The Weston leader. [volume] (Weston, Umatilla County, Or.) 189?-1946, 1916-05-19
An EXPERT OPINION.

The Anti-SalOon League OF oregon
has been sending out Inquiries 10
every candidate Tor the oregon legis-
lature, asking his views an 10 the en-
forcement aud operation OF the dry
law, one OF the most interesting rc-
piles was received from Frederick
Stelwer. candidate for the state SEN
ate from umatllia county. A copy
was received by The leader. and Is
printed below. This may be regarded
as an expert opinion. Mr.. Steiwer In
his office as district attorney having
had an opportunity TO get pretty well
versed In hls subject.
Answering your questions eateSor-
ically. advise, til that am opposed
TO any relaxation Of the dry law; lsD
that I favor strengthening the dry
law IN two respects; First. the sales
OF alcohol by druggists. and. SECOND.
the lmportations OF liquor from other
states: t3) I consider Il merely sim
pie justice TO the old brewing Inter
eses OF Oregon who undertake the
manufacture OF non-alcohollc suosti-
tutes for beer that they should not
have 20 compete with alcoholic beers
imported from other states Inde-
pendent OF this feature. however. l
am opposed TO importation for num-
ber OF reasons. In the first place.
they cause the sending away OF con-
siderable amount OF oregon money.
but the more serious feature IL that
the bootlegger Is enabled under the
present system Of importation TO ae-
auire two fun quarts OF alcohol per
Asr aAnntrfnR
quarts more locally, he can manufac-
ture enough imitation whisky to carry
on thriving bootlegging business
throughout the moath.
my experience as district attorney
Is showing TO me that alcohol sales by
the druggists. and the importstions.
when taken together. afford the boot
legger an adequate source OF supply.
and with the exception OF few sa-
loon stocks. Il Is the only source OF
supply available to the bootlegger. !
The saloon stocks in the end viii be
exhausted. and ought not in the long
run be q very important factor In the
OF the law.
.You may be interested In knowing 4
that / have now under consideration
an injunction proceeding in which
viii seek to enioin the Pendleton
druggists from the sale Of alcohol
lpon the ground that the said sales
ire unconstitutional. and constitute
public nuisance.
-If the prohibition law Is to be
.mended by the next legislature. the
amendment ought TO include a pro-
lision to the effect that where liquor
las been siexed, all thereof that has
,een used in violation OF law, and In
addition all thereof that has been
iyored IN connection WIN the liquor Il
10 used. shall be forfeited and de-
Etroyed. The law now provides in eff
'ect that the court shall order de-
Itroyed all liquor which he finds has
been used for unlawful purposes
This portion OF the statute has been
in cases presented by me to
mean that the court shall order de-
Itroyed only such liquor as was d.
'ectly used in the violation OF the
aw. Unopened packages. therefore.
md unopened barrels. under the con-
made. cannot be molested.
do not know whether the law has
,een differently construed in other
or not. but Inasmuch as
he law Is not perfectly clear, II VIII
be distinct help TO district attorneys
( the statute Is slightly amended"