South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-09-18


cial structure OF the nation.
MeMco's income from taxes on al
coholic beverages is steadily in
creasing. During the past year the
receipts were 5000. 000pesOs. but
they VIII be much greater this year
as there is now what might be
called an export demand for bev-
erages manufactured in Mexico.
The liquors are chiefly exported"
across the border, but without the
knowledge Of Mr.. Harding or Gen.
Obregon. Bootleggers and snug
glers handle tequila chiefly, because
this fiery liquor is acceptable TO AM
erican taste. in the absence of any
thing else, while mescal and pulque
do not appeal TO the thirsty across
the border. except among the mem
bers OF the Mexican colonies.
U. 5. Market Is Supplied
AS some Of the border cities have
/ large Mexican elements there is, Of
course, some smuggling Of mescal
and pulque. but the real profit for
the border runners is in tequila-
The prices obtained by bootleg
gers and other traffickers in
"hootch" vary according 10 the geo
graphical conditions. Tequila is low
er at FL Paso than in San Antonio.
/ because the smuggler has only 70
wade across the river at FL Paso TO
reach his market, while he must
face the perils Of a trip OF a hun
/ dred miles or so TO get to san An
tonic.
At e Paso a quart Of tequila
can be obtained easily for SO. while
the price is Sc and 81 a quart in
San Antonio. In Mexico tequila
made by disullers of reputation
ranges in price from so to rs cents
a quart But there are even cheaper
kinds.
Some OF the Mexican smugglers
are as deft as magicians OF vaude-
Vile. A story Is told Of an Amer
lean in a border city whose stock
Of beverages became exhausted. He
drove in his motor car to the shop
OF a captain Of the bootlegging in
dustry.
Il want a bottle OF tequila," he
said.
You already have it." replied the
bootlegger.
You are wrong" protested the
other. IT wouldn't be here II l had
a quart Of anything"
Look under the cushion" re-
turned the bootlegger.
A corner Of the cushion was lifted.
| Underneath was a bottle OF tequila.
The smuggler had OWNED the Wis
itor's wants and had thrust the bot
tie under the cushion so swiftly that
not one Of the two or three men in
the car saw him do IT,
DistiIleries Are ENLARGED.
When he received payment he
caused the money TO disappear into
his pocket with swift motion
which would have done credit to
any magician of the stage.
When the United States lost its
revenue of about $500. 900, 900 a year
from distillers and brewers, through
the establishing OF prohibition, there
were weavers of figures who pre-
dicted that Mexicos income from
beverages would increase enormous
/ ", with the possibility that the In
crease would be great enough to pay
all OF Mexico's debts, with a surplus
for the financing Of the country
This has not happened. 1t is a far
cry from Is million pesos. or about
s7.500,0OO. to $500. 600, 900. But
there have been substantial gains.
Old breweries and distilleries have
I rr1u nj no
been built. giving the government
greater returns from these sources
than IN the past.
While John Barleycorn's contr1-
button to the Mexican treasury Is
important in this time Of depresson,
il probably never will reach the
proportions predicted by anti-pro-
hibiiton propagandsts.
Prohibition Is Feared.
Most OF the alcoholic drinks Of
Mexico are made from plants which
grow everywhere, almost like weeds
home brew" in this country is az
old as the A tees. All OF the rus
tics know how TO make their OWL
drinks, without troubling themselves
about Internal Revenue stamps; and
John Barleycornfs contribution to
the treasury will increase only as
far as the urban population OF Mex
leo grows.
There is continued and strong a 81
tation for prohibition, with a posi-
bility that John Barleycorns money
may be rejected in Mexico as in The
United States.
Some states. like chihuahua, have
taken definite steps toward prohi
biton, although in some cases the
movements lack sincerity of pur'
1 pose.
Sometimes the agitation is t
serve a political purpose; some
times TO attract prohibition or anti
prohibition agents who have none!
to spend.
Z. s. Money Is Misspent.
Reformers in the United States
are distributing much cash in Mex
leo. and this money very otter
/ passes into the hands of a singula'
: sort.
Some fine corner lots and mort
cages, al II per cent a year, have
been acquired through the generos
, lily o fearnest old maids in tn
United States In the files OF ever!
: church orga nization and reform so