El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-02-25
VERY BOOTLEGGER WILL BE
\ FRIEND" OF THE SOLDIERS NOW

y ONE strange regulations being made these days
and none strange than one by secretary Of war
Baker allowing officers and enlisted of the army
drink liquor given them at the home Of friends This
concession modes the previous order forbddng the sale
furnishing Of liquor to soldiers under any circumstances
IF IT IS WRONG FOR MEN TO HAVE LIQUOR ONE
PLACE, IT IS WRONG TO HAVE IT ANOTHER If it
is evil they should have it, if it is not then why keep
It from them anywhere? AN EVIL CANNOT BE COM
PROMISED WITH No half measures can be permitted OF
accepted Whisky either is bad is bad for SOL
der II IT IS BAD FOR HIM TO GET IT IN SALOON,
IT IS BAD FOR HIM TO GET IT IN THE HOME OF A
FRIEND OR RELATIVE. There should be compromise,
half way measure It has taken months for the
ary Of to convince communities that soldiers
should not have bOoe now, with his latest order he puts
every community IN qusndary about where he stands
and what he means.
Civilians generally have desire to regulate the SOL
diers conduct for him, say whether he shall shall
not drink But il does seem that whatever regulations the
arrnv has as 70 THE USE OF LIQUOR SHOULD BE CON
SISTENT soldier to be allowed to drink, he should
be allowed to procure it other people procure it.
not TIE prohibition should be total He shouldn't be put
the position Of aponging" his friends By the
tsys orders be accept liquor at the hands of friends
but can't buy It.
Secretary of war Baker in subsequent statement said
allowing soldiers 20 drink il the homes Of their friends
meant relaxation Of prohson measures and that it
was really blow at the booeegger He did 90 into
fact How he reaches the conclusion that the amended
regulation is blow at bootleggiug is not clear Does he
By their friends that bOotleggers will be forced out of
business? That viii hardly happen.
What viii become Of the bOotlegger? The answer is
almost obvious. He will become "friend" He will be-
come the friendest soldiers He viii
bis soldier friends by the not by the hundreds
he viii have TO buy liquor by the barrel the in
order 70 extend proper hospitality to his friends when
they call upon him
But secretary Baker says the status of friendship must
be bonade before the soldier be served liquor WHO
IS TO SAY WHETHER IT is B0NAFIDE OR WHETHER
IT IS A FRIENDSHIP SPRINGING FROM A SUDDEN
BIRTH A FRIENDSHIP BASED ON COMMUNITY OF
INTEREST IN ALCOHOL? Suppose the disguised boot
egger Is arrested charge Of being what he is and of
selling liquor soeTs7 How is the charge to be proved?
There is no way prove it unless witness
the exchange Of money, although bootegges past
ord may stand discredit If there is reasonable
cesen between boogger and soldier in the tender of
money the whole world may pass the window and the
furnishing and consumption Of liquor and punishment
come.
There is no way to convict EXCEPT BY EVIDENCE.
II the bootlegger and the soldier that they are
friends who is there 10 otherwise? What jury viii
convict against such evidence? may rent room
any rooming house In FL Paso-or any other cyand
that becomes his "home"proyding he has other that
be proved There al the liquor he peases
70 soldiers It viii force the officers TO get positive ev
denoe that he SOLD the liquor before they convict
Nov as matter Of fact secretary Bakers modification
Of the regulation makes little difference here in FL Paso
Officials have held that convictions impossible unless
payment Of money by the soldier in return for liquor
could be established.
For instance police officers entered house in time to