plain clothes squad to operate at intervals over various border areas to supplement the uniformed force.
 This investigation also indicated it might be well to compel manufac- turers of near beer to refrain from making excessively alcoholic beer as part of the process. perhaps limit ing the content during manufacture to 2 1-2 per cent. Ineffective enforcement was ascribed in part to friction among three treasury department bureaus customs, coast guard and prohibi-
 ton. This referred to conditions prior to July 1, 1930, when enforce | ment was transferred to the justice department. The report said the customs and coast guard had resent
 ed being linked with those whose
 reputation, in their opinion, for in- tegrity and honesty was not the highest
 Some Improvement The investigators. however, con-
 cluded personnel has improved ap- preciably. They held that bribery largely had been eliminated. The dozen representatives of labor who testified before the commission May 22, 1890 made general observa- tions that:
 Workers had been driven by pro- hibition to "hard" liquor and infer for home brew.
 Legalization of beer with greater alcoholic content would be desirable. Absolute prohibition creates re-
 sentiment, cannot be enforced and causes disrespect for law.
 More women and young people are drinking hard" liquor.
 Prohibition had not generally changed workers habits.
 John M. Morehead, United States
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