The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-06-12
SEAL
ON BRAND
DEALERS
Sell
Members Said to Fight Poison
Liquor Of Unscrupulous
Vendors.

Bootleggers, that is those who
handle only tested" liquors.
have formed an association. The
organization was born in Balti-
more and has a membership scat
tered through all of the larger
cities of the East. It has been
in existence for more than two
months. Business is conducted
through it with the same regu-
larity as marks the transactions
of legitimate trading organiza-
lions. Among other things 1t has
adopted q purity" seal, which is
affixed to all products guaranteed
by it to be free from poisonous
chemicals.
Chemists Are Employed.
Several prominent chemists, among
them men known in scientific circles
in the Capital, are employed by the
association to test its liquor and
issue statements. signed by them,
indicating the proof, age and other
characteristics. Synthetic liquor 10
so stamped. Distilled spirits are
properly indicated, the proof being
shown.
Prohibition agents. it is under
stood, have been aware Of the activi-s
| ties of the association for several
weeks, but so far have found them
selves helpless to cope with it.
According to information obtained
Sos. l;S,I1 - fan-
ton stands ready to expose and
found to be dealing in poison liquor.
Several mysterious tips received by
enforcement agents recently are
known to have originated in AS
ISOLATION circles and to have been
given the officials through associa-
ton channels. In one instance, it
is said, the information resulted In
the arrest of a bootlegger found to
be using distilled denatured alcohol
in the belief that he could in this
way expell the poisonous agent
employed in making it unfit tor
beverage purposes. When 1t was
proved to him that such agencies
went over with the spirits without
changing their character he in
formed the enforcement officers Of
Has Blue Oval Seal.
The association seal is blue. It
is oval in shape and shows q Ro-
man head beneath which appears
Purity guaranteed by chemical
test" Below appears 2 cabalistic
inscription, IA TT. s.. A.. with
the spirit proof of the contents
written in red ink across the. seal.
When member of the associa-
ton has an order for a certain
brand of liquor not available in his
stock or that of other local men,
bers of the association, the name
of the purchaser is forwarded to
association headquarters, said to be
in Baltimore. From there 1t is
sent to the nearest member OF the
association having the desired stock
who fills the order direct, advising
the sales agent OF the shipment,
who in turn is on hand when the
liquor arrives to make collections.
According to information OBJ
tanned here the association has five
members in Washington. They are
said to have almost secured a.
monopoly on the first-class trade
and to be conducting their business
in a way which makes it extremely
difficult for enforcement agents to
secure evidence against them or
their patrons.
Recently it became known that
some gh-grade Hennessey Three
Star Cognac, besides a superior
quality of Holland gin and very
fine grade of rye whiskey, was
being supplied Washington consum-
ers. Efforts made to identity it by
chemical analysis with the spurious
liquors sold under fake labels and
camouflaged in packing to dupli-
cate the genuine products failed.
Enforcement agents were forced to
admit that a new supply line had
been established, which was being
operated systematically along lines
of distribution with which past ex-
periences left them unfamiliar.
Supplies Customers.
The association. it is understood.
supplies liquor only to customers
who come recommended by other
customers it Is known are de-
pendable and who can afford to
buy and pay cash for their supplies. ,
According to those in position to
know enforcement agents are con.
WINGED that the bulk of the busi-
ness is being done by men and
women who are in sympathy with
the association. and who are acting
as it's agents without profit or COM
pensation other than accrues
through presents Of liquors made
them by the distributors.
From what has been learned the
association members deal only In
real liquor. which means they
handle no inferior synthetic prod.
ucts sold by ordinary bootleggerss