The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1919-08-01
Bonner Says Saloonists Want to
be Law-abiding
Sees no Use of Local Court Trial.
However
Ice Men May Decide to Cut OF
Ice Supply to Law-Defying Sa-
loonists :.

4 lOOTlSIS
The Philadelphia North American
OF July 20 says that despite specific
instructions from Assistant Attorney.
General Frierson for the arrest of all
ssloonkeepers selling beer on a charge
OF violating the wartime Prohibition
act, between l,500 and LOCO saloons
were dispensing beer on July 10. Fed
eral authorities were apparently taking
no steps towards prosecution. AS
sistant Attorney-General Frierson's in
structions were directed TO District
Attorney Francis Fisher Kane. The
District Court ruled against the brew
ers in their attempt to prevent prose-
cutons, thereby leaving the way open
Tor the district attorney to proceed
against all brewers who arc manufac-
turing and selling beer of 275 per cent.
And while Assistant Attorney General
Frierson's order was being ignored the
Philadelphia Retail Liquor Dealers
Association decided to defy the law
openly.
Want to be Law-Abiding
Neil Bonner, president of the Phila-
delphia Retail Liquor Dealers Associ-
alton, is quoted in the North American
as saying:
If instructions from the Depart
ment OF Justice in Washington arc
sent ordering the arrest and prose-
cution OF all dealers in 2.75 per
cent beer no attention will be paid
them by the Philadelphia retailers.
We are not acting blindly and in
defiance of law. We have con-
suited counsel and are advised that
ii such orders are received from
Washington they will not change
the situation. We feel that it
must ultimately be decided by the
Supreme Court of the United
States and we cannot see what
end will be served by court opin-
ions and trials here. 1t would be
adding one more to the court de-
cisions and rulings which must all
come before the Supreme Court
for decision.
We want to be law-abiding. In
the past we have been guided by
the brewers largely in our atti-
tude on legal matters. They are
still furnishing 275 per cent beer
and our counsel has advised us
that if orders are received from
Washington ordering the arrest
Of all dealers in beer of 275 per
cent that will not affect the stu
alton.
Government agents and police
working under their direction have
been busy securing evidence, but have
failed utterly thus far to stop the sale
of whisky, according to the North
American. Hard liquor of all de-
scriptions, says this paper, can be OBJ
tanned throughout the city generally
through wholesale bootlegging sys-
tenn whfeh has developed. Some ins
dividuais have built up such thriving
trade in whisky that they are estab-
fishing routes and making regular de-
liyerics to persons properly intro
duced' and unloading whisky stocks
at high prices Most of the stuff sells
around four dollars and five dollars a
quart and is heavily watcred, SO the
price is more than twice that quoted
before war time Prohibition went into
effect.
| In addition to this, continues the
American, saloons in some sections are
said TO be injecting kick into the
near-becr by the simple expedient
of doctoring it with small quantity
of the low power beer. These sales
are made to only known customers
and so far the Department of Justice
has failed to get enough evidence to
make arrests.
Will Cut OFF lee Supply
! A new angle was injected into the
situation when it was announced that
strong effort will be made by health
organizations at the next meeting OF .
the ice committee to cut off the sup
ply of ice to rum sellers. This meet
ing will be on August A. 1t is pointed
out that the ice supply is low at Phil
adelphia and the dealers can see no
reason why they should supply ice to
these outlawed dealers. The ice men
say that most of the saloons use about
thousand pounds of ice day, thus
increasing the daily consumption by
about $500 tons.