Evening star., 1920-02-23
Iron COUNTY, MICH.
IN OPEN REVOLT"
AGAINST DRY" MEN
Local Officials Hold Up Fed
era| Agents and Take
Confiscated Wine.

CHICAGO, February 23.-Maj. A. V.
Dalrymple. federal prohibition director
for the central states, has informed
Washington that what revenue agents
regarded as an incipient whisky insur-
the upper Michigan peninsula. The
prohibition director wired Washing
ton last night that the county was "in
open revolt" against federal authorities
after he had received reports that pro-
hibition agents leading d party of
Michigan state constableS were held
up February 10 by Iron county Off
cials and wine they had confiscated
was taken from them.
Maj. Dalr,mple planned to take ac-
ton in regard to cleaning up the
county. he said.
Attorney General Palmer, who passed
through Chicago last night. said he
could take no action until official re-
ports reached him through regular
channels, but declared Maj. Dalrymple
had full authority to enforce the law
and would have the complete support
Of the governmental machinery.
He remained at a hotel all evening,
expecting conference with Maj. Dali
rymple, but the latter failed to ap-
pear.
Assumes Responsibility.
r. A. McDonough, prosecuting at
torney of Iron county, in statement
issued last night. assumed "all respon-
sibility" for taking the wine from the
federal agents. and denied that the
county was in open revolt"
Statements of Mr.. McDonough anu
Leo J. Grove, supervisor of federal
prohibition enforcement in the upper
peninsula. on whose report Maj.
hsl 70
torney General Palmer for aid in ar
resting the prosecutor. two deputy
sherihs, two policemen and three own
ers of the wine. agreed in part as to
the steps that precipitated the pres
ent status in Iron county.
Grove, accompanied by Lieut. r G..
Strope and two troopers Of the state
constabulary, had seized eleven bar
relS OF wine at the Virgil location,
a mine two miles from Iron river,
the statements of both men agree.
when Grove and his party were met
by Prosecuting Attorney McDonough
and the officers That the federal Of
f1cer'S right to have conflscated the
wine was questioned and the liquor
was taken from him by force, state
ments of the two further agree.
where stories Differ.
There their stories diverge, how
ever. The prohibition agent MAIN
authority in seizing the wine. which
was the property of John. Joseph and
Steven Stalcuzzi, brothers. principal
directors of the Peninsula Packing
Company, at Iron river. and owners
of the little towns largest stose. Mr..
Grove asserted the lfquer was kept
n. the. store. and becanse OF That was
subject to government Seizure.
ME-. McDonoughs said the wine was
maintained In the mems home. their
residence being above the store, and
that the brothers had been dismissed
recsntiy after having been brought to
trial in the state court in connection
with ownership Of the same wine. He
said the Stalcuzxis were found not
guilty Of violating prohibition laws.
At Grand Rapids Mich. District At
torney Myron H. Walker said that
four years ago, when prohibition went
into effect in that district, he had to
issue fully forty warrants and col
lected $4,000 in fines.''
The population Of Iron county large
iy is composed of Italians and Sicil-
ians and much bootlegging has been
reported there recently.