The New York herald., 1922-12-13
ELECTION
HINGES ON LIQUOR
PrOyincials Face Price Sit
uation of Vital In
terest.
PUBLIC WANTS SHARE
Tremendous Profits Made
by Government Cause of
Much Envy.
NATIVES DRINK BEER
BootIeggers Pay for Whisky
That Canadians Cannot
Afford.
NATIVES DRINK BEER

Special Dispatch to THE NEw YORK HERALD.
MONTREAL, Dec. 12.-The provincial
Government of Quebec is facing an
election on the liquor question and
the outcome of the contest will give
as much. concern to some folks in New
York as to the Canadians. The real
issue to be decided will be the price
of whisky sold by the Government
through the crowns commission. This
}liquo1 offers the main source of sup
ply for the American bootlegger.
Administration of the liquor law Is
being challenged through the province
and it is understood the Government,
of which Premier Taschereau Is the
head, has decided to risk an early
election. The officials evidently be-
lieve it would be wiser to have the
wait for further growth OF the op-
position.
Quebec, under the crowns charter
grants, has absolute autonomy in decid-
inS it's liquor and all other sumptuary
| laws All the other provinces and the
whole British Government combined can
not vote Quebec dry If Quebec itself
votes wet. There Is no question about
the province staying wet. What the
opposition wants Is to make 1t little
wetter, not dryer. and, further. that the
public be permitted to share the golden
harvest OF the American bootlegger's
dollars.
While the issue will not be framed
quite so badly and boldly, the fact
is that the election will be to determine
whether the Government Is to keep the
tremendous profits pouring into the
province through the Illicit whisky
trade with the States. or return to COM
mercial sales unuer Government super
vision so that the public may get into
the business and make money.
The Government 5 making millions
annually out of the trade. The Jaw
makes the Government the recognized
distributor and salesman Of all liquors.
The business Is carried on through CONF
missions which regulate the importation,
sales. prices and other details. All kinds
OF distilled liquors. brews' and wines from
England, Scotland, Ireland and France
are handled through the commission's s
beer and wine. but restricts the distri-
button of whisky to zone bottle at a
time" Ii Is possible to go into the store
many times, so that in reality this sup
ply Is unlimited.
Under the original law sales were con-
Quoted by the public. with Government
supervision. An agent was stationed IN
each liquor store. Irregularities were
charged Whisky was cheaper and there
was more drunkenness. The Govern
inent now has its own officials in charge
OF each OF the commissions stores.
Quebec Very Prosperous.
Quebec has been shooting ahead of
the other provinces. which have been
watching this new prosperity with
ehVious eyes. There are reports that wet
sentiment Is spreading and that some of
thc other provinces may swing back
officials in charge of the liquor admin
istration are getting big salaries. The
province is building more and better
roads ard other improvements than the
others. II Is reaching u state of afflu-
ance never dreamed of.
Opposition to tho Government charges
that the commission In its eagerness IN
make money is getting too much for
whisky. The price at thes stores has
been from s3.75 to $500 Tor rye and
scotch. In order TO get that much from
the American bootlegger IL is necessary
10 charge the Canadian the same price
and the latter. with his average wage
OF w to $3.50 day. cannot afford TO
pay II.
AS a result. the local consumption of
whisky and brandy has been reduced
10 minimum. while the sale to the
oootlegger for the State trade has
hfor
drinks ale and wine. which he can get
without restriction. But he does moi like
the idea of having all the whisky pass
him and be unable to touch it because
of the high prices, which are made nec-
essary only because OF the official de-
sire to swell the public treasury.
Complaint is made also that the dis
tillers are making too much. There are
underlined and unconfirmed reports.
heard quite often. that certain officials
have great opportunity for private
trafficking in enormous amounts Of
liquor and the opposition is continually
inquirlng how the imports and sales
compare. F
Sore ON Government.
The liquor dealer who has been shut
out Of the legitimate business. and who
mas Oeen compelled to turn bootlegger
or go to work. is one OF the chief agi-
tators for return to the system which
viii permit him to sell instead OF the
Government. lie contends that the
change would mean cheaper whisky. IL
there were n change in the law the Gov
ernment would still retain strict super
vision
There Is also a growing moral resent
ment among some classes against having
their Government engaged In liquor
trafilcking. IL Is known that large
part OF the whisky put out by the COM
missions stores is going TO the boot
logger TO he smugsIed across the New
York border in violation Of the Amcrl-
can law. There are those who insist
tho profits big as they are. do not com.
pcnsate Tor the reaction OF this Illicit
trade on the public.
Boys between the ages OF IL and "a
have been drawn by the hundreds into
the liquor trade drawn by the lure OF
quick and easy money. Young men have
given UP their positions In stores. fac
tories banks and offices to help the
Canadian jobber In the daily task OF
procuring his cargo Of whisky for trans
portation 10 the border: to drive a