The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1911-11-08
Part Government Plays In
Liquor Traffic.
CORRUPT ALLIANCE BETWEEN
Uncle Sam and Liquor Men,
Inf:icting Wrongs Upon
the People.
OVERRIDING THE STATE LAWS

A report was sent out from Wash
ington, d. c., some time ago, in re-
gard to the shipment of whiskey
into Prohibition territory under the
interstate commerce law, that con-
tains some startling facts. For in
stance:
Approximately twenty millions
of gallons of liquors annually are
shipped by express, principally from
mail-order houses, direct to con-
sumers in prohibition States. This
was developed in an inquiry, con-
Quoted by the Interstate Commerce
Commission, into proposed changes,
in express classifcations, which re-
suited in an advance Of rates on
packages containing liquors"
Thus we see the magnitude OF the
corrupt alliance between the Gov
eminent Of the United States and
the liquor traffic, in the matter OF
overriding State laws and bidding
Defiance to the Legally expressed
will of the people. 1t is a spectacle
that should mantle the cheek Of ev-
cry loyal citizen with the blush of
shame, and awaken the consciences
of the people to the enormlty of the
crime that is being committed In
their name and with their apparent
sanction. With the cloak of this
outrageous law about them, the IL
quor interests spit the venom of
their nefarious traffic into the faces
of people who, in the exercise OF
their sovereign rights, have said
that they do not want it among
them. The bloated, blear-eyed whis-
key trust blows its fetid breath in
to the nostrils of decent people, and
quietly tells them that they can not
help themselves. because Uncle
Same"is behind it, and for a monyed
consideration backs it in its def
ance Of law and the wishes of the
community. A greater infamy
never was perpetrated by any gov
eminent against its own people, and
the wonder is that it is tolerated.
But hear the commissioner again:
"The movement is much more ac-
tive in the South than in other sec
tions OF the country. partly because,
Of the extent of the prohibition ter
ritory in that section, partly because
of the large quantities of very cheap
whiskey manufactured and shipped
there for consumption by the negro
population"
This is a repetition of the same
pernicious fallacy. 1t is true that
prohibition is the occasion of the
outrage, but it's cause is found in
the spirit OF lawlessness p that in
heres in the liquor traffic, sustained
by the Government through the
abominable interstate commerce
law. The Government is the senior
and potent partner in the transac-
ton, and, but for it's agency in the
matter, the movement" would new
err have existed, and it would col
lapse Immediately II the Govern
ment were to withdraw its sanction
and support. While Congress is in
vestigating various trusts, It might
very properly try its hand on the
liquor trusts, whose miserable law
lessness it is supporting. Notice,
too, what is said in regard to the
supply of whiskey furnished the ne
gro population. IL is well known
that the crime that leads to so many
lynchings in the South is fostered
and promoted by the beastializing
effect of liquor upon the negro. And
the commissioner tells us that 1t is a
Cheap" grade of whiskey that is
shipped into prohibition States to
be consumed by the negro, and OF
course this meanest of all grades of
whiskey has the meanest effect up
on those who use 1t. One of the
leading motives on the part of the
people of the South in enacting pro-
hibition was to get this degrading
agent away from the Negro that he
might rise in the scale of manhood
and citizenship. But King Alcohol,
by the authority of the Government
OF the United States. invades these
States, strikes down their repub-
lican form OF government, corrupts
and demoralizes the negro. and ex-
poses helpless women to fate
worse than DEATH Isn't that
glorious function of government?