Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-02-05
WHY BONE DRY
FITS PROHIBITION
So Designated in Tribute to
Hustling Sheriff Who
Fought Illicit Liquor.
UPHELD LAW IN MICHIGAN
Correspondence of The Star.


dry" as applied to prohibition has
nothing to do with bone. Ninety
nine people out of a hundred do not
know 1t. Perhaps the percentage is
greater. but with the war over and
liquor fast becoming q product to be
spoken of only in whisper. it is in
teresting to note that Bone" hap
pened to be the name of the sheriff at
Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. who kept Chip
pewa county in such good shape that
the author of Michigan's prohibition
law honored him by naming the law
the Zone dry law
And here, hidden away amid the
rat-a-tat-tat of riveting hammers in
the Oscar Daniels shipyard is this
former sheriff, John Bone, whose
name has now become as commonly
accepted for state liquor legislation
as Webb-Kenyon, or Reed. fcs federal
laws.
An odd and powerful character is
this veteran. who only lacks saud ten
20 round out the prophets span of
life
Submits to Interview.
1t was the idea that the term bone
dry meant more than a phrase cor
responding to "dry az a fish" that led
newspaper man TO ask Mr.. Bone
about it during a noon hour when he
stepped out of the cinders Of the Dam
iels blacksmith shop. One look at
his forceful, intelligent face revealed
q personality of more than common
interest and truly in keeping with
the outstanding, vigorous body
Asked how his name had been
linked with law that dried q state,
once deemed a stronghold of liquor,
Mr.. Bone replied:
I was sheriff of Chippewa county,
northern Michigan, at the time my
wrote and introduced the law that
has since been a model for other
states where a thorough lob was
wanted, 1t wasn't quite as up to date
as Fiorida's, with provision against
TRANSPORTING iiquor by airship. but
bill was pending met the author one
evening in the Office of the prose-
cutting attorney. and while we were
discussing it asked; What are
You going to call 1t. Meriinr"
am going to name IT after you.
John, and II II makes Michigan as dry
as you are will be satisfied
Mr.. Wyie "Knew His Man"
Representative Merlin wylie knew
his man, for Mr.. Bone has gone dry
all his life. not only as to alcohol but
even tea, coffee and tobacco. He has
taken a successful part in many attn
letic contests, especially running, and.
while too busy building ships to take
time to issue challenges, 1t was evil
dent he would not be the man to
turn down match with any young
sprinter in the yards.
II Mr.. Bone had not been as particu.
lar about perjury as about liquor he
might have gratified his wish to fight
the Hun with a bayonet, in spite of
his sixty years. Almost any examiner
would have accented him as below the
forty-five dead line But as a con-
scienttous believer in truth and We
racity, he came to Tampa to enlist
with a hammer on the firing line In
the blacksmith shop of the Oscar
Danieis shipyard.
Prominent as Athletic Figure.
Among the fifteen hundred work.
men Ii would be hard to find a more
imprsssively athletic figure than this
stalwart veteran, John Bone.
In order to come to Tampa to helm
build ships. Mr. Bone resigned a nomi-
nation for the Chippewa county
shrievalty that was equivalent 10 a
recollection. He had held the Office
longer than any other incumbent and
his rigid and impartial enforcement OF
the liquor laws as well as against vice
in general. proved so popular that al
the last election he lacked only 400
votes OF being chosen unanimously.