Tough are the jaws of a rock crusher. They can masticate almost anything. Last week in Portland, Ore., they chewed up bottles containing $16,000 worth of liquor and roared contentedly as the stimulating fluid oozed forth. The whiskey, seized by the Government three years ago, had been the subject of a prolonged, legal fight. In the hour of triumph, the Women’s Christian Temperance Union demanded a public doom for “the goods.”
Ontario, after a Dry era of ten years, voted last week for Government-sold liquor (see p. 15). In Windsor, Ont., the cry is for immediate legislation to put the mandate into effect—the hope being to sell the U. S. more liquor for Christmas. The Wet victory in Ontario means for the U. S.: 1) reduced rum prices in Detroit and Buffalo; 2) increased real estate activities by U. S. speculators in Ontario, with the opening of more resorts; 3) strengthening of General Lincoln C. Andrews’ Prohibition enforcers along the lakes and rivers bordering on Ontario.
When people speak of the other Senator from New York, they are usually referring to a doctor with a flower in his buttonhole, Royal S. Copeland, writer of syndicated articles on health published on the newsless pages of newspapers. Among other things, he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, a trustee of Syracuse University, a teetotaler. Last week he announced: “I am ready to burn all my bridges behind me in order to carry out the will of the people of this State” for a modification of the Volstead Act. Said he: “I do not think that 4% would constitute an intoxicating proportion. . . .”
Both timely and dynamic was the pen of Pierre S. du Pont, chairman of the board of E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., when he told of the benefits of the Quebec Liquor Commission in the December issue of Current History. Said he: “In Quebec a non-injurious quantity of alcohol may be purchased and drunk freely and openly with State guarantee of freedom from harmful adulterant. But in the United States the legal penalty for this harmless act is death. That death does not result from the many drinks taken is because our law is not enforced; legally all alcohol sold should contain the lethal dose of so-called denaturant. How many juries could be found to send a man to the gallows for taking one drink of whiskey? . . . “Had the United States adopted Quebec’s plan and price list on Jan. 1, 1920, we might have continued to drink alcohol as of yore, but in that event Uncle Sam would have accumulated the tidy profit of $7,108,000,000 in the seven years 1920-26 (sufficient to retire our entire War debt of $25,000,000,000 in 25 years).”
Twelve hundred bankers, businessmen, professors assembled at the Economics Club dinner in Manhattan last week; heard General Lincoln C. Andrews and Wayne B. Wheeler, the paid advocate of the Anti-Saloon League, say that Prohibition is here to stay whether the Wets like it or not. “And what is more,” said General Andrews, “it will be hard to get a drink of real beer next season.” Laughter and boos from respectable citizens greeted this pronouncement; General Andrews was forced to cut short his speech.
Stella and Chester Moore, minors, of Fresno, Calif., inherited 5,900 gallons of fine old pre-War wine. Last week, their guardian was granted a petition by a Federal court to have the Government destroy the wine, inasmuch as there is no market for it.
French Schooner Arsene J., daring rum runner, commanded by a Negro, was recaptured last week, 65 miles off the coast of Pass Christian, Miss., playground for potent New Orleaners. Tallapoosa, a U. S. Coast Guard boat, and a tug were escorting Arsene J. to shore when the tug ran out of fuel. So Tallapoosa scurried away toward the mouth of the Mississippi River, in quest of fuel. Returning, Tallapoosa found no Arsene J. Wary, the Negro commander had cut the ropes, frolicked to safety with two Prohibition agents and a full cargo of liquor on board. Researches in the Gulf of Mexico have not yet revealed Arsene J., twice captured, thrice escaped.
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