Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-01-11

years without SALOONS nave Taught me
peOp-e of Muscatine tina. prohibition
does not prohibit. And, strange as it
may seem, some OF the men who are
most active enemies OF the saloon
have no personal quarrel whatever
with King Alcohol. Among them are
many who drink habitually and who
keep liquor in their homes. These, OF
course, are well-to-do, with means at
their command to supply their de-
mands regardless of restrictions that
are felt by the less fortunately situat-
ed. The poorer classes regard this
as pure selfishness and In this they
appear to be partly right, for it IS
manifest that some OF the richer citi-
zens are insisting upon privileges for
themse. yes that they seek to prevent
the poor from sharing.
{ Punishment OF the saloon from Mus
catine has no, stopped, or even check
| ed, to any considerable degree. the
/ consumption of alcohol Figures are
: cited by those engaged in the business
! 10 show that shipments Of liquor TO
the city are nearly as heavy now as
| formerly. Nearly as much wet goods
as formerly was retailed from 80 or
/ more saloons now finds its way to
! the consumer by other routes. BY all
odds the greater portion of this is
shipped from Rock Island. Most of
it is handled legitimately by express
companies which have the right, IN
der the interstate commerce regula-
tions, to deliver consignments sent
from outside of the state Not a few
orders are filed in Davenport, but
are brough to this side OF the river
for shipment. The United States Ex-
press company handles the bulk of
these shipments This company, since
Muscatine went dry" has opened an
extra Office just across the street from
the Rock Island depot at Muscatine
for billing and the handling of the
heavier parcels. Practically all the in
coming stuff received there is alco-
holic in character. Considerable wet
goods is shipped from Chicago and a
smaller amount from Burlington
through the agency of other express
companies
The express car on the af ernoon
train from Rock Island to Muscatine
over the c. R. /. & p, known as the
"Firefy," is generally pretty well
filled with whisky and beer. During
the summer months, and in fact as
long as the river is open, one or more
gasoline boats make regular trips to
Rock Island and Davenport, handling
nothing but material for the relief OF
thirst The last trip was made the
last day of the year, when boat and
barge went down the river heavily
, laden with goods 10 furnish New Year
| libations for the ever-thirsty Muscatin-
d ers.
When the regular packet is running
/ between here and Burlington. which
! is from early in April to November, a
considerable share of the revenue or
the down rip is derived from beer
and whisky shipped from Rock Island
r to Muscatine. Occasions are recalled
> when II took three or four hours tC
= unload this kind of freight at the but
} ton town. Of en- it requires from one
Z to two hours.
5 Commonly consignees meet thei
) shipmen of wet goods, particularly
I if il be beer, which is gotten on ice
Has soon as possible. When the Fire
fly" pulls in from Rock Island or tn,
] boat lands on the trip down, there il
I always a crowd assembled to carry of
] the JOY water and in a short time (
I motley procession made up of nvr
l and boys afoot, some pushing wheel
= barrows or carts, and others riding
V on horseback. in buggies, wagons o.
] automobiles leaves the warehouse ant
: those who make it up proceed wi h
e out delay TO their homes in the cit,
J. and nearby country.
Goods handled in this manner ar,
largely ordered through agents, o
which there are several in the city
These agen's merely forward their OF
der and the consignment is shipped
from outside the state direct to tn
: party giving the order. This does no
= conflict with the law. The agent han
dies neither the goods nor the money
Naturally. only those who are estat
lished and can secure credit and VIII,
order in anticipation of future need
can be supplied in this way. Trar
sients and those who are extremel
4 poor must look elsewhere, and it i
among these that the boot-legger ope
rates. His supply is ordinarily brough
in in a suitcase from either Rock Is
land or Davenport. Anyone who /
much about in either Of these cite
is familiar with the spectacle Of
gent with heavy suitcase and some
times two, and oftener than not
blossoming jag besides. waiting for
car to take him out Of town.
At every session OF the fedora
court in Davenport there are cases IN
volving a number OF Muscatine boot
leggers to be disposed OF. Despi.
prosecutions the business fourisheE
There is strong temptation in the maj
gin that a boot-legger can command
He buys only the cheapest grade @
whisky, paying from rs TO 40 Gems
pint for it and selling It for a dolla