Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-06-28
How the Law Worked In Old MASS
achusetts. ~
The State constabuIary-its Corruption
Thrifty Bar-rooms -whiskey In the
Club Rooms-InteTiew With
80 Estate Cop" ~
THE WAY He MADE A FORTUNE

was enacted IN THIS state, IL oWeo i'o eAASS
ence to the votes of two classes. Inc nrs'
was composed of those who sought by TINS
means to stay the tideof intemperance; me
second composed those members OF the
dominant party who voted for the law De-
cause it was polite to pacify the prohlol,
tionists, who had been growing stronger, ana
who had threatened disruption OF the
party by use of their balance of power.
The passage of the act was not Prooaoiy
influenced by any money consideration.
The lobby, although a fourishing body
had not become so closely connected With
all legislation as to win and wear the cogno..
men of "the third house."
The law was enforced for year. much &C
cording to the caprice of localities ana
their authorities. A strong temperance
town would have the law sternly, thorough
" and vigorously applied; while the peo-
pie of the adjoining municipality would be
so much opposed to enforcing the statute
that no officer who undertook. to fulfill his
oath in this particular regard could be
elected. So it was only necessary for the
people of the temperance town to step over
the border line in order to ubtain all the IN
diligence desired. 1t came TO be
A Law Of ConveLienee.
Where the popular sentiment absolutely
demanded its enforcement, the sale OF
liquor was almost entirely suppressed
Where the people were opposed to it or
merely careless in regard to its provisions,
il was dead letter. Then, too, it became
a source of political corruption. Candi-
dates were forced to all sorts of pledges in
order to obtain their election, and as soon
broke them at the bid Of the lobby, or be-
cause of a change in self.interest The
LIQUOR traffic, hindered, pestered and in
constant danger, sought the only protection
which seemed available--the use OF money.
1t was used at the polls, in the municipal
boards of government in the halls OF legis-
Iation, and in police circles. Their oppo-
nents met them by means questionable, II
not yenal, Whenever prominent Prohi'
bitionist had control OF employees, their
vote was the price Of their situations. They
must vote right or be discharged.
The Prohibitionists justified these meas
ures, which, in more modern days, nave
been known as "bulldozing," by the plea
that to leoalize the sale Of rum would en-.
danger the prosperity OF the State, the
morals of its citizens, the business OF It's
merchants, and the interests OF its com.
merce and manufactures; and that there
fore they were justified in taking measures
to prevent their workmen from committing
so grave a wrong as to vote on the side OF
rum, and even in diScharging them, as in
imical to their employers interests The
liquor interest justified its members and
friends in the use Of money and other cor
rupting influences on the ground that they
had been robbed of their property and bus.
ness, and that under the espionage and
Matchmaking made possible by the search
and seizure clause OF the liquor law there
was no other course open to them, and that
any means was right if it had for its en-
the overcoming of so grievous end corrupt
a wrong as that perpetrated under the
guise of law which they denounced as
non-Republican because, as they claimed,
it had not the sanction and support OF
AMajority of the Votes.
In the meantime, the Prohibitionists
gained in confidence and political power.
There was a widespread dissatisfaction
among all parties in regard to the inequali-
ties Of enforcement, and a scheme for a
State police force, with special care OF the
statutes upon the subject of the liquor
traffic were originated, with such force it
was believed there would be no Partially.
A law was passed creating force'known
as the State Constabularly. The appoint
ing power was with the Governor, who Sc
lected prohibitionist for chief constable,
from among the candidates specially recon-.
mended by friends of the law. There was
a scramble for the forty subordinate posi-
lau- nd
bankers, who had been instrumental in OBJ
tanning the passage of the law, were besieged
by their friends or dependents for places
upon the force. They in turn importuned
the Governor and the chief constable. Not
an appointment was made except on the
endorsement, as to honesty and ability, by
a friend of prohibition and this method OF
enforcingit.
The force had not been in power year
before the gravest charges OF malfeasance
in office were as common as re-
marks about the weather. Bribery and
blackmail were attached to the name of
every State constable. The accusations
grew more definite with the flight of every
month, until at last the Legislature of 1871
ordered an investigation. If the evidence
produced at this forty days hearing is
worth anything there had existed the most
y
corruption possible to conceive of. 1t is
true, and it was known to every body before
the investigation, that while some men had
been prosecuted most mercileSsly and
driven out of the business, others were I'M
molested month after month, except that
occasionally they went through the form of
going into court, pleading guiltyl paving a
fine, and returning to business in their bar
rooms, until it became necessary to make a
show of them again. The methods by
which the favored ones gained immunity
were told in graphic style by the dealers
themselves, and they would grace any
page of official corruption ever written.
Some of the officers had regular schedule
OF rates-say $40 per week-from
The Most Thrifty Bar.rooms,
down to IS per month from those
who could not afford more.
For these fees they were supposed to be
notified whenever seizure was to be made,
dashed in at exactly half past ten on a fine
Monday morning, they would find only
half gallon of whisky, a gill of brandy, an
empty gin bottle, and a pitcher of beer.
The rest of the stock would be carefully
secreted IN some stable, warehouse, dwell
ing or elsewhere perhaps a mile away, and
returned within an hour after the unex
peeted visitors had flashed upon the scene
with their search warrants. Business would
go on as usual for month or two longer
the ever vigilant Estate cop" dropping IN
every day or two to find the proprietor
dealing out cigars, or root beer, or lemon
ade, but with no sign Of liquor in the place
that is ADORE The counter.
There was one class Of people for whom
the State constabulary had most profound
dislike. These were the gentlemen who
disliked the back door, side door, dark alley
style of barrooms, and therefore
established social clubs where they could
obtain their beverages upon the same basis
as at home. They were carefully managed
so as to evade the law. But the example
of these gentlemen was followed by thous
ands of young men, until at every corner
was q club room. managed by the one
man who rented the place, bought th'
liquors and furniture, took the pay for re
freshments, furnished tn keys TO his pat
rons, and pocketed the net profits Thesi
club rooms were prolific OF q wealth OF vice
and sorrow. Boys learned to become drunk
arks therein who would have Stunned Il
run the risk of being seen in public bar
room, but who did not fear that any WHIT
frequented the club wou Id expose them
selves or others. Dice were concommit
ants of every club, and the transition from
shaking for drinks and cigars, to playing
cards and throwing props for money was AZ
aasr nna Thasa oil p,opauad ascan,