The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1916-09-29
CHARGE RESULTS FROM SEIZURE OF "WET GOODS
WORTH 100000 AT GRARD (ALA) AND
REIGN OF MARTIAL LAW
OFFICIALS IN BIG 'BOOTLEGG|NG" TRUST
National Monthys Correspondent Declares Dry Legislators
and judges Owned Part of Illicit Stock and Planned
To Make Millions In Selling 1t

That leading Prohibition advocates
have been interested in the fragrant
violations of Alabama's dry" laws is
the finding of John Barry Selkirk in
an article in the National Monthly.
The article, entitled Cheating the
State" relates:
The fact that Alabama's prohibition
law has been f1agrantly violated in
rural communities ever since 1t be-
came operative two years ago, has
been generally known; that men in
high Official station claiming to be
prohibitionists were financially con-
cerned in this wholesale violation OF
law has been suspected; that Repre-
sentatives in the Legislature VINO
voted for the passage of the prohlDl-
ton bills two years ago were parties
to a conspiracy to make money out OF
the law, has been an open secret for
long time. However, the best In
formed men in the state were not
prepared for the revelation that mil
lions of dollars are invested in the
lawless enterprise.
Prohibition members of the Legis-
lature have been caught in a net
spread by the Attorney General S
office Municipal and county officials
have become hopelessly entangled IL
the same net Liquor of every con
| ceivable kind and in astonishingly
large quantity is known to be secreted
in small towns throughout the state to
be served to the population by boot
leggers and operators of blind tigers
at $3.50 a quart, the same costing
some combine 81 gallon.
"Drys" Own the Liquor.
| This abundance of liquor does not
belong to licensed dealers in neigh
boring states. 1t is the property Of
prohibition legislators, mayors OF
towns, sherilis of counties, probate
judges, who try small offenders
against the law, and those private
citizens who can be induced to inves
their savings in a lawless conspiracy
This class of citizens seem TO be II
the majority in come communities
THE sheriff controls the law-enforcins
machinery of the county. His depu
ties can make a law effective, or rem
der it worse than useless. They fol
low the orders of the sheriff. IL ;
ldistrict constable shows symptoms o
revolt, he is promptly taken into thu
combine, his official badge being hi
capital stock. The mayor controls tn
police department, and friends am
tools are put on the force. The.
never see anything that the mayo
does not want them to see. The pre-
hibition member of the Legislature i
influential at the state capital am
useful to quiet any possible outbreal
among the highly moral and sus
picious element OF the community
He assures them that all is we'll an
auiets their fears. Probate judges ar
, not devoid of useful quality. The
are influential men in their commul
tiles.
, Liquor Valued at S1,500000.
Law agents from the office of tn
: Attorney General of Alabama hav
: seized at Girard, Ala, more tina
81. 500, 900 worth of contraband liquors
The value of the seizure is atteste
by the Attorney General himself in
I'd
town of less than 5000 inhabitant
: situated on the Chattahoocbee rive
in Southern Alabama, near the NOR
} pretentious city of Columbus, Ga
is in the heart of section OF coul
: try that has been more insistent fC
e the enactment of prohibition laws ft
e both Alabama and Georgia.
/ The story of the ownership an
d storing of this enormous amount
liquor could not be given credence
s any conservative company in the a
IS sence of official testimony; but Il
a official testimony is not lacking. 1t
d OF record in the office of the Attorne
, General in the city OF Montgomer
a and on the dOckets of justices or Il
n peace at Girard. where returns we
Is made by the raiding officers.
5 In the matter OF ownership, the "a
thorities have proceeded upon the
" sumption that ii is the property OF Il
p owners of premises upon which 1t "
@ found II this assumption proves q
II correct one, the chief owners are q
% mayor of the town, the sheriff OF q
a county, a probate judge and two pi
hibition members OF the General 4
sembly of Alabama, with a large nu
~ Der OF private citizens holding
minority interest. These officials a
a, private citizens seem 10 have form
pool for the purchase OF the sto
=, and agreed among themselves that
would be retailed throughout I
=. southern portion OF Alabama
!. Georgia by bootleggers and blind TIC
" operators at large profit TO the