The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-09-13
Frederic Haskin's Letter


make any serious dent in the act;r-
tiles OF these rum runners,
A large part of the business -.
enforcement has to do with rnovina
liquor about from CITY To CITY -
forged permits. Officers Question
ing the movements of big quantitis,
OF liquor, and attempting To sie,za
II have been confronted time s,s
again with permits showing an
parently bona fide ownership NJ az
shipments, and apparently nerte.t
but actually forged permits -
move specified quantities from ono
place to another. Much of M.
liquor sold and moved on fnrroS
permits is obtained from distI
leries which are flouting the Law
Probably the worst result of ~.
dry amendment and the yolstsaJ
! law Is the utterly conscienceless
money-mad brand OF bootIegger
who does not take the trouble 70
get real whisky or even make a
substitute containing pure grain
alcohol, but puts together a err
coctfon containing the deadIv
wood alcohol A little OF tins, tr,-;,-
Die dose means blindness and a ~
tie more means certain death. Tha
newspapers very day contain ao-
counts of deaths resulting from
drinking this poison, but it is
doubtful If there has been a case
where the dispenser Of this stuf
has received more than the uan-
atty prescribed by the VoIgtead
law As a matter of fact a boot
Logger knowingly selling this kind
OF stuff is guilty of plain murder.
Government Hunts Big Game CuIT-
The bureau of internal revenpa
Is not going after the little fellow.
the retailer of contrhand and for
hidden booze. This is not because
of any sympathy with him or his
Regardless of their
personal views on the subject, the
ofhciais of this bureau are sworn
to detect and prosecute violations
OF the dry law, and they do that 10
the limit of their funds and caoac-
tiles. Knowing it is impossible to
go after every Violator, it has been
found necessary to leave the small
Ter offender to be dealt with by
state and city authorities, and con-
3entrate attention on the wholesale
liquor manipulation.
A flying squadron has been Or
sanized, and is moved from city to
,1ty to try and break up the boot
egging systems. Recently this
squadron made important arrests
n Baltimore, and went from there
o New York. Some arrests will
'e made, but Baltimore is not dry
Tor will New York be. Revenue
'flcials know this, but plug away
It their jobs as hard as they can,
that complete success can
he theirs only when a preponder-
mt percentage of public opinion is
n favor of hard and fast enforce
nent of the dry amendment
The attention of the internal
evenue bureau is directed toward
he rum smuggling along the At
antlc coast, particularly from the
mailer islands laying off the
outhern states. The promise of
ONE action in the near future
gaist these smuggling bootleg
ers has been made, and arrests
lay be looked for sometime during
he autumn. 1t is admitted, though,
nat with the thousands of natural
arbors along the South Atlantic
nd Gulf Coasts, not a great deal
an be accomplished. A few of the
ig operators, may be caught, but
lere will be scores ready TO step
ito their places, attracted by the
ig fortunes which may be made
uickly in this illicit business.
Right now the situation is seen
Y officials about in this light-the
nted States has two long coast
mes, filled with fine harbors for
nall boats, it has several thou
and miles of border. and liquor
i'll continue TO come in on all
des just as long as people want
and pay for it Only reversal Of
opular sentiment can dry up the
ocean of rum.