The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1922-03-16
,nar OF GOLD SMELLS
BooTLEGGING ARMY
.-,.,ts said to Be In Game In spo-
kane.-DOwd Treats Subject
interestingly.
Spokane, wn., March 49, '22'

Vo
..The old order of things changeth
Welding up to the new."
The truth of this saying is severely
,o,ified by the history of our country
= tbe last few years by the differen'
changes which have come about in the
wav Of doing business and the new
businesses which have come to the
f,out. The newest one which has como
70 tbe attention of our very good peo-
nle and to some of our people whom
our agood people" do not call good,
i the s'bootleggers business. This
il very peculiar and attractive busI-
ness: peculiar, for the editor never
oct any benefit from it--as far as ad-
yertising business is concerned. The
belief of the fraternity is, that they
Get too much of certain kind of pub
licity already, without paying for it.
Attractive, for so many have an un-
uuenchable affinity for their chief
staple, while others form repellent
and repugnant nature at the scent of
its sweet perfume.
Recently, these gentlemen called a
convention, all their own, for the dis
eussion of what they called their in
alienable right in the pursuit of their
business, and for the purpose of sta
bleizing the prices of their commodity.
Have boot-leggers, under the consti-
tuition of today, the right to meet and
discuss their business in a sober ways
1t is admitted by authority that they
are within their rights in that direc-
ton. One of their number on being
asked to convene with the rest, said,
No; the peace officers will have ev-
cry one of our names before morning.
The other said, That will make no diff
ference; they have our names anyway.
True. There were 48 assembled in the
outskirts of the city; were watched un-
der cover, and everything went off inl
a quiet way. Their high powered auto
mobiles were also numbered, and all
information cleaned that was possible.
and the meeting was unmolested. Their
chief plant in discussion was the price
of their commodity. They were not
getting enough for their goods, and
could not afford to take the chances
for the small price they were getting.
Prevalent prices were, $40 quart for
Scotch, two bottles for $1S. This from
their point of view was outrageously
low. The profit was mere bagatelle.
This was remedied in the meeting af-
ter discussion by placing straight
rate Of $3.50 quart, and that has
been strictly adhered to without
luiver. Have we heard from their
'ustomersa Yes. They grumbled and
srowled considerably, but they didn t
20 home without their medicine.
Greed is the greatest curse of man
and. 1t has been so through all ages,
md will continue so throughout all
lme. 1t seems that in spite of all the
'ood that has been preached and prac-
iced by the better ones of mankind
or centuries, this crime increases as
population increases.
The boot-legger is in the game for
ne almighty dollar and his success in
nat direction is amazingly wonderful
us attire when off duty is as rich and
appropriate as the richest of the rich.
we're it possible for the reader to
nrow upon the screen of his percep-
ion the banker, the bond clipper and
ne boot-legger, all in company, it
'ould be i'm possible to tell which was
ne boot-legger from the clothing on
heir bodies.
Ihs class of business men (the boot
'ggers) in their capacity of citizen,
now no God, no heaven, no hell, no
ANIMATION. They have no regard for
ne life of their neighbor if that neigh
OF lnterferes with their business, fur
aer than to take that life at the ex-
ense of powder and bullet if there be
possibility of escape from detection.
mong the clan in the great cities of
ie world children are trained in the
y Of thievery, and a case is not
nown where one of these thieves ev-
ned to or stole from a pal.
boot-leggers initiate officers with
IKE stars, capture a car loaded with
ooze, ditch the real owner, cache the
axe, retail it and pocket the money.
wealth literally flows into their
'cAets. Many of these men are
aoWn to have amassed fortunes run
ng from $4,000 to 100000 in short
me. The lure of wealth makes some
sople blind.
II is said that an ex-Nezperce prai-
= man migrated to Spokane a few
ohths ago, took up palatial rooms at
'e Davenport, and embarked in the
isiness. He now has fine $4,000
'ine IN good residential part of the
y, and sports high powered car.
ard TO tell just where you are liable
run across an ex-Nezpercer.