New Britain herald., 1922-06-29
SAYS WASHINGTON
 WAS LIQUOR USER
First President Accused Of Viola
 ting Laws and Owning Slaves

Washington, June 2s-That George Washington was guilty of a "clear violation" not only of the Volstead act but also of the Wills-Campoell antl- beer law was the solemn declaration made in the Senate by Senator Wat son of Georgia. The Georgian sald that not only did Washington violate the law at home but that even went
 so far as to exchange "a negro named
 Tom for a hogshead of West Indian
 frewater." ..
 It was the bonus that brought the
 Father of His Country into the wet
 and dry controversy Senator Borah
 last week challenged a statement made
 hv Senator Watson that Washington
 not only had been in favor Of bonus but had accepted one himself, senator Borah read from Hamilton's papers and Wsshington's own letters to prove that Washington refused to receive remuneration of any kind for his serv- ices in the Revolution. Senator Wat
 son said that this was true and sald
 he had referred to Washingtons serV-
 ice in the Indian wars, when he not
 only received a cash bonus but also a land grant. Why" said Senator Watson, T was surprised to hear read in the Senate a few days ago statement that Washington did not own slaves. If any one has doubts as to whether or not Washington owned slaves. let him read page 190 of volume II. of The Writings of George Washington where he tells of the purchase Of lands and of negr oes to work them v Having read that page let the doubting Thomas turn to page 211 of volume I. of The Writings of Wash ington.' On that page he will find a letter written from Mount Vernon un- der date of July 2, 1766. In the course of that letter, which was ad- dressed to Captain John Thompson Sailing master) George Washington said:
 "'With this letter comes negro. Tom, which I beg the favor of you to sell in any of the islands you may go | to for whatever he will fetch and bring me in return for him one hogs head of best molasses, one hogshead of best rum, one barrel of lines, if
 good and cheap; one pot Of tan1a- | rinds, two small pots of mixed sweet
 meats, and residue much or little, in | good old spirits Now that was a clear violation of 1 the Volstead law and also of the 1 Willis Campbell Anti Beer law" Sena- tor Watson commented.
 | T always thought" interrupted Senator Stanley, that George Wash 1 ington had his own still-house and | made his own liquor-in other words, i home brew"
 1 T am not prepared to say" replied | the Senator from Georgia, whether | that is correct, but in the biographies 1 it is said that the first thing he did or
 arising in the morning was to take a
 drink of rum, and at his dinner he
 had small cider or beer, finishing ur
 with two glasses of Madeira wine" l DO you think that is one of the ! reasons he never told a lie?" Senator 1 Stanley asked "Yes, unquestionably that is one of
 the reasons" Senator Watson answer | ed.
 Il WOn0er, COntinueu Sehdeoi W dt-
 son, If the father of our country ever
 anticipated that the time would come
 when we would have the VolsteAd
 act ?"
 "The world' remarked Senator
 Myers. progresses, and both shaver,
 and rum have been abolished in thi: country"
 T wish that I corld believe it," re- piled Senator Watson.