Montana labor news., 1944-02-24
Page 5

adopted a ~rationing system to give every
one equal treatment, and Immediately
and without any legal sanction violated
it by making a deal with certain distil-
lery Interests to favor a comparatively
small group of retail dealers. The excuse
was that the board could not find the
liquor which these retailers found-a
confession of Incompetence. This was
all aired before the state Supreme Court,
which in an opinion sustained the deal
while admitting it vas of questionable
legality. A dissenting opinion OF Justices
Hugh Adair and Left Erickson annihi-
lated the majority opinion.
This deal was soon followed by a pro-
posed deal by the liquor board and adj
ministrator to buy a distillery and a
large quantity of liquor. This proposal
to go into the distillery business was just
a little too raw for the Governor, sup
posedly a dry, and the entire board re-
signed. The administrator is still on the
job and another board has been ap-
pointed.
These two rotten deals had not cooled
off, when it began TO be noised about
that truckloads of liquor were being de-
ivered and stored in the First National
Bank building in Helena. The natural
question is why should liquor in such
wholesale quantities be stored in this
bank building, when the state has in
Helena its large liquor warehouse, which
must be nearly empty. The state liquor
board is the only legal wholesale selling
agency and it is due an explanation to
the people on what authority it is selling
such large quantities to this bank, when
there is such a shortage of liquor. Come
out with your explanation, Governor,
administrator and state liquor board. It
does not have a very pleasing odor. Is
it to let this bank corner the liquor mar
ket?
BY legislative enactment monopoly
control of liquor by the state was estab-
lished, and this system has worked most
satisfactorily in various countries where
it has been administered honestly and
impartially. BY this system the state
ANtkto a faoN AkfEAAuL. lit EOlu duillll-
istration has made much capital of the
profits it has made out of the liquor
business. When we consider the fact
that it took over a vast quantity of liquor
which had been bought and paid for by
the former administration, and this has
all been sold n nothing but empty
shelves remain, is it any wonder that
large revenues have been produced? Fur
thermore, liquor stores which are not
making profits are being closed, regard
less Of the inconvenience caused the
public.
Also. the state administration might
explain why it is that there is none Of
the high grade liquor in the state liquor
stores, but only new and unknown
brands, while retailers have prominently
displayed high-grade liquor for sale. Is
the purpose to force purchasers to have
to go to the retailers and pay the higher
prices?
Another rather smelly -occurance.
which evidently has some relation to the
liquor situation, took place in Helena
during the last week of the year, when
a delegation of prominent citizens head
ed by the president Of the First National
bank called upon the county attorney
and urged him to dismiss an abatement
proceedings against a bar and cafe based
upon an allegation that gambling was
being carried on in the establishment.
This action seems to have some connec-
ton with the liquor storage activities of
the First National bank from the fact
that two members of the delegation we're
officials of the bank.
The liquor situation is not being
handled in a way that is fair and i'm
partial to all retailers or to the public.
It is rotten, rotten, rotten, and it is up
to the Governor, the administrator and
the liquor board to do some explaining
to the public.
We acknowledge our Indebtedness to
The Peoples Voice for some of the ideas
and facts set forth herein.