The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-07-16
By ROY 4. HAYNES |. s. Prohibition Commissioner

The Illegal liqour interests, natur ally enough, have resorted to every strategy to secure appointments for their representatives on the prohibi- tion force. Their persistence has been equaled only by their ingenuity. | Their candidates have bombarded of ficials with futile recommendations; they have applied political pressure, and, in one reported instance, of fered a liberal reward to get one man on the force. Vigilant as the government has been, no doubt these interests have not been entirely un- successful.
 The intent of these interests, of course, is transparent A job on the prohibition force to their mind, is but a quick and easy road to ill-gotten riches; a bootlegger's representative in the inner circle could cooperate with his confedefates in their illicit undertakings with full knowl- edge of pitfalls which beset them. Among these interests the idea persists that any one employed by the prohibition unit can turn the spigot of illicit liquor on or off at will. As matter of fact, no one em- ploye could help them much under the system of checks and balances now in operation; but a few unfor- | tunate instances of dishonesty on the | part of prohibition employees have been so magnified and distorted that l the bootlegger regards even the hum | blest clerk in our offices as holding the power to divert liquor at any | time to unlawful purposes.
 Because of this belief, presumably | bribes have been offered fairly ire quently to prohibition workers. One of the state directors recently eSt- mated that within given month s time he could have accumulated at | least $1,00O,000 in bribes. This case might be termed higher than the average for temptation.
 After failing to get his represen- tative job on the force the boot | legger's next move is to feel his way among the personnel of the enforce ment force until he finds an employe who, in his judgment, will do busl- | ness," and then proceed to open bribery negotiations.
 l An IncautiOus Brfber.
 A middle western distiller. for in | stance, not long ago came to field worker with the suggestion that he | (the distiller) would pay handsomely | for the privilege of "robbing" his own warehouse undisturbed. He had many thousand cases of liquor on hand, he explained, and these ne 1 could dispose of only at comparative i ly small profit for non-beverage use If allowed to divert the liquor to | bootleggers, he naiVely pointed out, profits would be'so much greater that a handsome commission could be | paid on the business
 | Such close check had been kept on withdrawals from the distillery, how | ever, that the distiller had found it impossible to divert the liquor to | illicit channels. He had sounded the | officers at the distillery, but they either were "too honest" he said, or were afraid of being detected by in | Vestigators. What he wanted, there fore, was a "business understanding with some one in authority.
 We'll draw up a written contract" ," he suggested. Then there won't be any misunderstanding about what you do or what you get"
 The government agent to whom this suggestion was made pointed out that such a contract would not only be invalid. as it could not be enforced, but would be damaging evidence in case of detection. This point pleased the distiller greatly. He seemed to 1 regard it as reassuring proof that the | agent was a wise and careful worker | willing to take a chance only if the odds against him were not too great.
 The distiller insisted, however, on dealing directly with the state direc- tor. That official declined to meet the distiller, but delegated a con
 
 with him and secure needed evidence | if possible. In carrying on negotia tions the distiller came repeatedly to the directors office, always meeting, however, with the director rep resentative and not with the director l himself.
 His opening offer was bonus of $50,000 and a commission" of $10 a case on 5000 cases. After 5000 cases were withdrawn, he said, he
 
 again with the 'commission" ar rangement for the next 5000 cases.
 For every 3 900 cases" he pro- l posed. "there'l be a $50,000 bonus besides the commission of $10 a case
 The director disapproved the bonus offer. but instructed the agent to fol- low through on the proposal of $10 a case commission" However. the distiller still insisted upon seeing the director. He called repeatedly at the office, but the director refused to op~a personal negotiations. On one occasion the distiller called on Sat urday morning, and, exhibiting a S50,000 check, announced that he had come to tho end of the rope-that hours, or until the banks closed at noon, to decide whether to make $500 or not.
 Surprising the Tempter.
 The distiller waited till noon in an anteroom, and then went away de- jectedly. over Sunday he recovered from his depression and early the following Monday morning called the confidential worker on the tele- phone.
 I'm giving you one more chance" he said. "I want to see Blank X Co.'S file. I'll be around in 15 min utes and it will be worth $500 to you to show me the file"
 The distiller had become a daily nuisance by that time and it was decided to end the negotiations. With the directors approval the confidential worker obtained Blank X Co.'S file and took it to the dis tiller. who was waiting with another confidential agent, in a small room at the end of the hallway.
 Here you are,' said the agent throwing the file on the table
 Sure, sure" replied the distiller thrusting hand into his trousers pocket, and here you are"
 He handed the agent a roll Of bills The roll amounted to $500, or $200 less than the sum promised-a fairly ] typical illustration of the regard a briber has for his own word.