Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-11-01
IN cAHoor WITH CRIME

There has been mace PUBIC let
ter written by General Lincoln c.
Andrews to Chairman Fred B. Smith
Of the Citizens Committee of One
Thousands. It Is letter for which
there should have been no occasion,
though doubtless there really was
great occasion.
Copies of this letter have been
made and sent out to $4,000 manu-
featuring executives. the country
over. It should be productive Of
good Executives with brains
enough to manage big industries
must inevitably recognize the mex
cusable character of any encourage
ment, however indirect given to
bootleggers.
Speaking out Of acquaintance with
conditions General Andrews recog-
nizes the evil resulting from any
federation Of the use Of liquor at pub
lie entertainments; he knows that 1t
has in the past been somewhat of a
practice on the part of big sales
agencies to supply generous guam
titles of liquors by way of enter
tainment where their customers are
meeting together.
TT always struck me as unreason-
able" writes General Andrews, "cven
from the economic point of view, be-
cause In the end the purchaser pays
for the costs of craftsmanship. But
let US look at 1t from the Prohibition
point of view. 1t is generally ac-
cepted that big business favors the
Prohibition Law and its enforce
forcement-so far as industrial labor
Is concerned. Certainly in the
railroading world and in many other
businesses as well, management dis
approves drinking on the part of
employees.
Now, let us look at the picture.
Big Manufacturing business, through
allowing or rather fostering these
expense accounts for large quantities
of entertainment liquor is making a
considerable part of the market for
liquor, which in turn brings into ex-
istence and supports the organized
liquor traffic which furnishes the
liquor. How inconsistent on the
part of these big businesses who
claim they want the law enforced.
Again the employees of the railroads,
etc, are pretty generally aware of
these convivial practices at conven-
tions, etc, and what an unfortunate
example to these employees that
their management personnel are thus
taking these occasions for drinking
parties!!!
my sole intrest in this is the
elimination of just that much mar
l. ~ lyr,%
which is ready to pay any price and
is thus sure to have it's demand
supplied. My thought is that If this
picture can be properly presented to
big businesses throughout the coun-
try, they will readily enough agree
to cut out this practice. They have
only to take the stand that no lex
pense money" used for the purchase
of liquor will ever be authorized.
We assume business men will
readily respond to this appeal to
their sense Of fairness and decency.
All legitimate business profits from
enforcement of the prohibitory law
and managers Of that business
should be the last Of all to encour-
age defiance of the law.
Does anyone for a single moment
believe that the bootleggers would
be as defiant as they are II their
patronage were restricted to those
commonly accepted as the lawless
Can we not see that II we, who pro-
fess to be decent law-abiding citi-
xens, patronize the bootleggers we
make of him the go-between having
rotations with those belonging with
the constructive forces of society
and those who are the destructive
forces? On the one-hand he must
deal with gunner. murderers. snug
glers. perverts and others who prey
upon society that with their aid he
may bring to the protested law
abider sitting in high places. assum-
ing distinction for grace and good
citizenship, the wherewithal for
gratifying his taste for booze.
Once we despised those who were
In cahoot with criminals: are we
now to look upon them with ap-
prevail? II so. good bye to law and
order.
Not alone the holders Of the COM
mon stock of the M c. R r should