New-York tribune., 1922-10-29
Hunting Blind Pigs
The Law Enforced. but the "Stuff"
Is in Demand

~ ln Demand
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: In criticism OF an article by
Joseph Pierce In the Tribune's maya.
zine section, which told Of Mr.. pierce's
experience with blind pigs in Vermont,
your correspondent Charles e. Mani
erre says;
"The hunting of blind pigs by the
thirsty may not be an tlevatina sport
but the very existence of these
vermin Is an evidence OF law enforce
ment; In fact, their onfy reason for
existence"
Mr.. Manierre 10 partly right. The
existence of these {blind pig) vermino
as he chooses tc call them is an syi-
dence Of law enforcement, but 1t is
also conclusive evidence chat there is
demand for the goods--as there has
always been and always Will bc--and
history shows that when the demand
cannot be supplied through lawful
channels, IL will be supplied by the
blind pig, the moonshins still and the
bootleggers. But what does II profit
state or nation 20 plug. up half
Inch spigot and permit three-inc
bunghole to remain wids opens Why
lock and bar the front door IL the
back door. has no lock, bar or bolt7
In another article in The Tribune
William Allen White says. among other
things:
Gradually prohibition has tight
ened its grip upon the land. Every
day the law stands on the statute
books is gain. The saloon created
appetites. The bootlegger merely
satisfies them. And every day the
saloon is out of business some Gus
toner Of the bootlegger either dies
OK swears off,"
While it may be true customers die
or swear off, 1t is also true that for
every one who dies or swears Off at
least one other takes his place. "There's
ncne so blind as they that won't nee ,,
and Mr.. White Is evidently no excep-
tion, or he would know that his own
beloved Kansas has a plentiful supply
OF moonshine stills, blind pigs and
bootleggers and that the varus OF a
Kansas farm is jocuIarly rased: By it's
estimated production In gallons 60 the
acre. instead of bushels. Mr.. White is
either crying "wolf' or else Ia not we'll
posted.
But the statements that shock me
most in Mr.. Whites article arc those
telling what the drys in Congress arc
going to do 60 us by way OF further
enforcement Of the Eighteenth Amend
ment- It is immaterial whether the
things proposed meet with popular
approval or othsrwissS what / wish Co
know is why shs Eighteenth Amend
mens Is singled out for 80 much en-
forcement when no effort whstaver ss
made to enforce the Fifteenth, or Seq
tlon 2 of the Fourteenth? have
asked the. question from New York TO
Texas and back again without answer.
VIII some dry enlightsn me7
Your editorial "in Fairness r, sThe
Digest" Was timely. While che result
of the "Digest'sa poll wns disappoint.
ing to the Anti-Saloon League, It was
also disappointing 20 me. expected
the wet vote TO have been rnus h larger
than It was and believe 1t would hsvs
bsen II the method Of taking is had
been different However, Ct was fairly
taken, and shows that nearly swo-thirds
Of those voting are opposed 10 the
"strict snforcemsnt Of the Esghteanth
Amendment and volsssad law" II 10
be made an issue and our citizens saven
chance 60 vote on it at the polls this
year. next year or any year. The vets
will octvots the drys two to one. The
drys will never give the people at large
chance to vote on amendment OF re-
peal SO long as they can help IL. but
some day. soms day, we will get the
chance and chen Mr. Msnierrs, William
Allen White. the Anti-SaIoon League
and others Of that ilk will discover L. at
minority cannot control ths majority
forever sn the q. 9. A.
OSCAR J. SMITH.
New York, Oct. 2s, 1929.