The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-07-17
By c. A. RANDALL

I0NE-THIRD or more Of the pas
4 sengers who travel on the Con
~ gressional Limited, the best
known train running between Wash
ington and New York, patronize boot
leggers.
Thirty-six people on the train
which left Washington on the after
noon of June 10 informed the writer
they regularly bought liquor in viola
ton OF the law
According to Conductor H. G. Du
vail. the Congressional Limited on
that day carried a total Of 129 passen-
gers. OF these about ninety went
from Washington to New York, while
the others got on or of the train
either at Baltimore or Philadelphia.
The QUESTIONABLE, which was given
to all passengers who boarded the
train at Washington, and to some
who boarded at Baltimore, had as the
first question:
do you favor the Volstead act as
at present written?"
The vote was: Yes, Is; No, 70.
OF the seventy-nine who voted
NO" slightly over one-half, or Al,
favored the Eighteenth Amendment.
but desired a less rigid enforcement
act permitting light wines and beer.
Repeal Of both the Eighteenth
Amendment and the Volstead act was
favored by thirty eight.
do you patronize a bootlegger?"
was the next question.
Half Confess
Sixty persons made a direct an
swer. OF these. thirty-six frankly de-
clared they bought whisky and other
liquor Illegally.
The question How does your pres
ent liquor bill compare with what you
spent before prohibition?" brought a
variety OF answers
Some said their bills had dropped to
zero-that they had made no pur-
chases since January 1920. Others
said they were now spending ten
times as much as formerly. OF the
thirty who answered the question,
nineteen said they were now spending
more. the increase running from
Slightly more" to ten times" Seven
answered they were spending about
the same amount" and four found
their bills had decreased.
How did you establish contact with
your bootlegger?" was the next ques-
ton. Among the answers were the
following:
He sent me letters and circulars -
II am approached by strangers and
acquaintance bootlegging every day.
Get it from a friend. I am third
party in deal
Through the policeman who, pa
trolls my home neighborhood.'
Through my banker"
He calls for orders and delivers. -
LAS a result Of constant solicita-
ton"
Bellboys Are Mediums
II am a travelling man. Always
got it through bellboys or hotel por.
ters Have never yet failed to get It,
but once had to make three attempts
in one hotel in the West before
got It,"
Under Remarks" both the vets and
the drys went to bat. Among the
comments were II never drank before
the eighteenth amendment was
passed"
II believe we should have some
sort Of prohibition law. Possibly a
less rigid law which should be uni
formly enforced"
Prohibition does not exist but
graft and disregard for the law do. y
Prohibition in time will prove one
Of the greatest blessings the world
has ever known.
Repeal the law and put the sale
Of all liquor under direct Government
control with heavy tax-some Cana
dian provinces offer good examples. y
OF the ninety-f1ve persons who an
swered the QUESTIONABLE, seventeen
were women OF the seventeen. only
one favored the Volstead act and SINH
larry only one favored repeal Of the
Eighteenth Amendment. Eighteen ia
vored light wines and beer.
The answers were all returned In
scaled envelopes, and were without
means Of Identification.
The passengers on this train do
not represent a true cross-section OF
the people of America, but they dc
reflect the opinion of great numbers
of well-to-do city jewellers.