The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1909-12-15
GEORGIA HOLDS "MOONSHINE" PALM
During Fiscal Year There Were 394 Illicit Stills Seized
and Destroyed. Reports Internal Revenue Department

According to Washington dis
patches TO the daily papers the an
nual report of the Commissioner of
internal Revenue discloses almost
startling facts bearing on the prohi-
bition law, which is supposed to be
in effect in Georgia. This report fur
nishes the very interesting informa-
lion that the federal government,
through the bureau of internal reve-
nue., issued retail liquor licenses for
the fiscal year ending June 30th of
she present year to 1901 dealers.
But this is not all! In prohibition
Georgia the report discloses the fact
that IS wholesale liquor dealers
licenses were issued during the past
year.
A resort to the records of the COM
missioner of internal revenue shows
that there has been comparatively
little diminution in the issuance of
federal licenses for the dispensation
Of booze since the operation OF state
wide prohibition. In 1907, which
was prior to the enactment of the
statewide prohibition law, the num-
Der or retail liquor dealers licensed
by the federal government numbered
1927, and the wholesalers were 1O5.
In that year the retailers of malt
liquor authorized to do business in
the state were only 207 Prohibition
laws seem to make this class Of
wet goods dispensers thrive Last
year the retail malt liquor deal
ers authorized to do business in the
state had reached the grand total of
1921. From a jump of 207 to
more than 1900 within a period of
Two years is surely going some.
But the IS wholesale liquor deal
ers and the 1,091 retailers, who made
a mockery of prohibition in Georgia
last year, do not tell the whole story.
The report of the commissioner of
internal revenue disclOses the fact
that two grain distilleries were reg
istered in the state last year, and, in
addition, one more was operated.
The only comfort given prohibi-
tionists and advocates of temperance
in the report of the commissioner of
internal revenue is the fact that there
was a decrease in the production of
beer last year. But while the beer
drinkers were losing ground the
whiskey consumers broke their pre-
vious big record. Mr.. Cabell's re-
port shows that more than six mill
lion gallons of whiskey were pro-
duced in the nation in 1909 than in
the year previous. The commission
er also takes the position that the
prohibition laws in the southern
states have increased illicit distilling
in that territory. In this connection
he says:
''In many sections of the country
there is no Illicit distilling reported.
There has been an increase in the
southern states, due in some meas
ure to state legislation.
North Carolina Leads.
North Carolina has the distinction
of being the leading southern state
in the payment of federal internal
revenue taxes to the government.
However, there are twelve of the
states that pay more than does North
Carolina to Uncle Sans till The
whiskey producing states surpass
North Carolina, the lead being taken
by Illinois, which state contributes
$43,441,771 North Carolina paid in
last year $5,150,672. The states
contribution to the federal govern
ment comes almost entirely from the
tobacco manufacturers Louisiana is
the second southern state in con-
tributing to Uncle Sam, and is only
half a million behind North Caro-
lina's record Virginia S contribution
is $4,500000. while South Carolina
paid in last year only 100000.
Georgia contributed only S279,21S.
Georgia holds the palm for Illicit
distilling, while North Carolina runs
a close second. In Georgia last year
394 illicit distilleries were seized and
623 destroyed. In North Carolina
212 were seized and 374 destroyed
Alabama is third in the race, with
173 seized and 231 destroyed. There
were "a registered distilleries re-
ported for seizure in North Carolina