The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1925-01-13
SOUTH SEEMS HOME OF
ILLEGAL WH|SKEY STILL
THREE-FOURTHS OF SEIZURES
BY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
ARE IN THE SOUTHLAND.
THE "WETS" GET SARCASTIC
Georgia Second III Number of Stills
Captured. Total of Liquor Seized
Last Year l5,s27OoO Gallons, and
1888 Stills Were Taken.


The statistics of the federal prohi-
bition bureau for the fiscal years end
ing June 80, last show a great deal
larger number of seizures of distilling
apparatus in the south than in all the
rest OF the country, writes K Foster
Murray, the well-known Washington
newspaper correspondent.
OF course, this proves nothing as
to the pros and cons of prohibition on
its merits but it affords opportunity
for no end of sarcastic comment from
such active foes OF prohibition and
j Volsteadism as Congressman Gallivan,
of Massachusetts,, and Congressman
John Phillip Hill, of Maryland. The
comments from these sources, of
course, is along the line that the great
est activity in the illicit manufacture
of Intoxicating liquor is apparently
being found in section of the coun-
try which was supposedly dry by
its own state laws before the country
as whole adopted prohibition, and
which helped materially in voting pro-
hibition upon such portions of the
country as were not inclined to have it.
An Interesting Exhibit
In the whole country during the
past fiscal year federal prohibition. Of
fcers reported the seizure of 1882
distilleries, 1888 stills, 8,21l still
worms and 124,720 fermenters; or a
grand total of a little over 10000.
OF these no less than 122,500 we're
taken in the eight southern states of
Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky,
North Carolina, Tennessee and Wir-
gina. In other words, II per cent of
all the illegal distilling apparatus seiz-
ed by the federal prohibition officers
during the past fiscal year came from
these eight states, while only % per
cent came from the other 40 states.
As to the quantity Of intoxicants
seized the percentage is impressively
4 heavy in the south in comparison with
the rest of the country, but not so
overwhelming The Gallivans and Hills
would suggest that the difference is
explained by the quantity OF southern
liquor which finds its way into the
other parts OF the land However, that
may be, the total OF liquors seized by
the federal officers in the country in
the past fiscal year was about 1897,
1000 gallons, OF which about 761l ,000
gallons were taken in the eight south
ern states named in the preceding par
agraph. These figures, in connection
with those of apparatus captured,
would indicate one thing or the other
! 1 4. xba
nomenally large proportion OF the
country's illicit liquor is manufactured
in the southern states named, or the
federal prohibition officers are much
more active in the south than they
are in other parts OF the nation.
Coming down to the individual
North Carolina Leads.
states, the statistics give North Caro-
! lima the doubtful distinction of having
furnished the largest number Of cap
tured intoxicant manufacturing devices
during the year-that is, 22,605-t
! by the prohibition directors forces
and several thousand more by the
general prohibition agents. Georgia
came next with 10000 by the direc-
tors forces and several thousand more
I by the general agents. Tennessee had
! 16,500 captures locally with two or
three thousand in addition by the
! general agents Virginia came next
with $500 locally and two or three
thousand in addition by general
agents Alabama was close to Virginia
with South Carolina and Florida
bringing up the rear with 'goodly"
procession.
Georgia doomed up first in the
quantity Of illicit liquors seized in the
fiscal year, showing $4,000 gallons
taken by the state directors forces
and big share OF the $4,000 gallons
taken in Georgia and South Carolina
by general agents North Carolina
was second among the southern states
named with over 100000 gallons.
Tennessee had nearly as much, with
over 100000. Virginia had nearly
100000 gallons seized; Tennessee,
Alabama and Kentucky each nearly
6000 600; South Carolina and Florida
each probably under 100000.
! In the whole state of New York
fewer than 1900 devices for making
liquors were seized during the year,
and total of about 100000 gallons
OF liquor New York, as is we'll known,
does not cooperate as state with
the federal prohibition enforcement
officers. Missouri, a state which has
been famous for liquor production,
showed under 500 instances OF appara-
tus seized in the year. but 255 OF these
were distilleries, and the quantity of
liquor taken in Missouri in the same
period reached the enormous total OF
600 400 gallons MARYLAND furnished
only about 203 instances of seized APP
paratus, but did wonderfully well'
for her diminutive size by supplying
nearly 100000 gallons of seized liq-
uors Little New Jersey showed even
greater gailonage. In these states gem
orally, however, the figures are small
as compared with those OF the states
mentioned. Question: Are the figures
a fair criterion? Is Michigan so much
dryer than Alabama, for example,