davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1919-02-26
Fights When Cornered

To understand the adventure in IL,
mountain or country regions it is onlv
necessary to know what happened iii
cities and towns. The official records
of the Treasury Department show that
in the city OF Atlanta tile operations
of the squadron resulted in the deaths
Of eighteen persons. A moorshiner
always fights when cOrnercd. 1t is a
case of kill or get Killed
Atlanta offers a further sideli,gli. on
the scope Of moonshin$ng. More than
200 Illicit Stills" were seized in that
city and about 100 persons arre1ted
Approximately 100000 gallons Of
moonshine whisky and $500. 900 in
property used IN the illegal manufac-
ture were conflscated.
Not long ago one Of Colonel Por
ter's squadron was in Washington. He
was asked about TIE battles with the
moonshiners and tbs large number OF
'Shootings." He stated that il was
the moonshincr who invariably was
rasponsib!e: that he was prepared for
fi.ht and never hesitated a moment to
plug {. revenue agent.
New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1919-02-26

not enjoy such birth or rearing, bu;
they harbored no fear Of the devil,
death or mOOnshiners. Several of the
raiders were killed. Many were i'll
iurcd. A score of moonshiners were
slain in gun fights and large numbers
were injured.
There were no drawing room nicettes
about the work Of the flying squad
ron" II simply was q case of who
got the drop" The raiders were
forced to employ Indian warfare in
the hill countries When on the trail
of still they had to creep through
thickets, knowing cvcry minute thai
a man or a half-grown boy, Wit ,
steady eye and proved ability with q
rifle, was watching for the movenal:
Of bush. the cracking of a ;wi2 r.,
excuse for a shot.
Raiders parted bushes about a clear.
ing expecting to see a "Htill" in opera
ton and the long barrel Of a raised
rifle. The man who drew first and
fired quickest had his life spared for
further combat. If cabin wore the
objective, the raider was REQUIRED to
expose himself to the watcher at the
window or hole in the wall in order
to get the direct evidence of the oper-
alton of Still"
New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1919-02-26

able that his bureau may be intrusted
with enforcement of the law.
Prohibition leaders talk Of organ
ling a volunteer force embracing all
the church and temperance bodies or
tho nation to work with the Federal
agents; but the success Of this, as of
any, other plans devised, are dependent
entirely on public sentiment with re-
spect to strict enforcement. For
example of what value would be the
work Of flying squadron in
making $4,000 or 10000 arrests in New
York, or Philadelphia, or Chicago, if
public opinion did not indorso them
Convictions would be impossible.
The distihatioI Of whisky is simple
process and f"r mary months efforts
have been moIo 70 maghel Kitchen
still" It is pot tn" purpose OF TINS
article to disclose anything on the va
New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1919-02-26

facture and sale Of liquor was pro.
hibitod The amendment had the
effect OF making twenty-five States
bone dry" OF at least of putting such
Il premium ON whisky that moonshin-
ing became a highly profitable enter.
prise.
The mountaineer lost his monopoly
on the illicit still" Competition ap-
pearcd in the Iowlands. The new can
didates for admission to romance S
hall of fame were drawn from the
lowest type of criminals. The negro
entered the lists
Then the United States went to war
Eight southern States drew fifteen Of
the thirty-two National Guard and Ma
tional Army training camps. South
Carolina, Georgia and Texas each had
three; Alabama, two, and Oklahoma,
Mississippi Louisiana and North Car
DINA one each. The soldiers sent to
these camps were drawn from many
States, and many, if not actually a
was hard to make army regulations
check the inclination. Moonshiners
and "bootleggers" multiplied.
1t appeared impossible to restrain
the individual soldier, but Daniel Por-
ter thought of attacking the traffic
from the other angle. He believed the
moonshiner could be reduced to a
negligible factor, if not exterminated
He worked out his plan and laid it
before Commissioner Roper. That Of
fetal saw it's possibilities and told Col
onel Porter to go ahead.
Porter went to Nashville, Tenn. He
called there the cream of the revenue
agents of the South. He picked out
the stars and organized them. He
called the assistant United States dis
trict attorneys, who were familiar with
noonshine cases, and the flying
SQUADRON" was instructed in the rules
of evidence, that their cases might
stand i'm court. Colonel Porter divided
his territory into divisions, each en-
bracing two States, and operated his
force az a body in one division. After
the "hyirc squadron" Cleaned up a
division it moved on TO another, but a
patrol was left to cover the territory.
There were supervisors to keep tab
CT the patrols.
Speaker Clark said recently that -.
man born in kentucky and reared in
AIissol.r j. net afraid of the dew:
himself Colonel Torter's men did
New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1919-02-26
The Kitchen Still"

There are indications that such an
organization as the ''6ying squadron"
will be called into action for the en-
forcerncnt Of nationwide prohibition.
A force Of fifty or 100 men would be
futile. Some officials incline to the
belief that a force Of 10000 picked
raiders will be necessary to enforce
the search and seizure provisions OF
the proposed law. Others hold to the
view that if the nation is to be bone
dry" a force as big as Pershing had
in France at the signing of the armi-
stice will be none too large. 1t is
likely that the Commissioner Of In.
ternal Revenue will be urged to form
the organization and it is not improb.
New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1919-02-26

stills were found in one city. In size
and shape they resembled the ordinary
ice cream freezer.
1t is obvious that in cities the de-
lection of illicit distilling is more
difficult than in the country, where the
distinctive odor generated by the
moonshiner's plant is most skillfuly
concealed. And, of course, there IL
lacking that thin line Of smoke mount
ing to the moon from the fireplace of
the moonshiner.
The work of the flying squad
ron" of tomorrow will not be SO much
along the mountain paths Of the
South, but in the broad thorough.
fares of the cities. Detection OF Illicit
disunation will not be it's only func-
ton, ii is pointed out here, as an
alarming increase in the use of drugs
is anticipated by men familiar with
the ways of the whisky drinker.
Enforcing the Law
Prohibition cannot be successful
unless law is enforced, and the law
cannot be enforced If public senti'
mcnt does not approve it. The risks
of the men intrusted with the enforce
ment of the law cannot be overes-
tlmated. They will be forced to match
their wits and skill against the canny
lawbreakers of the big cities They
are to encounter a resourceful class
which clings to the personal liberty"
theory and is determined that the gov.
eminent shall not deprive it of habits
of years. On the purely commercial
side, the temptation to market moon.
shine is apparent. Right now whisky
is selling for $12 a quart in NJ my
States
Commissioner Roper cherishes no
illusions about the size of the task
involved in strict enforcement OF ma.
tional prohibition. However, there
can be no hesitancy in saying that II
he is given the job he will do It thor
oughly.
New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1919-02-26

no less important than that we'll
trained men should be sent to General
Pershing. He put it up to the news
papers in the same manner that Of
f1cjals in Washington did on thousands
Of other matters, and not one news
paper, not n single reporter, violated
the trust.
Last September Colonel Porter,
who was a, reserve officer, was called
to the co,ors. He became q major in
the tank corps. a post he holds today.
He wears service ribbons of previous
narlESman.
New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1919-02-26

lying squadron" a group Of picked
evenue agents, organized and led
NJ Colonel Daniel Porter, have done
nj UGH in the last year to show moon
n inning in its true colors
M They have worked quietly and with
VI 1t press agents.. No troop of COZ
N spondents followed their operations
- recount every valorous deed and
ktol individual acts Of bravery. They
81 burned publicity no less assiduously
han the moonshinors sought to avoid
#bntact with them.
q No more brilliant chapter of war
cork" has hccl written than is re-
Hbrded in the reports Of the flying
1uadron," which seldom get nearer
I'D the public oyc than Commissioner
eoper's of.co. ColoAcl Porter-he
#nce has become Major Daniel Porter,
United States army, the higher title
&aYing resulted from an appointment
b the staff of Governor Stuart, of
II irginia-performed a task no less
\ nportant to the general cause of
america in the war than generals in
Me field. His men encountered greater
#anger than many soldiers in France,
Ind some made the supreme sacrifice.
Mhosc that live do not expect to wear
#lilitary crosses. Those that gave
#heir lives never hoped to have their
ames appear in the honor roll of the
casualty list.
The Modern Moonshiner
Let us understand what moon
Whining really is as it exists today
\ n prohibition States Remove from
] he walls Of your imagination the pic
Eure Of q mountaincer, far removed
from town, a rugged character Of the
Inn country. living a primitive life.
aisnS a little patch Of corn and with
fude devices making whisky out OF
his com. Forget him as the man
kyho made naoonshine TO be consumed
Eto,r n lineup at his own table along
|viLh corn pone and molasshs and
bacon, occasionally extending hos
ita,ity to ~ distant neighhors; I'M
i, tsraC. but zuileiess, iucapa2l' of I'm
I. orstandn@ why he should pay rev
!. lie IL The govcrnmcHt
raat picture has done service !onE
/, aua}. 1t is about as true to life"
,.av d.. y.oald DC one D: 81 stagocoach
as ,:le modern means Of trausporta
ton,
Even the povelists used to admit
New-York tribune., 1919-04-18
Baseball and the MOries

Canadians flock to see motion picture
films starring United States actors and
actresses in scenarios prepared by United
States playwrights for United States audi
cnces They patronizc baseball games re-
gardlcss of the fact that nearly all the pro
fessionals have been recruited from the
thousands of Canadians attend United
States universities. international conven-
tions are the vogue. Canadian public men
take their in no small measure from
the United States. Canadians promptly adopt
the newest United States slang. They look
to New York the commercial centre of
the continent Settlers from the United
States predominate in some parts of West
New-York tribune., 1919-04-18
Mothers Corners
MYTH ARMY OF OCCUPATION IN crp
By Wilbur Forrest

WITH ARMY OF OCCUPATION IN GER
MANY-A motherly faced woman with
a'0rac'lve gray hair dropped number of
papers from her hand to the floor in a SOL
oler recreation hall at Treves the other dar
turning quickly to a young American sol
der, she said: "Will you help me- Mol
them up, please?" He complied. and befor.
ne knew 1t he was sitting in big easv chair
IN one corner of the room listenino r. 81.
lady he aided She talked only about cas-
ual things and he said nothing. She asked
no questions, and finally said:
'Slt here and be comfortable as limo 90
you want to- And then she took nm sona
sewing and worked leisurely,, watchino bo-
visitor now and then from the corner of
her eye. Finally she asked: "Whv are vou
looking at me HE that?" His lower lin
trembled a little s.o iears came to his eves
me story came ca. The boy was in trou
ole. Three long delayed letters from home
postmarks showing they were MANY weeks
old, had told him first that his father and
two sisters were dead of influenza; second
that his brother, had succumbed to the dc
ease, and third. that his mother also was
dead. He produced the letters. and tho,
were all the news he had He had 70 toll
lhe story to some who might be CONN
lnely sympathetic. He told the ladv s;t+;,,
opposite him with her sewing on her knee
mat she looked more sympathetic and
mothery than any English speaking woman
ne had seen III Europe. She talked with
MN for solid hour and then obtained nor
mission for him to remain with her another
day. And eventually he went back to his
regiment with new outlook on life, COM
lorted and confident that the world was
not so harsh and unsympathetic after all
Inc soldier does not yet knoy. and nor
maps never will. that the motherly faced
woman had been watching him for some
time and had read deep trouble in his face
long before she usedthe subterfuge of "ac-
cldentally' dropping handful of papers AZ
He knows only that he "accidentallvv mot
kindly woman who took an interest IN
MIN and sent him back to his regiment
with lighter heart and better soldior
she was Miss Mary Hnman, of Chjcago
who makes it her duty to read trouble IN
the faces of lonely doughboys and lure
them TO the "Mothcr's Corner" And she
looks more like mother" "mamma.o "n,a'
or Whatever one happens to call that ma
ternal relative at home, than anv one the
boys nave seen since they came abroad ia
fight Uncle Sans battles for liberty and
justice. For them she is sort of an an
gellc spider and her heavenly web is the
Mothers Corner at Treves
New-York tribune., 1919-04-18

laborer won't work unless he gets his
hire. No Lenine by decree can repe
this law.
To pour American food into the nav
of Russia means, of course, that our peo-
pie must pay more for lfe's necessities;
but the sacrifice would doubtless be
cheerfully made if it promised to make
for the healing Of Russia But by hold
ing up the tottering Bolshevist system it
VIII delay Russia's recovery and lead to
smaller crops this year there than were
gathered last year. We cannot hope to
transmit food enough to offset the sub
traction from Russia's normal supply
due to the Bolshevist paralysis.
What is proposed, then, is in the nature
OF pumping gasoene on fire, and will
intensity rather than alay the consum-
ing confiagration
New-York tribune., 1919-04-18
A Core ction

The Tribune on April 16. in its account Of
the attack by Althea, the Baroness Salvador
upon the will of Mrs. Frank Leslie said the
petition of the contestant alleged that Will
lam Nelson Cromwell cajoed the widow of
the publisher TO change her viii; that the
Will executed while she was of unsound
mind under Mr. Cromwell's influence. and
that Mr. Cromwell made representations to
her that her estate had value of only
Sl0c0
1t has been brought to the attention OF The
Tribune that the petition does not contain
any such allegations. 1t alleged that Mrs.
Leslie was easily influenced by cajolery, but
not that it was practsed by Mr.. Cromwell or
that he influenced the making OF the will.
Sullivan & Cromwell. the law firm of which
Mr.. Cromwell is senior member issued
statement yesterday that Mr.. Cramer, the
other executor knew nothing of Mrs. Leshe's
viii prior 10 her death, and that neither he
nor Mr.. Cromwell had any interest IN woman
Chapman Gait or anything TO do with tho
execution of the Will
New-York tribune., 1919-04-18

middle Adriatc which would sujt their
purposes: better if adequate railroad COM
munlcatlon were established across the
mountains
lhe whole Adriatic question has been
confused by race antagonsms between
the Italians and the former Slav popu-
latlons of AUSTRIA Hungary. Econom-
cally a settlement offers few difficulties
There are more than enough harbors
to go around. The Allied nations have
the warmest possible feeling for Serbia
Yet Serbian interests are only slightly
involved IN the coast controversy. The
south Slavs, who are most actively con-
cerned, are former enemy Subjects many
of whom fought freely and obstnatelv
against Italy
ltaly's claim ought to come first She
deserves the most generous treatment.
10 guarantee her military security is a
primary object of Allied policy And
Italy has never been secure in the mill
'tary sense, except when she has held
large portion Of the eastern Adriatic
coast
This fact has escaped the notice of
most of those who have thoughtlessly
condemned Italian claims to that coast
as "lmperialistic.' They are not "im-
perialistic.' They are merely an out
growth Of ltaly's need for really pro-
tective military frontier.
Italy is one of the chief western de-
mocracles. Whatever reasonably secures
her position should be allotted to her.
She is one of the essential guarantors
OF peace in Europe and of the survival
there of the new democratic order which
'he Paris conference is engaged in set
ting up.
New-York tribune., 1919-04-18
Hearst as the Advocate
of Eugene Debs
(irom The Philadelphia Inquirer

Hrom The Philadelphia Inouirer)
WTILLIAM RANDOLPH HEARST has come
out in his true coors. His New York
Americana in a double loaded editorial, ad-
vocatcs executive clcmcncy in the of
Eugene Dcbs, who has been convicted and
sentenced to ten years in the pcnitcntinry
Cor obstructing the war. In considering
this case it is we'll to remember that there
is no doubt about the facts. In his address
to the jury Dcbs did not deny the accusa-
ton. He said boldly: IL admit it, and |
would oppose the war if | stood alone" He
did not merely proclaim his abhorrence of
He defcd the government, and he
plainly violated the law. To say that man
has the right to defy the law because it does
not slrt his views would be to make n farce
Of popular government. Yet the unspeak-
able and msnamed "American" would have
the President pardon Debs, not that the jury
wrong in convicting him, but that he
might have the right OF free speech"
Listen to this reasoning from the Hearst
newspapers:
"But in the Debs we do not have
proof of physical resistance to the will Of
the majority, or even threats Of defiance
of law. What we have is the persistence
of one man holding unpopular and un-
sound opinions.
mo issue would have arisen if Debs-s
opinions had been in accord with the
thoughts of the majority.
"ln that event he would have been
hon'zcd. as many worse men were who
used the rhetoric of patriotic fcrvor and
war-stirrlng zeal to disguise their prof
tccrng or their of power for other
selfish ends'
That is the Hearst idea. Against it we
place the calm statement of Attorney Cen
cral Palmer. That official says that Debs
was given fair trial by Jury. He says that
New-York tribune., 1919-04-18
Bucks, Does and Hunters

10 the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Your editorial in the Sunday T,ib.
une entitled Saving Our Last Deery u,os
not based on facts as they are. The ob;ac.
OF the people who support the hill IN nor
"io the Killing of does is not to increase
Dut to decrease the number of does killed
mere have been more does killed in the
Adlrondacks since the Buck Law bas
been passed than there ever we're prior 70
the enactment of this law. know that
TINS is fact. If you want to proye,jt for
yourself forget your compilations and sta
tistlcs entirely and spend the last two
weeks Of October and the first two veoks
OF November this coming fall in the Adj
rohdacks and find it out for yourself. I'm
Tess you provide game protector for every
o'ner hunting party that goes into the
WOODS 1t is impossible to enforce the "Rucl
Law. The way the Buck Law" actually
works is this:
A transportation company NAV accoo.
1or shipment only buck deer. Therefore
when hunting party goes into the woods
1t stays and hunts until it gets one or moro
bucks. DO you suppose that party while
IL : Allilng bucks to take out imports beef
w -''N oH IL MOST certainty does l.
Kills all the does that it needs for mea.
AS 1t often takes several days to kin the
number of bucks which a party desires =
great many does and fawns may be killed
Tor food. Add to this the number of docs
and fawns that are killed by mistake and
lett to rot where they have been shot
down, and add further the number of docs
and tawns that are killed intentionallv e,d
taken out cut up in trunks or pack baskets
and you will find that the Buck Law, ~
stead of being a lifesavcr for deer doc
moro to reduce their number than anvtb;,,r
else. One autumn l found the remains of
five does fawns
ou also neglect to include in yonr i'm
posing array of figures the fact that q
severe winter will Kin great many rooro
deer than hunters Kill in a hunting season.
over territory of about thirty SQUARE
miles we counted upward of forty dead
ueer IN the severe winter of 1857.
You can easily find out all these facts
1or yourself if you will really get in touch
with conditions as they exist in the Adj
rondacks Scientists are not in touch with
the real logic of the situation
A. A. LOW.
Horse Shoe n. Y, April Is, 1919
New-York tribune., 1919-04-18

the charge of the trial Judge was cmnently
falr, and that on appeal to the Supreme
Court Of the United States that tribunal, by
a unanimous decision, affirmed the judgment
of conviction. Now read the opinion of the
Attorney General. Nh Palmer says:
"Debs was convicted, not because of his
political or economic views, but because
he plainly violated the law of the land.
On June Is, 1918, during the most critical
period Of the war, Dcbs made public
speech at Canton, Ohio, in which he urged
that wage carners refrain from giving
any aid to the American nation in the
war, asserting that the war was brought
on and conducted solely in the interest of
capitalists; told his audience that they
needed to know that they were fit for
something better than slavery and cannon
fodder,' held up to admiration as martyrs
to the cause of labor a number of persons
who had been convicted for violating the
draft act, and urged wage carners to stand
together as class TO prevent the success
of our country in the war"
To pardon Dcbs in the face of these facts
would be to insult every one of the Amer-
can soldiers who went to France to ticbt +bo
battles OF liberty and civilization. 1t would
put premium on disloyalty ard treas,n
ana would be notice to the world that tbe
united states was TOO weak and spinelcss I,
enforce us own laws But it is fitting that
tins plea for the pardon of lawlcssness
should come from publication whose ,ov-
atty has been under suspicion eyer s;,,o
the beginning of the war. Is it any wonder
that patriotic and self-respecting men Of
New York City declined to serve on com
mlttce to greet returning soldiers undor
the chairmanshp of Mr. Hearst? Tbcv owl
IDENTIFY know their man.