The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1933-06-27
NEWSPAPERS OPINIONS
HOW REPEAL WOULD AFFECT DRY STATES


Those who would substitute state option for pro-
hbiton evidently fail to realize the vast difference
in smuggling efficiency between then and now, and
the comparative east with which small area can
be flooded with illicit booze. In the old days it re-
uuired hazardous and costly week for the wagon
load of liquor to reach the center of the dry state
The booze-laden truck can reach it in few
hours After passage of the Webb-Kenyon Act, the
railroads would not knowingly accept Illicit ship
ments and their stations in dry states were closely
watched The smugglers own their own trans
portation systems, which gives them maximum Sc
crecy, speed, control and almost unlimited range
of movement. =.
Are the dry states prepared to maintain a costly
and ineffective patrol, day and night, around their
respective borders covering all thoroughfares and
obscure trails, to search all incoming autos, rip
open bales of hay, cotton and rags, any bundle in
which liquor might be concealed against the indig-
nant protest of an outraged public Only by such
means could the patrol be effective
Under state option with extensive smuggling by
auto screened by a vast interstate traffic, border
patrol would be even essential for dry state
than it is for the federal government. If foed
at the surface, the rum-runnerS would take to the
air. -.
Enforcement would be more burdensome and in
effective for the state than for the nation because
in the old days smuggling was too sporadic and
poorly equipped to make it worthwhile for the
liquor interests to encourage and back it. 1t is
now highly organized and up to date. With the
18th amendment repealed, the liquor interests
would doubtless become the greatest of trusts. .
In its efforts to enlarge its markets it would doubt
less spend large sums in propaganda, buying con-
trolling interests in hostile newspapers and conniv-
ing with smugglers to Systematically break down
enforcement in dry states.
Under state option, the cost of enforcement for
the average dry state would doubtless be prohibi-
tory. The state boundary is longer in proportion
to its population than is the national boundary, and
this is especially true of many dry states. -.
Repeal the 18th amendment, and what happens ?
Whether the state remains dry on paper or not, it
becomes actually wet. However bad the evil be-
comes, it has lost the power to handle it, If it tries
to limit consumption by high taxes, a dispensary
system with high prices and rigid restrictions it is
on the toes of the liquor interests which could and
doubtless would, cause it to be flooded with illicit
booze. -.
If liquor is struggled over the state line at the
same rate per thousand miles of boundary that it is
struggled the national line, its quantity per
capita will be far larger for the state than for the
nation. For each thousand miles of boundary of
the United States proper (that is the line bound
ing the 48 states) there are more than 100000
inhabitants, but for each thousand miles of state
boundary there is average of less than $780,
poo. At the same smuggling rate, this would make
per capita of than four for the state to one
for the nation.--H. G. Tyson, in the Christian
| Statesman.