Evening journal., 1919-06-26
LAST Rush FOR
LIQUOR IS ON
Wholesale Houses Are Hard
Put to Handle Many
Heavy Orders
NC Reduction IN
PRICE OF DRINKS

Gosh All. hopes dat pro bltion war
oct don't get knocked out by Mister VII
son. for coupla weeks. anhow. cause
Abs gotta sit some rest" gasped a per
spring Negro. as he sat on a barrel Of
"red-eye" in 'front.' Of a wholesale
house yesterday.
That Negro who had been busy since
7 A. m rolling barrel after barrel and
case after case Of liquor across the
pavemnt from warehouse 90 waiting
wagons. was only one of hundreds
Wholesale liquor establishments rival
hcehives as TO activits nd industry.
\ canvass Of several ~ the larger
wholesale houses revealed that every
day this week the volume OF sales has
been about 100 per cent. greater than
the normal wholesale output
Extra hands are being taken on. when
they can be found, but it's hard 20 ind
them. as under the circumstances the
Job is temporary
Even with the enormous volume OF
sales now being made against the
threatened July drouth. the stocks Of
the local wholesale houses are so large
that hundreds Of thousands OF gallons
Will be left when the Wartime PrOhibi-
tion act becomes effective Monday
night. Wholesale dealers. however.
profess not 20 he worried about this.
They are holding up the prices Of their
goods during the rush, and so FAR arc
refusing TO make serious sacrifices in
price In order 20 get rid 0f their stocks.
we feel certain" explained one Of
the larger wholesalers that even If
TrrHar rrrfn Htn nH
the wartime prohibition act is not re-
before January i6, when the Constitu-
tiOnal amendment is scheduled 90 be-
come effective. We believe that, when
greater demand for our stock than there
this happens. there will be an even
Is now. We figure it out that those
who have laid in a supply now against
prohibition viii want 10 increase their
stocks, and thOC who fail 90 buy be-
fore July 4 VIII not let the next. and
probably last opportunity slip by. lt
is only a question with Us Of storing
the stocks We have no doubt that
we will be able 30 dispose Of them he
fore January"
This feeling seems 10 be general on
the part Of the wholesalers.
The majority OF retailers. too are
biding their time. and don't appear TO
be nearly so discouraged as might be
expected None Of the retail shops has
given an indication Of lowering prices
over the bar. either by The drink or in
bottles. They an expect the heaviest
sales in their history Monday night f
the wartime act has not been revoked
While they have taken no concerted
sction local hotel men are ir0Wnlns
on the proposed "farewell' parties be
ng designed by hundreds as a filling
wake" for John Barleycorn Monday
night. They fear that circumstances
viii be such that intOXication VIII ne
general. regulations Of hotels may he
hurt and besides, physical damage
nav be done 10 the hotel property.
Members OF the Wilmington Liquor
Dealers Association at a meeting IN
rish-American Hall Yesterday afternoon
discussed the wartime prohibition ACT
which becomes effective on July l ana
while no action was taken, 10 was an
nounced that another meeting would be
held on sunday morning.
The many variant interpretations
Of the war time prohibition act are
more or less confusing said Edward
Krause. president of the organization,
following the meeting. Wa do not ne
lieve. as some members Of sle Law
and order Society are said to hold that
tbey will have a right 10 cnier our
places of business Tuesday mornns
and conascsie our stocks.
"Such a procedure might be within
their province after January 10, when
the prohibition amendment becomes
effective The edict which goes INTO
effect Monday. however. Is simply al
wartime measure and provides only for
temporary closing until tue army has
been demobilized
.The last Congress authorized an
army Of 100000 men and 70 IS our infor-
nation that the present army does not
exceed that number. so mat It seems
quite within the bounds Of possibility
that the operation Of the act may be
exrecdinclv brief"