The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-10

bama for the year. Much liquor was doubtless seized and destroyed by cffi cers in out-of-the-way places, the facts never reaching the newspapers. And, it is safe to conclude that the clipping bureau that supplied me the record missed some cases. Taking these facts Into ac- count and making d reasonable addition to the known figures, l believe am safe in placing the approximate value of con traband liquors seized in Alabama this year at $5,000,OO0
 DOES NOT STOP CONSUMPTION
 The seizure and destruction of this liquor does not stop consumption. It merely means additional orders for more. The bootleggers did not quit their busi- ness, nor will they quit it. My observa- tion has been that when one bootlegger is sent to jail and his stock Of liquors confscated, half dozen others are stand. ing by ready to take over the business and keep it going. It is the rule in Ala bama, Tennessee and Georgia without the slightest deviation from the fixed sys- tenn.
 It seems to me that the prohibition states of the south that are in trouble with their finances. and all of them are in trouble, ought to make it lawful for them to ship seized liquors into some vet state and have it sold, the proceeds of sales going into the state treasury to be used in paying the debts of the states. For example, if Alabama had lawful system for selling this contraband liquor her treasury would have benefited this year to the tune of about $5,0O0000. Would there be any more immortality in doing this than there is in permitting public credit to be damaged through inability to pay debts? Under all of the condi- tions it appears to me that it would be more sensible at least for the state of Alabama, as well as Tennessee, to change her laws enough to stop this destruction until honest debts are paid and the tax burden reduced. Better still, would be the creation by law of some sensible system for the lawful sale of the bcv- erages of low alcoholic strength. the state and city to receive privilege tax from the business.
 DOES NOT PROHIBIT
 The revelations that have been made in the prohibition states of the south dur ing the present year show very clearly that prohibition does not prohibit. The amount of liquor that has been seized and condemned in Alabama this year rep reSents stocks that have been slipped into the state in violation of the laws.
 To 1t must be added the very large amount that has gone into the state in a legal way before we can even approximate the total consumption. With these facts before us, it is simply idiotic to contend the prohibition laws prohibit the sale and consumption of intoxicants. Nor is the liquor seller the only sinner. If there was no demand among the people of the southern states for his wares, he would retire from business at once. He simply caters to and supplies a demand for liquors, and it would seem from gov ernment statistics that the demand Is constantly increasing. All that national prohibition would do under the Hobson 3 amendment would be to put premium on home distilleries and the kitchen bar. However, I do not believe there is any likelihood that this nation will ever adopt national prohibition. The record of state 1 prohibition would seem to be sufficient | to kill the national movement.
 JAMES G. RTCE.
 Chattanooga, Tenn, December [, 1916