The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1943-11-11
Capitol Week; State Liquor
Consumers Getting Break"

HELENA While the rest of the
nation is struggling along on a lit
tie more than half its normal con-
sumption Of liquor, Montana imbib-
erS-who statistics say like it more
than in any other state-are giving
up only every fifth drink.
The state liquor conuroI BOARD re-
ported this week that August con-
sumption in the Treasure state had
dropped only 21.2 percent from the
same month in 1912, while the aver
age decrease in % other states was
1871 percent. Only Texas boasts of
better-stocked liquor shelves, having
slumped only 9y5 percent in sales
from a year ago.
Citing a comparative list of liquor
consumption in % states released by
the Distilled Spirits Institute in
Washington, d. c., the liquor board
treasured its los 900 customers that
the whiskey situation isn't so bad
after all. Nebraska, for instance, has
practically run dry, with consump-
ton off nearly rs percent from last
year. And Alabama citizens have
been forced on the wagon 70 per-
cent, according to the figures.
open States" Suffer
I'VE have before predicted that
some of these open states which sold
lavishly in the early months Of 1912
would soon be behind Montana and
this prediction is coming true" the
board said through Administrator T.
H. Macdonald. Macdonald said his
information lis that more than 1000
retail liquor. dealers have had to go
out of business in California by rea-
son of a shortage of liquor. while
none such have have been reported
in Montana"
Last June, Montana's miners,
ranchers and lumbermen were forced
on a strict diet of exhilirating
liquids when the board announced
a critical liquor shortage had forced
the state to ration to each permit
holder only one pint per week OF
whiskey, brandy, gin or rum. Bars
also were cut.
Since then, Montana, which in
pre- war days ranked first in the
nation in per capita consumption of
liquor, has hardly felt the shortage
of liquor which in other states is
threatening to produce bootlegging,
black marketing and other evils OF
prohibition.
EAtTd LOT 1ulettQe
The board also tossed a little
early Christmas cheer to its custo-
mers by announcing it planned to
double the regular liquor allotment
to individual buyers during the
Christmas season.
Meanwhile, an opinion on the
rights of the board as to revoking
the license of a person whose en-
ploye sells liquor to minors or other
vase violates the liquor laws was be-
ing awaited from the office of Atty.
Gen. r. V. Bottomly.
Disposition of II cases pending in
the state depends IN the status of
the boards power in this respect,
according to Fred j. Ward of White
Sulphus Springs, board chairman.
Ward has requested the attorney
general to interpret the laws SO the
board may act as soon as possible
the pending actions. The specific
case before Bottomly was the con-
viction of a bartender at Wolf Point
for selling beer to a minor. The law,
Ward pointed out, apparently is not
clear on whether conviction by the
board ear revoke the license of the
licensed operator of the place.
Will Revoke Licenses
Ward said that should Bottomly
hold that the board is empowered
to revoke the license, he will imme-
.iately call a special meeting of the
board to start proceedings for the
revocation of licenses in the IL
cases. The chairman indicated that
if Bottomly finds that in these cir