Notes
This telegram from the city archives is part of a much bigger story. The move to ban intoxicating liquors had been growing for some time in the west. Prohibition advocates seized upon wartime patriotism to advance their cause. The city archives include a four page document from the "National Dry Federation" asking cities to advocate prohibition because of the resources consumed producing liquor and beer. The city council authorized the mayor to accede to the request. He sent a telegram to Senator McNary in DC. This is the Senator's response.
This measure to conserve grain and sugar for the wartime effort actually passed Congress after the armistice which ended the war. It lead to the Volstead Act and the Eighteenth Amendment.
Category: [Downtown Hood River]
Tags: 1910s letter Prohibition telegram
Comments
McNary Dam is named after this man. He was an Oregon Senator starting in 1917 and who died in office in 1944. He was the vice presidential choice of Wendell Willkie, who was defeated by FDR in 1940.
Charlott on 4th August 2017 @ 7:09am
An interesting time in history. When reading through old editions of the HR Glacier, I am always surprised at the number of men who were pro "dry". I also wonder if all of them said no to an illegal sip.
A bit ironic that "spirits" of all kind is now a leading industry in Hood River.
The 21st amendment was passed in 1933 and Hood River Distillers was founded in 1934.
Prohibition put a lot of German beer crafters and their breweries out of business. All part of the politics.
L.E. on 4th August 2017 @ 1:02pm
Being from Washington State, I often browse through early Washington Territory newspapers. Not long ago I was reading through 1855 issues of the Olympia Pioneer and Democrat. The editor kept talking about the "Know Nothings".
Since I knew nothing, I looked it up.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Know-Nothing-party
Those anti-German immigrant sentiments extended through WWI and aided the passing of the 18th Amendment. Even though many of the breweries were owned by second and third generation American German families the Anti Saloon League claimed they were owned by the enemy.
L.E. on 4th August 2017 @ 1:32pm
Hood River was a dry town for many years, even while I was growing up. For example, Tip Top Tavern and The Y-Inn were outside of city limits.
In 1912 voters again decided to stay dry.
https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn97071110/1912-11-07/ed-1/seq-2/
Jeffrey Bryant on 24th December 2017 @ 4:58am