TilK SiORNlMi OREGO.MAN, WEDNESDAY. MAY 24, 1923 BOOTLEGGERS GET mm. Authorities Hunt Robbers of Puget Sound Rum-Runners. CONVENTION FIXES PRICE law Declared to Have Recognized Property Rights in Liquor Possessed Illegally. ' This is the first of a series of three ar ticles dealing: with some recently developed phases of the liquor-running and retail bootlegging- Industry on Puget sound. In this region, by reason of its proximity to the "wet" province of British Columbia, there are unusual opportunities for ob servation. The other articles will follow. PUGET SOUND BUREAU, Seattle, Hay 23. Jokes about Mr. Volstead and his act are beginning to limp; they are not so funny as they used to seem to be. There was a time, under the dry law, when every whimsical reference to liquor was good for a laugh. Even in regions arid of their own choice before national prohibi tion, such as the states of Oregon and Washington, some humor could be extracted from variations on the general theme of "How dry I am" and more or less fanciful tales about how to get it or make it. Th element of surprise or novelty constitutes about 95 per cent of the gross content of humor. The novelty of existence under statutory prohi bition is now pretty well worn oft There is nothing screamingly funny about a bootlegger in these days, be cause bootleggers have become too common. Everybody has one, or can have one. No great hilarity can be provoked in discussion of home brew ing, since the experiences of each home brewer match those of count less others who continuously have a brew in readiness for or already in the bottles. And when a thing is too common or too stale to joke about it is losing much of its usefulness as a topic for more serious conversation Liquor Supply Close. Seattle, Tacoma, all the cities, towns and hamlets of Puget sound, have enjoyed a rare privilege in this matter of prohibition and still enjoy It, whether viewed from the angle of the strict prohibitionist or that of the man who feels that he must have his stimulating tipple. This is the privi lege, shown on every authentic map, of closest possible proximity to a major source of illicit booze supply. It is here, on Puget sound, that the strict prohibitionist, filled with faith in the law, finds his finest oppor tunity for close range observation of the actual processes of attempted en forcement. And it is here, In what Dr. Woods Hutchinson calls "this fa vored clime," that the man who wants a drink and has the price to pay for It can get it easily, at any time of the day or night, and in practically unlimited quantity. Retail Cost Reduced. Another advantage accrues to this region by reason of its closeness- to the Canadian boundary line and here is an argument that might be made of use by advocates of lower rates for shorter hauls everywhere. Con traband liquors can be and-is laid down in Puget sound cities at less cost in the operation of smuggling and less risk of loss to the runners than would be incurred in effort to carry it farther to the south and southeast. Consequently the retail price, which means by the short quart bottle, is less in these citiea This in turn means heavier sales; so that the bootlegging business finds basis in the sound merchandising principle of getting greater profits by increase of gross receipts. " Much of this ground has been cov ered before in news stories and edi torial discussions.. Such brief re statement as has been made seems de sirable as preliminary to consideration of some new phases of the situation. The fact is that liquor-running and bootlegging seem to be making some headway toward recognition as "reg ular" occupations; and not only as regular, but as possessed of legal rights and entitled to a degree of official sanction and protection. Law Protects Bootleggers. When a bootlegger can procure the arrest of another man on the charge of stealing some of his contraband liquor, he is accorded the same right that would be granted any honest citizen who had been robbed of his lawful property. According to charges made in court actions and undisputed newspaper accounts, this sort of thing has occurred in certain Puget sound cities. Several complaints have lately been made to prosecuting at torneys and the police by bootleggers who said they were robbed by other, end presumably lesser, bootleggers. In these cases there appears to have been no hesitancy about admitting the possession of contraband liquor and claiming its ownership. No ac tion was taken on this score; but jus tice has willingly reached out after the secondary offense, determined to pun lsh them, not for bootlegging in the second or third degree, but for rob friery or for burglary, if the frst fe-vPSsV Sense in buying assures dollars in saving If you would cut your clothes , bill bear in mind that quality alone means dollars' saved. Moreover, an uncompromis ing guarantee goes with every sale in my store, regardless of the amo.unt of purchase ; no sale is complete until you have received maximum service and satisfaction. SUITS for MEN 35 $40 '45 '50 BEN SELLING Morris o n at Fourth Portland's Leading Clothier for Over Half a Century bootlegger's premises had been in vaded to get the liquor. This shows' how far some bootleg gers have traveled along the road toward regularity and the establish ment of legitimate business privi leges and rights. When a bootlegger can get a warrant for the arrest of one who has robbed him of his liquor, there certainly should be some legal recourse for the hitherto chagrined, shamed and disappointed citizen who has paid bootleg prices for a case of cold tea or colored, water. Outlaws Feel Secure. All men are presumed to be equal before the law. The private tippler who has been bilked by a bootlegger has so far kept discreet silence for fear of getting himself into trouble. The bootlegger who has been robbed by another seems to be untroubled by any such fear. He goes to the authorities and demands that justice be done, seemingly secure in the righteousness of his own position in the matter. How much of this feeling of secur ity may be due to the general stabil ization and extension of the bootleg ging business on - Puget sound, it would be difficult to say. Probably it is an outgrowth of the bootleggers' convention in Seattle a few months ago. At that time, in the course of a three-day session in downtown hotels, a schedule of case-lot and single-bottle prices was agreed upon, proportioned to the cost of various brands of whisky on the Canadian side, plus transportation costs and a fair allowance for the risks. Retail trade areas were also blocked out; a general arrangement perfected to prevent too sharp competition, and a standard of probity and efficiency fixed for the retail canvasser among the bottle customers. Runners Robbed Frequently. Before that convention was held competition had been running riot. It extended to the frequent "knocking over" of a liquor-runner on his way across with a full load, by motor car or power boat. Many hundreds of cases of liquor forcibly changed hands by this knocking-over process. The runner with the load would be held up, sometimes by men representing themselves as officers of the law, but just as often by plain-speaking and straight-shooting highwaymen. In either case he would have to give up, and either go back for more or go out of business if the experience was costly enough to break him. ' ( . The bootleggers' convention must have adopted a code of professional ethics covering this contingency. There has been a noticeaable decline in knocking over. Occasionally real officers of the law insist on butting in; but not often enough, or at any rate not with enough success to af fect materially the constantly avail able supply this side of the line. Farther Steps Taken. The next step, bold as it may seem to the ordinary citizen, bootleg patron or not. Is right in line. Having by convention agreement minimized the chances of knocking over among the accredited members of their own asso ciation, the bootleggers now go straight to the halls of justive when any scoundrelly outsider tries to get away with their stuff. Peace officers of several Puget sound counties have lately been notified of such crimes that Is, of robberies and have been set on' the alert to capture the miscreants. BOY SHOT ACCIDENTALLY Hugh Wildgrnbe, 8, Hit by Bird shot While in Woods. KAXAMA, Wash., May 23. (Spe cial.) Hugh Wildgrube, 8, livnig with his parents south of town, was shot accidentally by some unidentified per son in the woods when he went after the cows Saturday. The charge, pre sumably, came from a shotgun, sev eral of the shot lodging in the face and neck and in one hand. The child was taken to Dr. Roach, who dressed the wounds. No trace of the one who did the shooting has been found. Now Playing to the Happiest, Most Satisfied Crowds in the His tory of the Liberty COWLITZ INDIANS MEET Tribal Association Holds Annual Election of Officers. CHEHALIS, Wash.. Mav 23. (Soe- cial.) The association of the Cowlitz tribe of Indians held their regular annual meeting in Chehalis yesterday, j The old officers were re-elected and routine business transacted. In 1909 the Cowlitz Indians got together at a big meeting held at Chehalis and or ganized the association. These Indians have a claim against the United States government that is being pressed by a Washington attor ney. It is their contention that their land was taken from them without the formality of a treaty, although a treaty was promised them, and that they are the only tribe of Indians with which the United States govern- j ment has never made a settlement of some kind. They now demand a set tlement on the basis of $6000 for each man. woman and child, of whom there are about 350 living. Cenlralla to Observe Memorial Day. CEXTRALIA, Wash- May 23. (Spe cial.) Centralla will observe Me morial day by decoration of veterans' graves, a luncheon for veterans of all wars, a parade and exercises in Main street park. Herman Allen of Che halis will deliver the address. An 'other feature win be unveiling a marble bench placed in the park as a memorial to George Washington, the city's founder, who donated the park site. Phone your want ads to The Ore gonian. Main 7070. Automatic E60-95. Orpheum matinee today, 15-25-50 Ad. Elusive, tender, dynamic, overwhelm ing, her drama knows no bounds but those of the human heartstrings. One artiste only could bring "Smilin' Through" majestically to the screen. You'll love her in it. M SATURDAY JACKIE COOGAN "Humoresque" was great and now sat isfied, patrons tell us that "The Good Provider" is even greater! There's a smile, a tear and genuine picture satis faction awaiting you at the "HOUSE OF ALWAYS-GOOD PICTURES." The comedy, "COLD FEET," is the sea son's best. KNOWLES' PICTURE PLAYERS Furs and Individual Style Shops Broadway at Morrison JUNE SALE of HAND-SEWN LINGERIE 600 garments all new hand-sewn and hand-embroidered. 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