South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-12-06
DRY LEADER URGES
UNCLE SAM SEIZE
SUPPLY OF WHISKY
FavOrs Federal Sale of Rum
as Medicine, Repay
ing Owners.

WASHINGTON. d. G.. Dec. g.
Uncle sam viii become the greatest
liquor dealer in the history OF the
world 81 a plan that has the back
ing Of WAYNE y. Wheeler. general
counsel Of the Anu-Saloon league Of
America, and other dry leaders re-
ceives the approval Of congress.
Parsdoxica1 as IL may seem. the
proposed plan 20 make a whisky
dealer OF Uncle Sam would do more
TO turn the country bone dry at an
early date than anything that could
happen. as II would give the govern
ment actual physical possession OF
the 10000. 900 gallons Of whisky In
bond. now owned by private -ndi-
viduals and interests.
To purchase all this liquor would
cost something like half a billion
dollars, which Mr.. Wheeler consid-
ers out Of the question. as congress
never could be induced 10 apprO-
PIRATE that amount and, besides, IL
Is question whether the owners Of
the liquor are justly entitled 10 have
white elephant taken off their
hands in such an easy and remuner-
srive fashion. The alternative plan.
and the one that Mr. Wheeler and
his associate dry leaders Will cham
uiOn. Is that the government shall
take over the liquor, concentrate IL
in a few warehouses for convenient
handling and take it's time about
selling the booze for non-beverage
purposes. renting 10 the owners in
installments the actual proceeds Of
the sales less the expense incurred
10y the government.
Some Dealers Willing.
There seems to be but two ways
TO handle this question" said Mr..
Wheeler. The first Is buy the IL
Qror outright. The second is for
the government 10 take IL over. con-
centrate Il In a few warehouses, sell
it for legitimate purposes and turn
the proceeds over 20 the original
owners, minus actual expense Of
sale.
"A large number Of the liquor
dealers are willing 20 have this done
10 would make il easier TO enforce
the law If this liquor were concen-
trated and taken out Of the hands of
private owners. Some OF these pri-
vate owners are deliberately plot
ting constantly 90 withdraw the IL
quOr for beverage use. The objec-
ton raised to purchasing the liquor
outright Is that Ii would take a large
su moi money at a time when the
government il planning 10 retrench
and. In addition. there would be
multitude of lawsuits to determine
the value Of the liquor I'm bond The
other method avoids these difficult
ties"
What are the other features Of
the legislative program Of the 'drys'
for the coming year, Mr.. Wheeler
was asked.
tar,t,.. -. ,.-, tn Nr- g
which the temperance forces are
united" ne answered. The first one
is the proposed measure TO prohibit
American citizens from engaging in
the beverage liquor traffic in Amer
lean consular districts in foreign
countries. The second is a bill to
prohibit peyOte. or dry whisky. II
Is largely used among the Indians.
Would Define Misconduct.
The Antt-SaloOn league is also
committed 10 a measure 20 define
misconduct in office for federal Of
fiCers. Practically all of the states
have legislation defining what is
misconduct in office and providing
n method 10 remove officers who are
guilty Of such conduct. Certain fed
eral officers hold office for life on
good behavior. Some officers are re-
fusing 20 do their duty and to en-
force the law. but there is no ma
Chinery provided 10 reach such Of
ficers and relieve them Of responsi-
bility. Such "a law ought 10 be
adopted.
another problem which must be
faced is the proposal 20 put liquor
inspectors and agents under civil
service. This was not done when the
law was framed because there was a