El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-02-17
ARIZONANS TAKE
TOPERSONALUSE
New Word Stirs Drinking
Element; May Cause New
Prohibition Campaign.

FronlDlClon Campaign.
Phoenix, Ariz., Feb. 17.-Personaluse
is the very newest word added to the
vocabulary Of Arizona It is both a
noun and verb and along with it
goes that expressive descriptive noun,
personaluser No hyphens. please
Personaluse means-why, 1t Just
means personaluse. As verb IL means
to use 1t personally. And persona
Iuser is one who does that very thing.
There used to be drinkers in Arizona.
There were drunkards, soaks, stews.
periodicals, steadies, boozers booze
heads, sponges, booze fighters and per-
sons addicted to the liquor habit Now
there are only persona1users.
Before last Saturday, when the su-
preme court decided that Intoxicating
liquor could legally be introduced into
Arizona for personal use-the supreme
court wrote it that way then-it was
dangerous to ask anyone if he ever
took nip. Possession Of liquor more
than year after prohibition went into
effect was prima facie evidence that
the possessor had Struggled it into the
state or had been patrOnizing a boot
logger. But it is all right now TO ask
him If he is personaluser.
In Danger of Being OverwO7ked.
The rapidity with which the words
personaluse and personaluser have
sprung into popularity is astounding
They are greatly in danger of being
overwOr6ed.
The personaluse decision is almost
the sole topic of conversation in
Phoenix and advices from other parts
of the state are that the same condi-
ton prevails in Tucson, Prescott, Globe,
Bisbee, Clifton. Yuma. Nogales, Doug
las Nobody cares anything about the
war capital punishment, new dance
steps or preparedness. They are inter-
ested IN interpretations being placed
on the personaluse decision. in what
the prohibitionists are going to do
tionists are going to do about il,
what the railroads and express
companies are going to co about it,
whether it won't bring back the open
saloon, and II il won't hurry along ma
tional prohibition.
Wherever more than one man are
or is-congregated, the subject Of con-
versation is invariably personaluse.
Ditto women. The consensus OF opinion
is that the opinion is plain enough,
for the supreme court said this:
1t not being unlawful IN the state
OF Arizona to have or personally use
Intoxicating liquor. it's introduction
into the state for personal use is not
prohibited by the Webb-Kenyon act,
ana the prohibition amendment, in so
far as it attempts TO interdict its ship
menr transportation or introduction
into the state for a lawful purpose, is
Intellectual as an attempt to regulate
interstate commerce"
Jones CONSTITUTES Law.
In spite of this plain wording, attor7 |
ney general Wiley Jones as out with
a statement that liquor can be brought !
in only by the person who intends to
personaluse it. In other words if one !
wants little persOnaluse fluid he must |
go IN person to Ell PasO, Lcrdsburg. Los |
Angeles or some other oasis and bring |
1t back himself
For instance. the Wells-Fargo Ex-
press company has no right to bring |
in liquor and deliver IL to a third |
party" says Jones. THAT would be |
giving or disposing of liquor, which Is |
prohibited by the state prohibition \
law. The supreme court decision sim |
ply deals with the case or a man who /
brought some into the state in a suit
Ease He bought IL outside himself
The question Of a common carrier de-
,ivering liquor was aot passed upon
by the court"
Not one attorney has been found who
agrees with Jones. They all refer to
the paragraph quoted from the decision l
and say that settles the matter. The
attorney generals statement has won
for him the nickname Of Suitcase
Tones"
shipments Not Accepted.
The railroads and express companies
are not accepting shipments of liquor
consigned to Arizona points. Their at
torneys have all wired for copies of the /
opinion and shipments are not to be ac-
cepted till they have construed its /
terms.
In the meantime, hundreds, perhaps
thousands. of orders for liquor have
gone out OF the state by mail and
telegraph.
Would Prohibit Drinking.
DR.. II. A. Hughes. one of the leaders
IF the Arizona Temperance federation.
says that the personaluse decision in
iures the initiation and adoption of an
amendment prohibiting the drinking of
liquor There won't be enough wet
less left in Arizona to soak a sponge"
ne predicted. The drawing Of that
amendment and plans for a campaign
n its support are to be considered at |
meeting Of the federation in Phoenix
%.
There are some who think that
ather than do that they viii permit
he return Of the saloon under rigid |
estrictions. others aver confidently |
hat the saloon can never come back"
anyway, Arizona is sure TO stage this
ear another Of those lively campaigns
or which she is noted.
Phoenix Gets joyful.
There have been scores of parties
n Phoenix and other cities to celebrate
he victory Of personaluse The price
Il whisky was 81 to $3.50 a quart IN
hOenix at o'clock Saturday after
oOn. At 6 o'clock is was %. It is said
hat Saturday night was the most hilar-
Gus Phoenix has had since the night
4 December 81. 1914. when John Rar
ycOrn received what was supposed al
hat time to be his final quietus.