davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1922-02-24
AND SUCH AS THESE
ASK Law EXEMPTION

Federal Prohibition officers ON Feb
ruary 4 raidcd the brewing plant of
the ALASKA Company, Laport, Ind,
manufacturers OF soft beverages, and
seized a quantity OF beer, several
trucks OF which were being loaded for
consignment to Chicago. The man
ager OF the brewery and two auto
truck drivers were taken into custody
and committed to Jail, but later were
released on bond. A test showed that
the beer contained 314 per cent al
cohol.
Friends OF the liquor traffic are de
manding that the Volstead law be
amended in such way as to legalize
the manufacture and sale OF beer.
This demand is receiving the support
of number of influential newspapers.
II also is being urged by some public
officials, the argument advanced by
these beer pleaders being that, the
legalization OF the manufacture and
sale OF beer will promote law enforce
ment
1t is in order for these beer advo-
Gates to explain on what grounds they
base their belief that the brewers who
are not now obeying the law will obey
regulation limiting the alcoholic
content OF their product to 275 per
cent, providing the Volstead law is
amended to their liking.
Brewers have always been the most
fragrant law violators of the liquor
fraternity. To give them permission
under the law to manufacture and dis
tribute the product of 275 per cent
alcoholic content would be equivalent
to repeating the Eighteenth Amend
ment. 1t would be an utter impossi-
bility to hold these criminally in
clined booze makers within the limits
of the law.
The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1922-02-24
PAWNRROKER BUSINESS
SLUMPS UNDER PROHIBITION

according TO statistics OF pawn
brokers in Dallas aud other Texas cit
ies, the people arc becoming more
prosperous since tho advent OF Pro-
hibition. Under Prohibition the loan
business as conducted by pawubrok-
ers and other loan agencies has shown
a marked falling oil and 4 number OF
sueh places OF business have been COM
PEELED 10 enter other lines or close
tIieir shops. Investigations show that
about l. per cent OF the loan agencies
in Dallas have gone ont OF business.
In Galveston there remain but seven
pawnbrokers as against thirteen in
1o1S. These seven have enlarged their
business and nov carry stocks of
goods such as jewclry, sporting goods,
etc. Owners OF these places say this
MAS necessary As they could not re-
main in business merely by making
loans as formerly. The only cXpla-
nation OF the situation SO far advanced
is that the public arc saving their
money and arc more prosperous since
Prohibition became effective
The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1922-02-24
DAVY CROCKETT METHOD
INVOKED IN NEW ENGLAND

\ New England Prohibition director
reports large seizure OF Scotch
whisky and champagne and the arrest
OF saloonkeeper and bartender both
of whom were discharged in federal
court on the ground that the search
warrant WAS defective, the word
forthwith" having inadvertently been
omitted. When brought to the at
tenton of the governor he suggested
proceedings under the state law with
the result that indictments were Sc
cured This is pointed out as an cN-
ample OF cooperation between the
two governments, ono relieving the
situation when prosecution is halted
in the other
The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1922-02-24
BREWERS AT OLD TRICKS
OF WORKING IN DARK

There is 4 rumor in Cleveland, ard
it is so we'll defined that it IS generally
accepted as being true, that the Nsso-
cation Opposed to the Prohibition
Amendment with headquarters in that
city and which claims brewers can not
be either members or contributors, is
receiving checks from brewers cover
ing memberships in wholesale lots.
for which these brewers furnish the
names OF their employees and friends.
The Association Opposed to the
Prohibition Amendment purposes, 50
it says, TO initiate some kind OF beer
proposal in Ohio this year. 1t is in
need of members and money. 1t is
making fearful appeals for both. The
Suspicion is strong that brewers arc
furnishing the funds. Heretofore
these same brewers have been the
angels" OF every organization which
opposed the dry law.
The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1922-02-24
BERNARD SHAW RENDERS
IMPORTANT DRY OPINION

The New York Herald London bu-
reau OH February II reports George
Bernard Shaw as saying that Prohi
bition will not be an election issue il
the future because it will be assumed
that any person who differs from i
will be ruled out either as unatic OF
a criminal. Mr.. Shaw evidently be
licvcs that prohibition of the liquor
traffic is gradually establishing itsel
as permanent policy by the appar
ent benefits accruing from that policy
wherever tried. He says:
You have had an early stage
OF society that tolerated murder.
There was once a great deal of
private choice about it but there
isn't now Already the sale of
gin has been restricted consd-
erably. Once one could get drunk
on gin for penny, dead drunk
for two pence. Does even the
most enthusiastic advocate of per-
sonal liberty wish to go back to
that?
The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1922-02-24
N. Y. MERCHANT HAS GOOD TRADE
H. A. Saks Asserts Boost is Due to
Two Causes, One of Which is
Prohibition

Fl. \. Saks, secretary OF Saks x
Company, one OF New York City's big
department stores, is quoted in the
New York Timss of January | in re-
fcrring to the Christmas season trade
as saying:
We have had very good sea-
son and SO have our neighbors.
We surpassed our expectations in
the amount OF sales. How do we
explain this? Well, there arc only
two explanations that | can sug-
gest. Either all this talk about
unemployment is exaggerated
when it is compared with war
time conditions showing employ
ment at its peak, or on the other
hand there has been a beneficial
effect from Prohibition.
Mr.. Saks said he believed it was eli.
tirely possible for the elimination Of
Intoxicating liquors to have contrib
uted TO the increase in the amount Of
business experienced by the merchants
recently. He said that it was never
necessary now for his concern to dis
charge an employe for failure to per
form duty OH account of intoxicatior
as it had been formerly but very in.
frequently. He added:
Furthermore, the savings banks
don't show that the people are
Withdrawing their money, so the
only conclusion left is that there
must be very considerable i'm
provement. As far as stocks are
concerned, we have less stocks
than in former years and are in
better shape all around.
The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1922-02-24
PHILA. BOOTLEGGERS PLACE
$500 ON DRY AGENTS HEADS

The Philadelphia North American
OF January 20 says that at recent
meeting OF the boolcgecrs of Phils-
dclphia they arc reported to have set
a price of $500 on the head of all Pro-
hibition agents put out OF the way by
death. The threat was conveyed TO a
Philadelphia Prohibition agent by a
saloonkeeper in Coatesville, Pa, who
claims to have overheard the bootleg
gers threat. The death warning is
not taken seriously by the Philadel-
phia agents who say that the bootleg
gers have long since vowed ito get
them"
The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1922-02-24
ENGLAND FINDS PUBLIC HOUSES
NO PANACEk FOR UNEMPL 0YMENT

the night OF February and held
prisoners until four-thirty O'Clock
in the morning by a crowd OF IN
employed persons Who demanded
larg"r dolcs. The Guardians re
Gently doubled the doles but the
Ministry of Health notified them
that this was illegal and they re-
verted to their former rate OF
payments. Their plea OF govern
ment pressure was rejected by
the unemployed VITO seized the
entire building which houses the
Board room and hoisted a red
flag on the roof, declaring they
would not give up until their dc
mands were granted. Poplar is
remote section OF East London.
This is only ono OF many disturb
lnces that have been reported iror
London and other large cities c
England within the last few months.
The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1922-02-24
NEW YORK CITY YIELDS
BIGGEST STILL EVER

Prohibition agents seized on Feb
ruary 8 what is said to be the big
gcst illicit still ever operated in New
York city. 1t was found in the sub
cellar Of livery stable, two stories
underground The still was OF two
hundred gallons capacity. feeding a
smaller one OF thirty gallons capacity
and wa, used. according to the agents
to twice rcdistill dcnatured alcohol
from toilet preparations.
This double rcdistillins process was
intended to extract the poisons from
dcnaturcd grain alcohol The pro-
cess is regarded by government
chemists as a failure They say it is
impossible to extract the poison in
this way, and that people who drink
these doctored toilet preparations arc
flirting with the undertaken.
The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1922-02-24

Booze-soaked England is expert
eneing disturbances by her army OF
unemployed to an extent that com
pels the belief that more than easy
access to booze is required to bring
oontentment to those who toll for
existence. No such demonstrations
arc recorded in our country where,
according TO the conceptions OF the
liquor interests of Britain, the peo-
pie have been deprived OF their libcr-
ty by the Prohibition law
An Associated Press dispatch car
rying a London datclinc OF February
! says:
The Popular Board OF Guard
ans-local officials responsible
for levying and distributing re-
lief for the poor in the metro
politan bureau of Popar-wcrc
locked in their Board room on
The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1922-02-24
APPELLATE COURT CONFIRMS
BOOTLEGGER'S CONVICTION

Edward T. Houck, Lebanon O.,
convicted OF Bookkeeping whisky lost
his appeal to Court of Appeals Feb.
/, when that court handed down a
decision and confirmed his convic-
ton.
liouck alleged that the act of the
officer in searching his automobile
without search warrant was un-
reasonable, but Court OF Appeals says
the evidence showed that lIouck
drove an automobile which. by chang
ing bodies. he would transposc from
truck TO runabout and this.
coupled with the fact that he had a
reputation for bootlcggins. identified
both himself and his automobile
with the alleged Illicit traffic in liq-
uor, and the act Of the officer was
not an unreasonable search,
The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1922-02-24
ANTI-BEER ACT UPHELD
BY The SUPREME COURT
Brewers Lose Court Fight Against
Willis-Campbell Bill

Another decision OF interest was
that rendered by Judge Z. /. Garvin,
OF the United States District Court
for the Eastern District OF New York,
on February !, in the case OF Piel
Brothers Y. Ralph A. Day, Federal
Prohibition Director for the state of
New York, and John T. Rafferty,, Col
lector OF Internal Revenue, ct al.
This was an action in equity brought
by Piel Brothers, brewers, to restrain
federal enforcement officers from in
terfering in the manufacture of medi-
cinal beer and raised the question of
the constitutionality OF the Supple
mental Prohibition act, or the anti
beer bill. The court said:
Before the Wiliis-Campbel bill
was enacted. Congress conducted a
careful investigation into the medi-
cinal qualities OF beer. Little was
then said in its favor as therapeutic
agent 1t may be conceded that it
has always been considered as a
beverage rather than a medicine, if
any Importance attaches to the
amount consumed as a beverage as
distinguished from the amount re-
CURED by those who sought its medi-
cinal qualities because OF the advice
OF physician or OF one who had
benefited from its use.
ut would therefore appear that
Congress deemed this legislation I'M
perative TO accomplish effective en-
foreement OF the amendment, and at
the same time was satisfied that there
is little or no value in beer either as
a therapeutic agent or as a glacta
eogue.
The latter IS bitterly
disputed--by the complainant which
on the hearing OF the motion field
numerous afidayts by physicians
that beer has valuc as a medicine and
is frequently prescribed under various
conditions. II, having given due con-
sdcration to claims OF such character
Congress has considered the lcgisla-
ton necessary TO the effective en-
forccment OF the amendment, it can
not be said that it has abused its
power
Judge Faris OF the Eastern District
OF Missouri ruled similarly in the
case OF the Falstaff Corporation vs..
Allen.
The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1922-02-24
new JERSEY LOSES
ENFORCEMENT LAW
Court Decides Code Unworkable and
Unenforceable

On February ,, the Court OF Err
rors and Appeals of New Jersey,
which is the court OF last resort in
that state, set aside As unavoidable
and menforceable, a portion OF the
enforcement code adopted by the leg
islature of New Jersey in 1921 known
as the Van Ness act, thereby reyers-
ing the unanimous decision OF the SUI
prcmc Court of the state. There was
10 opinion by the court, as SUCH be-
cause OF different views as to the
various questions involved in the
three cases before il. but opinions cA-
pressing the views of individual mem
bers Of the court were written by
four OF the judges. On the main
question of whether to sustain or re-
verse the convictions in the three
cases before it the court stood eight
to reverse and four to affirm.
The New Jersey act provided that
persons who violated its provisions
should be deemed disorderly persons
and as such were triablc by a magis-
tratc without jury aud on conviction
were liable to sentence of coniine-
ment in the workhouse, penitentiary
or common Jail for period not to
exceed six months o, TO pay a fne
not to exceed six months or to pay
a fine not to exceed $500, or both.
1t was insisted that this was violative
OF the state Constitution. On this
question five judges voted in the af-
firmative and six in the negative. II
was also insisted that Congress, by
the passage of the Volstead act had
made an offense against the liquor
laws crime and that the state statute
declaring violator a disordcrly per-
son was in conflict with the Eight
centh Amendment The vote upon
this question was six to six. The
court sustained the sufficiency of the
title by a vote of two to nine. The
provision requiring judges of Conf
mon Pleas and justices of the SUI
preme Court to sit as magistrates i'll
certain instances was upheld by a
vote of two to nine. The legislature
is in session. Immediate steps have
been taken to cure the defects indi-
Gated
The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1922-02-24
ROCK-PILE LOOMS FOR
VETS IN HOOD RIVER

The Hood River County (Orc)
Commercial Club i'll session January
25 initiated 4 precedent in activities of
such organizations when 1t adopted
resolution that calls for social ostra-
cism, in other words, the boycott 81
bootleggers or citizens found guilty oi
purchasing illicit liquor. Following
this action the body voted for appoint
ment OF committee to confer with
the city council on an ordinance that
will establish rock pile not only Tor
traffickcrs in the product OF the illicit
distillery but patrons OF the bootleg
gers as we'll. The resolution was pre-
scented to the club by I. .. Blanehar,
president OF the First National Bank.
The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1922-02-24
DRY OFFICERS COMMISSION
REVOKED IN w. VIRGINIA

The commission OF Prohibition OF
feed Charles p. Reed, OF Charleston,
w. Va, was revoked last week by
State Prohibition Commissioner
Brown, when he received reports that
Reed was one OF nine men arrested
in a raid at Coalburg on a charge OF
operating a moonshinc still. The
men arrested were held for the led
eral grand jury by [. S. Commits
sioner Thayer
Commissioner Haynes is insisting
that the enforcement offices through
out the nation be kept clean OF graft.
Short shrift is made OF the agent
these days who docs not act on the
square .
The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1922-02-24
PALE HORSE AND RIDER
FOLLOW BOOTLEGGER

Three small children were drcnch-
cd with scalding alcohol and were
taken in a dying condition to the
Episcopal Hospital Philadelphia, ON
February /. as the result of the ex-
plosion of a ffteen-gal1on still in
private residence.
Such tragedies, the direct results of
law defiance, are fastening the doom
of the illicit liquor traffic. 1t is COM
ing to be recognized fact that death
follows the trail of the bootlegger.
The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1922-02-24
CINCINNATI HOME BREW
DUMPED IN ICY STREAM

The waters OF Mill Creek. Cincin-
matt, were blended with liquor the
other day when police department.
clerks cmpticd approximately 5000
bottles OF beer mostly of the home
brew variety, and 90 gallons OF moon-
shine into the stream. The liquor was
destroyed on the order OF the munich
pal court OF Cincinnati. Strapped
copper and other materials together
with jugs, pots, pans and kettles seized
by police in raids on some distilleries,
will be junkcd by the police.
The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1922-02-24

laws? | am not alone in this testi-
mony. There are other III Ell who
were there and who will stand by the
proper authorities in the prosecution
OF this case
The common people can we'll un-
derstand that the wet angle i'll the
usual newspaper story is dug to tho
fact that many OF the newspaper men
are themselves wet in habit and
sympathy. Remember this Press Club
Dinncr-Dance and its drunken reck-
lessness when YOU read the wet news
in your paper. Remember this affair
when you read the next wet editorial
i'll your paper. Remember that VIC
must overcome the opposition OF the
newspapers AS we'll as the lawlessness
OF the liquor forces.
at would seem that the theatre
business and the liquor trade arc al
lied businesses. II this is true are the
newspapers also part of this law
defying combination? There arc news
papers that arc right on this mighty
moral issue. 1t is our business to
find them and support them in every
way possible"
Resolutions Criticize Club
Acting on the information given by
Dr. Boynton the following resolutions
were passed by the Chicago Baptist
Minister'S Conference;
Whereas, We arc informed by the
civic committee Of this conference that
at recent dinner dance given by the
Press Club Of Chicago IN the Gold
Room of the Congress Hotel, hard
liquors were produced mixed and
drunk at the tables, number of people
both mon and women becoming in-
toxicated; and
Whereas. Such action ON the part
of the Press Club is contrary TO the
national ard state laws; therefore.
Be it resolved, That the Baptist
Minister'S conference in regular meet
ing on Monday morning, February
Is 1922, that we deplore this reckless
lawlessncss OH the part OF the Press
Club OF Chicago and express our
establishment that men who arc sup
posed to represent the newspapers of
the country and other forms OF publ
cation and publicity would give them
selves so openly to such lawlcssness.
Be it resolved. That we express our
surprise that the management of the
Congress Hotel would allow without
interference or rebuke on their part
so far as our investigators were able
to observe, this riotous drunken vio-
laton OF our state and national laws,
Be it further resolved, That VIC eX-
press our disappointment that the
Prohibition officials whose duty it is
TO take cognizancc of such events and
to watch functions of this kind we're
not there to stop this violation OF our
laws.
We arc informed that the Office OF
the Prohibition Commissioner was
notified in ample time and warned
that such disobedicnce of the law
would be part of the dinner-dance
given by the Press Club on the night
of Thursday, February g.
Resolved, That copies OF this reso-
luton be sent to the Press Club, the
management OF the Congress Hotel
and the office of the Prohibition Com
missioner OF the state of Illinois and
given TO the press for publication.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-09-13
tsrscial Nome ssrvsco.,

Benton Pitts Wood. who was
born In log cabin at Second ave-
nue. between Nineteenth and TWEEN
tieth streets, Moline. in 1872, died
yesterday in Cherokee, Iowa. where
he had resided since 1883.
News Of Mr.. Woods death was
received yesterday by = nephew. r
p. Wood. 614h Tventy-fifth street
Moline, who left for Cherokee last
night to attend the funeral.
Timothy and Rebecca Wood, par
ents Of Benton Pitts Wood, wers
among the pioneer settlers Of Mo-
line, and it was in one of the first
log cabins in Moline that Benton
Pitts was born, Sept. s, 1912.
He spent his early youth in this
vicinity, later attending the Albany
college at Albany, I'LL. In 1863, Mr..
Wood enlisted in the Second Iowa
infantry and was among those who
accompanied General Sherman in
his victorious march to the sea.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-09-13

A case without parallel q -
history ~ Scott o41y n ~ IA
. father and ooG; - essodn Dl
become American eifben1 Wes
brought before the federal natural
isattnu exaIhiuer III Doxedpott -
terday. The father Mas acce ted
but citisenship was denied tho SOM
August Peter Heinrich Niedor3, :
farmer living near Donahue, b the
father and Otto Ernest Niedof1.
age %. il the son. Both were botn
in Hamberg, Germany. Records
showed the son had claimed exemp-
ton from military service during
the late World war. The SON denied,
the charges but the draft papers
bearing his signature were pro-
duced. TEg
There are over 80 cases now
pending in the county similar to
the Niedorf case. The case OF
young Niedorf was dismissed with,
out prejudice which gives him the
right to take out first papers again
and apply for his second and final.
papers at the expiration Of a fixed
time. 44s
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-09-13

He served until the year 19es, vhsn
he retuTn0d % Moline and married
Miss Julia Whistler ii the old oc-
tagOnal brick homestead of his par
ents, then located on Twentieth
street and Third avenue.
Ono year later he and his brlde
removed to I farm In Henry coun-
", whore they resided until 1883.
when they settled on q farm ct
Cherokee, whore be made his home
until his death.
Mr.. Wood is survived by the
widow: two daughters, Mrs. Mabel
Brennan OF California, Mrs. Ruby
Soule of Cherokee; two sons, Ben
T. Wood Of Cherokee and Leo p.
Wood, who resides on . farm in
South Dakota; also II grandchil-
dren. three great grandchildren,
and one brother. Hiram P. Wood Of
Quincy. Ill. Three brothers pre-
ceded him in death.
Mr.. Wood was a first cousin OF
Beder Wood, we'll known Moline
resident. who died several years
ago.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-09-13

fnupletion q tho latest segment

] fouplstion u tho latest segment
I. ~ vest end storm drain sys-
~ 4 promised about Oct. is, by
~ ~: contractors. the Frazier Davis
/ s.siractton company, st. Louis.
~ mn hook up the drainage sys-
49, a Il the low lands Just south OF
sF-.,fih svenue from Seventh to
r~slfth streets territory with the
.vstern which, farther south, emp-
~ into one OF the Rock river
sloughs.
b.d ! So force Of men at work on
M lS-inch segment that is to
Srsin lands in that. region. The
srceter portion Of 1t extends along
Ninth street, where ponderous dig
I'M and conveying machinery was
necessary to aid in the work.
through much Of the way it was
necessary to blast but huge pieces
Il rock or layers Of it.
AT first II was expected that the
york would be finished by the last