The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-09-20
ANT|-AOVtRTISIAG
LAW INTERPRETED
Postmaster General Tells Postmastcrs
just What They May and May Not
do With Mall Intended to Boast
Liquor sales.
ny stan Correspondent

Washington, Sept 19--Postnaster-
General Albert S Burleson. in an order
to postmasters OF the country today
interpreted for them the provisions OF
section Of the act of March 3. 1871,
forbiddlng the deposting or carrying
in the mails of any matter containing
advertisements of any kind of intoxi-
eating liquors or solicitations of orders
therefor when addressed for delivery
at any rlace I'm any state or territory
at any place In any state or territory
in which the local law forbids the adj
vertising OF intoxicating or the solicita =
ton OF orders therefor. The postmast =
er-general draws the following con-
clusions for the benefit of postmaster:
The test of the malta hility Of matter
under this statute is not whether the
sale or manufacture Of Intoxicating
liquor Is prohibited ny the law In
force at Hhe point where IL Is addressed
for delivery. but whether the law in
force at the place where such matter Is
addressed for delivery forbids the ad-
vertising OF intoxicating liquor or the
soliciting of orders therefor the ad-
Nertistnz feature being made the peril
mont one.
While the law does not authorize
postmasters to inspect contents Of seal
ed letters. yet II such letters bear on
tFN outline ADVERTISEMENTS VI w N8if1l~
tattous for intoxicating liquors they
SO unavailable to the territory atfact-
- Nv act. such mall should he re-
TUNED To sender or. II this is not pos
sihle sent to the dead letter office
The fact that a postmaster may
suspect or wen know that the pur-
chaser OF "a money order intends TO
,lse it for the purpose Of PURCHASING
Intoxicating liquor does not Justify him
nran
rostmasters have no authority to in
terrupt the transit Of any ar-t-alaGa
n sit matter recsWSe% ~ "a sfianfS.So1 @fFr
even direct Information that orders
far intoxicating liquors are contained
therein except when advertisements for
liquors appear on the outside CT the
envelope, although this law makes IL q
penal oTense to order intoxicating lia-
uors 10 be transported in interstate
commerce in any state or territory
where the local law forbds the manu-
sacture or sale OF intoxicating Nquors
for beverage purposes
Grain alcohol and all other products
commonly recognized as and concsde q
to be intoxicating liquors are held e
he intoxicating liquors within the
meaning Of this law An advertise
ment OF a saloon" bar" bar
/ room or H buffet" or any advertise
ment of any other place as a place
where intoxicating liquors are disc
| pensed or may be procured IL an ad.
vert!semeut within the meaning Of this
law. The proper use by Arm or cor
poration which was in existence prior
| to March :. 1877. Of it's own legitimate
| firm or corporate name. contaping
words Indicating the character Of It's
business as producer of or dealer IN
intoxicating liquors, will not he regard
Ell as In itself violation OF this law
unless additional matter appearing ir
connection herewith would give II the
/ effect of such an advertisement or soil
citation. Advertisement circulars, and
| other matter which are In the nature OF
propaganda merely. which purport
! TO set forth the advantages OF liquor
generally, or the advantages of the IL
censing rather than the prohibition
\ of the sale thereof or which are arga-
/ meuts pro or con on the prohibition
I question. but which do not mention
| any particular brand of intoxicating
J liquor or state the location OF any
/ place where intoxicating liquors may
| be procured are not regarded as adver-
| tisements OF intoxicating liquors with
/ In the meaning OF this law.