The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1920-06-10
In the Wake of the Federal Court Decision
UNFOLDING Prohibition Ninety-Nine
Ask for License for New Year.
FOREIGN BORN PREDOMINANT ON LIST
List Of Applicants Show Many Getting Out from Under
Federal Prosecution Of "Cheaters' Ex-
pected to Begin at Once. u

Hope springs eternal for the saloon
man and regardless of the fact that
the supreme court Of the DATED States
by unanimous vote on Monday de-
clared the prohibition amendment con-
stitutional and all the laws for its en-
forcement valid as part Of the fed
eral law, ninety-nine men in Kenosha
appealed to the common council on
Monday night for Glass A permits. Of
course these men understand that the
permits read something about the sale
of notwithstanding" liquors but it is
admitted that lot of the men seek
ing licenses believe that the license
Of the city gives them the right to
wink at federal laws. The large pro-
portion of the men asking for these
permits we're men of foreign birth but
there was a sprinkling of the old tim
efs in the list and all Of the we'll
known places in the down town dis
trict were included.
1t is possible that the selling Of
near beer and other near intoxicants
is profitable as the number Of appli-
cations for the permits on Monday
night was larger than the number Isl
sued during the past year. Of course
q lot Of the applications were filed
while the saloon men were still hope
full that the supreme court would de-
eide in favor Of the liquor traffic and
it is possible that lot of them will
never pay their license fee.
Many Get Out from Under.
The applications for licenses showed
lot of new names and it was evident
that there had been a general ten
dency to unload saloon sites and get
out from under. The very great pre-
ponderance Of foreign born applying
for the permits showed that even old
established places were about to
change hands and that new men we're
to be given chance to hold the bag
when prohibition comes. The appli-
cations were all referred to the com
mittee and it is declared that they will
be given the same scrutiny as was
given to them in the days when a
permit to operate a saloon was real
" worth something
Wonder About Enforcement.
1t is admitted that the decision of
the supreme court on Monday came as
hard blow to the saloon interests
Of Kenosha 1t was admitted in in
terviews with the saloon men today
that reports from attorneys of brew
ing interests and distilleries had not
suggested the possibility Of such a.
sweeping decision. The saloon men
themselves had hoped for new lease
of life for the liquor interests. They
had not expected the court to declare
the amendment unconstitutional but
they had strong belief that as far as
Wisconsin was concerned the decision
of Judge Geiger in regard to the
Mulberger act would be sustained
and that this would open the way for
the sale of at least ESQ beer in Wis
consin. Now the saloon men are wor-
ried over what is coming in the fu-
ture. They know that federal en-
forcement officials have secured lot
Of evidence Of The sale Of beer which
u
legal under the Mulberger act. They
know that in some cases reports Of
scores Of violations of the laws have
been secured and they fear that pros
ecutions galore will be started in the
United States court.
Admit Warnings Were Given.
1t is admitted by the men who are
now facing the grand jury indictments
that warnings were given by federal
officials and that in some cases these
warnings were sent out by big brew
cries in Milwaukee by which saloon
men were told that in case the Null
berger act was declared unconstitu-
tiona1 that they would be subject to
federal prosecution. Milwaukee Off
cials in charge Of the enforcement of
prohibition have repeatedly declared
that they were waiting for the de-
cision Of the supreme court before
starting to make arrests under the
law These men were free to say that
they had already gathered lot Of
evidence. 1t is said that more than
forty saloon men in Kenosha have
sold liquors against the provisions of
the federal amendment. tits declar-
ed that evidence has been gathered
against lot of these men.
Three Cases in Local Courts.
The Wisconsin statute regulating
the content of beer which has been
declared unconstitutional in the Unit
ed States court, was made the basis
for several cases in the municipal
court. Three defendants are now on.
bond awaiting decision as to the
constitutionality of the act All Of
them are charged with selling liquors
in which the aleoholic content exceed
ed the 2.509o aIl6wed by the state law.
It is expected that the district attor-
ney will promptly ask for the dismiss
al of all of these cases as any attempt
of the state to regulate the liquor
traffic is held unconstitutional under
the decision of Monday. This does
not mean that these defendants will
be. discharged but rather that they
will be rearrested on federal warrants
and turned over to the federal courts
for prosecution. 1t was stated when
the cases were brought that in case
the state law was held contrary 70