Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1919-07-02
John BARLEYCORN
BURIED TUESDAY
DRINKING BOUTS, RIOTS AND MUIR.
DER MARK HIS LAST HOURS
IN MANY PLACES.
GREAT DRY SPELL HAS BEGUN
Disgraceful Scenes During last Hours
Of LIQUORS Reign in East Dubuque.
Five Injured; ;Property Destroyed.

The "great dry spell" so long pre-
dicted by some, so long declared i'm
possible by others, has actually set IN.
Nationwide war prohibition went In
to effect on July 1st, on the stroke Oh
twelve, Strenuous efforts were made
by the liquor forces to induce Con-
gress and the President to stay the ex-
ecution of the war law at least until
constitutional prohibition should pe-
come operative; but congress refused.
and Mr.. Wilson stated that he could
not interfere with the law as long as
rehabilitation Of the armies had not
been completed. When this message
came from Paris few days ago, the
liauor men realized that their last
hone was blasted. and they bowed to
the inevitable. Saloons in all wet
territory were generally closed on
Monday night at twelve o'clock.
During the preceding week vast
quantities of wet goods were consum-
ed in the thirst parlors, and other
large quantities were bought and
stored by individuals for future use
Much of this liquor was sold at fancy
prices Some of the manufacturers
and wholesalers gambled a little TOO
long on what congress or the president
might do, and now find they have large
quantities still on hand. Kentucky dis-
filters are said to have some forty
million gallons Of hard drinks in store.
In many places there was a, perfect
oreie OF drinking during the last hours
of "the good old days." Chicago po-
licemen say they have never known
so many drunken men on the streets
of the city as could be seen on the
last night Of June. In East Dubuque
a riot started, which resulted in the
destruction Of about s25o0 worth OF
property and the injuring OF eight per-
sons. The city fire hose was cut and
determined attempts were made 10
wreck The city hall and the jail. All
DIV 81 Monday men were packed four
deep before the different bars OF the
CITY. and hundreds Of automobiles car
ried booze into Iowa and elsewhere.
In Blue Island, Illinois, two men were
killed in a riot before saloon.
According to reports, saloons are
still running in scattered localities
throughout the United States, as IN
Atlantic City, N. ]. But their activities
will be probably short-lived. There IS
some doubt, also, as to the legality OF
selling certain kinds Of beer and llgnt
wines A few hours before the law
went into effect, the department OF
Justice announced that there was some
doubt as to whether beer containing
no more than 2 3-4 per cent. alcohol
would be classed as forbidden bever-
age. Pending further court decisions,
such beer is being sold in many places
unless state laws interfere. But even
this will be stricken from the list OF
nermissible drinks when constitution
al prohibition becomes effective, II not
before.
In general, the liquor forces ac-
knowledge them'elves beaten, the sa-
looms and breweries are closed, and
the country as whole is not disturb
ed The immediate economic effects OF
this sweeping measure will be tnat
many thousands Of men will swell the
ranks of productive labor, and many
millions of dollars will find their way
into the cash registers OF the grocer
and the butcher instead OF the saloon
keepers till.