The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-06-13
oUTwITTING PROHIBITION.
Clever Tricks for Evading the Restrictive
Liquor Law.

Liquor Law.
LouisvilIe Courier journal.
In talk yesterday morning with some gentle
men who had 'been there" reporter learned
something of the tricks and manners of the
mt prohibition thirsty souls of Kansas and
Iowa II seems that the temperance majority
who made tiie laws, are determined that they
shall be enforced in the spr! and to the strictest
letter of their reading while the bbuious MINOR
ity are equally as set III their purpose to evade
them
The passage of the prohibition law did not at
first create special fear among the lovers OF
mint and the seekers of Bourbon. They had
seen such things before, and their experience
taught them that the Jaw which put up the shut
tiers in front usually oiled the hinges of the door
in the rear It had its disadvantages, to be sure.
It entailed some extra steps through muddy
alley way malodorous and somewhat too narrow
for pleasant ocomotion after the sixth or seventh
glass-but this they were willing to endure as
became good citizens anxious to support the
police regulations of their town.
Indeed they protest that they have acted with
the greatest conservatism throughout. When
the back doors were closed along with the front
ones, and sample room signs grew dusty, they
were content to have their beverages brought by
boys, and drank them modify, upon alien
premises. When this was broken up and the
messenger boys returned with subpoenas instead
of mixed drinks, there was the Impotence which
was natural, but there was no revolt twas Ill
sadness rather than in anger that they bought
by wholesale and filed their glasses with the
nectar of Kentucky corn as it gurgled from the
lips OF jugs This failing also, they had recourse
to foreign markets and were kept In spirits py
sundry express packages which daily came 10
them from Louisville and St Louis. The poorer
and more desperate ones among them would oc
casionally have the Cincinnati label on their
parcels. But to their credit be it said that this
was rare.
At last the slow moving law laid its iron hand
upon the express packages and patience could
go no farther country Spartacus arose in
every town and legal fight began. An appeal
was made to the Commissioner of Internal Reve-
nue., who decided that the shippers of the pack
ages were, in the eyes OF the law, retailing
whisky in the place where the conslgnee lived
Thereupon the cases were taken to the federal
courts, and the federal courts agreed with the
Commissioner and confirmed the right of the
town authorities to smash the whisky jugs, and
casks, and packages wherever they were found
The Temperance Alliance was quick to follow
up the advantage which this decision gave them.
In the town of Muscatine alone sc, 900 worth of
whisky was seized, condemned and ordered
burned 1t was very limited quantity OF
course But it was all the thirsty folks of the
| little place had to rely upon for entire week
to come. And this is but sample of what they
did with other samples throughout Kansas and
Iowa.
Then strategic operations were resorted to and
schemes for deceiving the enemy devised. AS
one after another they are detected and exposed
by the shrew temperance men others are in
vented. Large reed walking canes were the
fashionable rage in Kansas for while, and the
various drug stores and groceries did quite a
profitable business in them until it was found
that they were hollow and that each contained
something like quart Of whisky. Then walk
ing canes went out.
| 1t was soon noticed by the Alliance detectives
that vast amount Of coal oil was being used in
| the towns, and after week or two it was dis
| covered that there was inner apartment in
| the oil cans which held liquor dealers gallon
Unabridged dictionaries were brought on as an
experiment by some grocers and found a ready
sale until they were seized as merely glass-liLed
boxes filled with liquor A German milkman
was detected in the act of delivering beer from a
milk wagon to the thirsty residents of Kansas
Center and it came to light that the clever trick
was general throughout the State An
other man was arrested with patent fire ex-
| tinguisher which he carried from house to house
to sell. 1t was filled with brandy, which he re-
| tailed
| So it goes on. stratagem meeting stratagem,
| and trick succeeding trick. The alliance have
! the boldness of a just cause, the might Of the
| law and shrewd detective force. Their oppo.
nents have thirst so consuming that they are
| like the boy who simply must catch the wood
| chuck: and, as rule they catch him.