The Washington herald., 1918-12-30

B ~ h as been. They
8 $SS$'s> E know also the sa-
RIcAAsp sphlAss loon has been a
focal point, a So
Cial center for millions Of persons.
They know that to many men home
means little more than a place in
which to eat and sleep, and that the
majority of men have not the re-
sources within themselves for rational
recreation as amusement.
They know that liquor drinking is
a habit handed down through the ages,
and that by legal enactment a custom
so deeply rooted through the centuries
cannot be cured unless something
takes its place that is nearly as salts
factory.
Government officials in Washington
have no doubt that nationwide pro-
hibition is going to precipitate one of
the gravest situations this country
has faced. They have no chart to
guide their course, for this is the first
great country to adopt prohibition,
Russia excepted, and that does not
count
They are making provision to meet
the kituatiOn as best they can. but
their experience thus far serves only
to make them appreciate the magni-
tude of the job they have to handle.
The SouthEpractically all of it's
officially dry" yet never has there
been so much moonshining in the
South as since prohibitory laws went
into effect there and whisky-vile
whisky-is sold clandestinely. despite
the law. Because it offers profit un-
dreamt of in former times, moonshin-
ing has been taken up by men who
never engaged in it before.
The government found whisky so
plentiful in army camps in the South
that it was forced to act 1t formed,
under Col. Daniel Porter. what is
known as the flying squadron" a
special force which has co-operated
with State bodies to combat the evil
Nearly 500 Illicit stills have been de-
stroyed by the raiders within seven
months. Hundreds Of moonshiners
have been sent to prison. other hun
dreds await trial Scores of men,
among them sheriffs and deputies.
have been killed. Many others have
been wounded. There has been a
war in miniature (about which little
has been heard under way. while the
Dig war in Europe has been in it's last
phase.
hut IN sity
To discover and destroy an Illicit
still in the mountains is simple COM
pared with finding it in the city. In
the mountains the smoke of the still
can be seen far away and the smell
or the liquor carries far where the
atmosphere is pure. In a CITY a still
can send its smoke out through a tall
chimney fue, and a city Is a place
Of a thousand mingling odors.
Whisky making and beer making
do not require complicated macbin-
cry. Some stills are crude and cbesn
The government has raided places in
winch whisky. or what passed for
whisky. was made in an old ice cream
freezer. Usually the paraphernaIia Is
llttle more than some copper kettles
the worm or pipes, and the cooling
vessels.
Moonshining is going to playa large
part in the news of the country after
July l. next. 1t is going 10 be known
"here II never was established before
1t Is going to be widespread in every
great city.
Million Drug Addicts.
Drug addiction is a more insidious
and grisly evil than liuuor drinkinp
II IS stated on authority of govern
ment officials that there are i 900 OoO
known drug addicts in America, and
II Is estimated that there are 100000
persons who are secret addicts.
Nearly every criminal is a drug ad-
ulcl- Inere Is a direct relationship
between drug addiction and crime
ne arug addict will commit any act
in order to get money to buy drugs
Of all the ''dope'-cocaine, mornbi1e
opium, heroin. etc.-heroin is the worst
and the vilest. OF the 5OOOOO secret
addicts most have become victims
through not having the physical or
moral strength to stop the use of
drugs to which they had become Ar
customed in a serious or painful ill
ness.
IL Is betraying no confidence tc saw
the government officials who have
studied the questions of LIQUOR and
drugs fear nationwide prohibition will
spread the drug evil.
Ihe experiences from partial pro-
hioition give slight basis for caIcuIa-
tion as to the effect Of total prohibit
tion. There is a lot of LIQUOR con-
sumed in dry" States One Northern
Slate furnishes an example. To check
lhe now OF liquor into that state rail-
i rodu employees were invested with po-
nee power, and. to stir their ardor,
they shared in the fines imposed or
the money obtained from confiscated
wet goods.
In the principal station of the lead
ing city OF the State the baggage
master, so that he could open every-
thlng' bought every kind and variety
OF key. He captured lots of whisky.
ana for a time prof1ted at the rate or
500 a day.
A howl went up from the travelling
public, for the baggage man was so
assid9ous in hunting whisky that ho
could not examine in one day all the
baggage that arrived, so he let IL pile
up. Travellers appealed to the Rail-
road Administration. The State au-
.horitles were i1clined to back up the
baggage man as an officer of the law.
but when such congestion and DELAY
resulted as to make many persons
threaten suit or physical violence there
was a compromise.
Now the search is not 80 ,;,;s