The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1920-05-13
UNCOILING THE STILLS

"A police Ottcer has SAID: Inc newspapers
seem to be more concerned in war on the
stills than anyone else" We do not regard
this as a serious arraignment Of the newspa-
pers. First Of all, a newspaper is expected 70
stand for the enforcement Of the law and 1t IS
also expected to stand for fair play. The OPP
GRAFTON Of illicit stills in Kenosha is not only
contrary to law but it is contrary to every idea
of fair play We believe that continued viola
ton of federal law is a decidedly serious
thing We believe that when men are allowed
to violate the basic laws of the nation with i'm
punity and with immunity that a condition Dor
dering on to anarchy is pretty certain to re-
suit sooner or later One of the federal officials
has given it as his idea that there are two hun
dred illicit stills in Kenosha. We have nothing
on which to base such an estimate and he adj
mits that he has nothing further than the ex-
perience he has gained in making investiga-
tions
If this can be true it is a powerful arraign-
ment Of the federal government for failure to
enforce its laws
The prohibition statute was passed with a
view Of putting an end to the manufacture Of
intoxicants and the sale of them One of its
objects was to protect men who had debauched
themselves with liquor. One of the chief COM
plants against liquor was the use of it by men
who were unable to control their passion for
drink 1t was admitted that the courts were
filed on Monday mornings because these men
were able to get liquor after they had imbibed
To- excess. One of the expected results of pro-
hibition legislation was that these men would
be deferred in getting liquor. The opening of
stills by foreigners has probably made it easier
for these clannish people to get liquor than it
ever was before. One Of the results has been
The furnishing to them of liquors which will
go farther to undermining their health than
the commercial liquors of pre-pFohibition days
The still in the basement with no regulation is
even more dangerous than the great distillery.
Tampering with poisons to concoct a drink
cannot be counted on as being movement in
The line Of protection of health.
1T is not believed that stills in Kenosha are
located in the easements of the homes of men
and women who know great deal about the
manufacture of liquors or the contents of GOOD
liquor They are located in places where mer
are demanding substitute for liquor and who
do not care what they get 50 long as it produces
the desired result.
Of course it is highly probable that most Of
these men are not in the least interested in
any of the solicitude that the public may have
for their welfare but this solicitude on the
part Of the public represents one of the big
contributing causes to the passage of all pro.
hibition legislation The wives and the chill.
dren Of these men still have a right to protec
lion When the licensed saloon dispensed Ii
auors - under the law 80 regulations were
thrown about them for the protection Of the
man whose thirst got the better of his pocket
book and this man had some protection The
basement still recognizes no protection fol
anyone. 1t is thoroughly an outlaw and it does
business on outlaw methods It's price is high
because it must not only get the cost Of the Ii
auor but insurance against the fine it must
pay when the government at its own good time
sees fit to enforce it's laws Men who buy Ii
auors from the illicit still deal with the worst
bunch of profteers to be found in the country
The still has neither regulation or conscience
1t does not have an inspected product No one
vouches for it but every man who buys it takes
chance and firts with DEATH
If Kenosha is to be infested with the base
ment still it would be far better to return tx
HE licensed saloon.
Kenosha people who believe in the enforce
ment of law believe that the federal officials
and the state officials and the city officials mus
take every possible step to get rid of the stills
IN the basement as well as the corner sales Of
the products Of them.
III the officials with combined activities show
willingness to root out this evil it is certain
that it viii not remain menace to a lot Of PEG
pie Of Kenosha for any extended period.
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