Evening star., 1940-03-09

sampling of liquor trade opinion
This attitude is based on tn
enforcement is the best inSuran,
substitution of q municipal liq
the National Capital.
A further effect would be
liquor excesses which inflame pu
Trade opinion also holds tn
to discourage unfair trade pract
of the trade which harms those
trying to abide by the laws and
regulations.
Rigid enforcement and q stiffening
of A. B. c. Board policies, backed
by the Board OF Commissioners,
would counterbalance the liberal
local law and give the public the
protection to which 1t Is entitled,
responsible licensees state.
Attitude of All Glasses.
I'VE can stand plenty of enforce
ment." dealers say This attitude Is
reflected by spokesmen for all classes
of licensees.
An outstanding impression gained
from experienced liquor men is the
feeling of resentment over the fall
ure of the A. B. c. Board to crack
down in time to avoid the present
uproar. Special feeling is shown
against the board for allowing
comparatively small group of licen-
Sees-intent on their own small in
terests-to bedevil the whole trade
without hindrance, either through
moral suasion" that could be ap-
piled or by suitable regulation that
certainly should be applied.
Range of opinion in the trade on
conditions here varies from the be-
lief that "the business Is being run
as close as it can be run" to the
feeling that they are the worst in
the country"
A former successful member of
the trade since repeal. who withdrew
to enter another field of business,
declares with some satisfaction: Il
told the boys I'd go with them to
the curb, but when they got into the
ditch, l would leave"
Package Store Threat Feared.
That the local liquor industry is
apprehensive over the threatened
substitution of municipally-o opera
ted system of package stores for
the present license system is evi-
denced by the activity of industry
organizations, both new and old.
Use of high-pressure tactics to
compel dissident wholesalers to join
the newly y-formed Alcoholic Bever-
age Council Ito foster the general
welfare of the alcoholic beverage
industry" provoked the intervention
of the Federal Alcohol Administra-
ton recently. 1t investigated the
setup for possible violation of
the Federal provision against a tied
house relationship A tied house
can exist in a distiller- wholesaler,
distiller-retailer or a wholesaler
retailer relationship.
The Federal survey disclosed that
certain wholesalers who have not
Joined the group nor contributed to
its support were called on the tele-
phone by large retailer-customers
who belong to the council, and
urged to join at fee of 500. The
Inference was left that failure to
do so would mean loss of their
patronage.
The question involved, officials ex-
planned, is whether, in establishing
such an organization, with the funds
contributed mainly by wholesalers,
the agency also to be joined by and
used for the benefit of the retailers.
a wholesaler-retailer relationship
obtains which is violative of the tied
house taboo. Although their inves-
tigation Is incomplete, the F. A. A.
view appears to be that the setup
is not illegal. Whether such actions
violate any other law is an open
question.
Activities Quickened.
The rumblings of a possible cave
IN of the local liquor system also
has quickened activities among the
retail liquor dealers.
Canvassing class A package goods
stores, licensees on February 10, 1910,
the president of the District of Co.
lumbia Retail Liquor Dealers Asso-
citation wrote:
I'm face of the adverse propa-
ganda and the articles which are
being printed in the newspapers at
the instigation of the dry forces who
are opposed to your continuance in
business, ="
Il seek your membership Gee,
$l2.50) to the District of Columbia
Retail Liquor Dealers Associat ton
because of the fact that organixat ton
today represents the only moving
force within the industry.
THE immediate present confront
ing the industry is anything other
than pleasant, and if we are to suc-
ceed in securing the respect which
Is needed to make this industry
everlasting, we must build a united
front based on principle and sound
thinking"
The main leadership of the liquor
dealers seeking to remedy existing
conditions so as to maintain the
status quo of the existing system ap-
pear to center about 4 large whole
sale distributor. It is this group
which organized the council, whose
headquarters are in the ONCE Of 4
local public relations counselor"
The organization circularized citi-
zens' associations on its letterhead
and circularized the dealers on the