Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1922-09-14
SERIES OF CONFERENCES


Federal Prohibition Director Ed
mund Budnitz states that Commission
er Haynes has instituted a series Of
conferences of directors and other en-
forcement officials in various sections
of the country to discuss numerous
problems and map out plans for solu-
ton, and conference will soon be held
in this state. Several such confer
ences have already been held and mat
tiers Of vital concern to the public have
been considered.
Among the problems on which ae-
ton will be taken is that of rubbing
compounds which through bootleg
channels have caused many deaths.
Analyses of several hundred gallons
of seized products revealed quantities
of concentrated I've, an excessive
amount of which remained in the COM
pound even after Redistribution. Con-
spiracy sections of the Volstead Act
will be evoked against cereal beverage
manufacturers who inject such rub
bling compounds into so-called NEAR
| beer.
Recent conferences have resulted in
recommendations that retail sales Of
Jamaica ginger be limited to one fluid
ounce, and exposure of an alleged
German fake preparation reputed to
produce wine, champagne and BRAN
dy, also the successful suppression of
fraud to hoodwink the public with
so-called canadian rye.
Directors have been instructed to ed
ucate agents along the lines of man.
ufacture and transportation of indus
trial or denatured alcohol. The men
will be taught the difference in vari-
cites of alcohol and it is believed that
violations of this nature will be great
ly lessened.
A signal victory for enforcement
| was the recent announcement by a
leading vaudeville circuit that per-
formers would not be allowed to make
humorous reference to the 18th amend
ment. Commissioner Haynes is elat-
ed that within so short space of
time such splendid compliance with a
request made by him upon assuming
his duties little over year ago has
been secured, and that editorial and
news writer's, cartoomsts, reporters,
and performers are lending every aid
to- law enforcement, thus sounding
the prohibition joke death knell.
Over 10000 convictions for violation
of the 18th amendment have been OBJ
tanned in federal courts throughout the
country during the past year, showing
that courts and juries are displaying
an improved attitude.
In the opinion of Commissioner
Haynes the most effective weapon in
the hands of enforcement officials is
the paddock" provision, which pro-
vides that a place may be closed as a
nuisance. This provision is being en-
forced throughout the country, some
of the most notorious resorts being
affected by its operation.
Conferences will discuss the propos-
al made by certain directors that Ber-
tillion records be kept of every cap
tured bootlegger and moonshiner In
order that prompt and accurate iden-
LITIGATION may be made of persons who
violate the prohibition laws, as well as
other criminals. The records would
be sent to police departments all over
the country and, it is believed, would
aid materially in suppressing boot
leggers' activities.
Unspeakable conditions surround
the manufacture of bootleg whiskey,
according to daily reports being re
ceived by Commissioner Haynes con-
corning the unsanitary locations OF
stills, and vermin, maggots and dead
animals of all kinds which have been
discovered in watts of mash. In many
instances concentrated I've is used to
hasten fermentation, as many as 200
empty lye cans being found in one
place, which gives one an idea Of the
amount of this stuff used and the ex-
tremely poisonous mixture which re-
suits.
Perhaps the most revolving method
employed by violators which has yet
come to the notice of enforcement au-
thorities is that by which cadaver watts
containing bodies used by university
students for dissection work are being
drained of alcohol for bootleg pur-
poses. Although the stuff is redistill-
ed before being distributed, wool
alcohol poisoning remains, according
to analyses of some of the seized pro-
ducts.