The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-12-31
DRY AGENTS TO
TRY TO DAMPEN
ARDOR OF VETS
Police Warn Prohibition
|, Forces Must Clamp Lid
On Unaided.

Chicago. Dec. 31.-Althoukh the
stan Of Frank D. Richardson, su-
pervising prohibition agent, Is too
limited to keep watch on all places
where celebrators will gather to-
night to welcome the new year, ev-
cry effort will be made, he said, to
keep the lid clamped down tight.
Fifty agents, including men and
women, have been mustered into
service. Some will mingle with the
celebrators, and II their efforts to
secure more thai "ona-haH Der
cent" drinks are successful, the
place will be visited by one of 4
number Of flying squadrons Of pro-
hibftion enforcement raiders.
Gun Worse Than Flask.
Chief or Police Fitzmorris, in re-
fusing aid to Richardson, said:
II believe q gun in q mans pock-
ct is more Of . menace to society
than flask. II any one wants to
celebrate the passing Of the old
year and the beginning Of the new,
with . headache and q brown taste,
l can't stop him. OF course; will
enforce the law to the best Of my
ability. but + consider 1t my prime
duty to prevent crime and arrest
criminals"
That Chicago dntends to observe
the immemorial customs of. the oc-
casion is indicated by the fact that
capacity reservations have been
made in all the larger hotels. res
Itaurants, cafes, theatres and dance
halls. ~.
Drys Busy In New York.
New York, Dec. 31.-One hun
dred prohibition enforcement agents
will mingle among the crowds In
hotels and restaurants tonight and
assist" celebrators- to extend q
dry welcome to the new year. The
agents, who win be split up into
small flying squads. have been in
structed to clamp the lid down.
Hotels and restaurants report ca
pscity reservations. Dancing will
be the feature Of the entertain
ments.
~B. 7. o. L" Tahsoed
Boston,. Dec. 31.-Dryness will
| mark the New Year festivities hers
tonight. Hotel and restaurant
lkeepers. Instead Of marking theil
Invitations -s,.B. Ia Il" tpcipl
fyour own 1iQuor), Bent word thsJ
would work with prohibition en.
furcernent omciais to prevent xh3
private stocks being brought X
| tables in their places. Notwith'
standing. rec,rvations for tables
have been taken to capacity.
WIN Spend Millions.
washington, Dec. 31.-(United
Press. s.)-Approximately $50. .000, ,00t
will be squandered in merrymak.
ling celebrations Of New Years eve
tonight If the nation runs true te
form shown in government reports
of other years.
Probably 10000, 900 men. youths
and young women will spend the
evening 1T theatres, hotels, caba-
iFets; dance halls and other public
places whose pr6prie.ors are bank
ing on ton.ght's gate receipts to
pull them through a financially
dull December.
The government, however, VIII
coin money in consumption taxes
on the national revel in all cases
except liquor consumption. TAI
ireceipts ON. admissions to theatres
and carabets are expected to mel
the. government at least $500. .00(
for the evening, or 10 per cent Of
the sum spent for this purpose
I; Dinners and parties will account
for an expenditure Of $50, ,000, 900
It was believed.
-. Bootleggers Busy.
BootlegEers have been unusually
active turing the last few weeks
according to reports from prohibi'
tion agents and police Of big cities
Presentation Of permits for thu
withdrawal Of liquor from bono
have increased in the last few days
The permits stipulate that Liquor
Withdrawn. from warehouses mus
be used for only non-beverass
purposes, but prohibition officials
sdMit much. Of it will be used AZ
beverages. .es