Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-01-17

1880 -
to obtain interpretations Of the law
that are similar, he continued, while
the infiiction of penalties likewise
las varied. United States attorneys
have differed as to the powers and
duties Of agents and where there has
NOT been a majority Of citizens ia
voring prohibition, federal courts
have dealt lightly with offenders.
Mr.. Kramer believes, however,
that the second year will show inn
provement In this connection also.
He said uniform plans of court proce-
dure were certain to come and that
as a result prosecutions would be
better handled. M
enforcement officials have struck a
snag and continually are confronted
with problems concerning the manu-
facture and sale of Industrial alcohol.
1t has been a source of daily trouble
for the agents, the commissioner de-
clared. Rules and regulations gov
erning it's production and handling
have been promulgated from time to
time, but in every instance, accord
ing to the bureau head, there comes a
new flood Of complaints. These al
ways require new determination of
what is or what is NOT product that
can be used as a beverage.
'The bureau fully comprehends the
importance of Industrial alcohol" Mr..
Kramer asserted. ut does NOT de-
sire to hamper or hinder it's legiti-
mate use but there are SO many per-
sons who will drink any connection
that has kick that we just have to
be strict"
Mr.. Kramer said many manufac-
turers of patent medicines refuse to
believe their product has become a
popular prohibition beverage. They
attribute the increase in sales to an
awakening of the people to the FORM
ulae's medicinal value.
But we know differently here" the
commissioner declares. 1.-THE alcohol
and not the medical potion contained
In those bottles is the reason for their
popularity. So the kick must be
taken out Of such preparations or they
must be medicated to point where
the taste will not be pleasant"
Our men have compelled manufac-
turers Of some such medicines to cor
rect their products already and the
others will be taken care of as fast as
we can get to them"
The consumption of patent medi-
cines with kick in them, however,
has convinced enforcement officials.
Mr.. kramer said, that the drinking
done now ds simply the satisfaction of
the hangover" appetite He believes
1t is proof that social drinkings. the
acknowledgements kind of con-
sumption, has definitely passed forever
into oblivion.
or course" the commissioner con-
tinued. there is still the social drink
ing in the homes wherever there is a
private supply. But the nightly
party drinking is DONE
Il have heard men say they would
take a drink now when they never
thought Of swallowing a drop while
the saloons were all about them. The
cause for that is found in the spirit
OF adventure, born in most Americans.
1t Will continue to cause some trouble.
rather indirectly, for a while but it
Will gradually disappear" ..
Disappearance of the appetite" of
the steady drinker also is predicted
by Nj. Kramer who foresees in that
connection practically the end of the
pootlegger. He asserted that while
there always would be some demand
Tor hard liquor" prohibition enforce
ment in few years would have re-
solved itself into simple problem of
vigilerce. guarding against the
production Of moonshine and the pa
trolling of the border and coasts
against smuggling
Liquor smuggling like the produc-
ton of moonshine whiskey has de-
Veloped into busin of high profits
since the advent Of prohibition. In
fact, revenue officers assert that the
value of liquor thus brought in ex-
ceeded the estimated worth of all
ether struggled commodities
Mr.. Kramer said the enforcement
agents worst problem with respect
to liquor running" was in the Great
Lakes area and along the St. Law
renee River section Of the Canadian
border. 1t has been difficult to curb
and. the end is not yet. The profits are
increasing as the local supplies de-
crease and this condition, the commits
sloner believes, means that greater
effort at enforcement must be concen-
trated along borders of the country
Port cities. especially along the At
lantic Coast. have given the bureau
trouble. for foreign mariners are will
ing to help Americans obtain auantr-
ties of any kind of beverages no long
er sold here. But a wedding out of
the enforcement staff. the elimination
OF SUCH men who have not resisted
the smuggling Of liquor from foreign
ships, is expected by officials to cor
rect that condition eventually.
AS for the moonshiner, Mr.. Kramer
candidly stated that I'VE always will
nave some of him with U.S." Operat-
ing in the mountains fastness. his still
Will spring up again and again. but
the head of the dry forces is optimts-
tic. He declared the sentence had
been read for the moonshiner too and
that the combined forces of prohibi.
ton and internal revenue could keen
on his trail as long as Congress au-
thorized employment of men for that
purpose.
To Cure a Cold in One Day