Prohibition
Demand for contraband alcohol led to many arrests as prohibition took effect in Idaho
by Arthur Hart, Special to the Idaho Statesman
The 18th Amendment to the United States Constitution banned the production, importation, transportation and sale of alcoholic beverages after 1920.
The Prohibition era that followed turned out to be nothing like the sponsors of the act had envisioned, an era of peace, prosperity and sobriety. Instead, it came to be known as “the Roaring Twenties,” an era of widespread lawlessness and occasional violence.
Idaho had tried to enact statewide prohibition in 1909, with both Republican James Brady and Democrat Moses Alexander campaigning for governor in favor of it. Local option by county was the best that could be achieved that year. The Statesman’s opinion was stated on Sept. 8, 1909: “If Boise goes dry today Nampa and Caldwell will celebrate. Are Nampa and Caldwell particularly interested in Boise’s welfare?” All three towns passed local option for their respective counties.
When the Teachers’ Institute closed in September 1909, it passed a resolution in favor of prohibition, and Ada County nearly passed prohibition in 1912, due in part to the leadership of Gov. Alexander. In 1916 Idaho passed statewide prohibition, two years ahead of passage of the 18th Amendment.
Among those affected by prohibition in Idaho were the local breweries. “GREAT BREWERY WILL NOT BE DISCARDED” ran an Idaho Statesman headline on July 3, 1915. “President Jacob Lockman Announces Plans for Coming Dry Season. Cider and Storage Plant. Will Also Turn Out Bryan’s Best if Nampa Will Grow the Grapes. CIDER BY THE CARLOAD: Mr. Lockwood is already arranging for the installation of a giant cider mill from which it is planned to grind 3000 to 4000 barrels of cider this fall. This move will be much appreciated by orchardists of this section, as at present they have no market at hand for their cull apples. The big cider plant would thus be a boon to the apple growers who have been lamenting the fate imposed on them by defeat of the Webb bill in the last legislature. This bill would have repealed the present stringent regulation preventing the sale of cull apples to buyers other than cider and vinegar factories.”
While many Idaho businessmen tried creative ways to adjust to the restrictions imposed by 1916’s statewide prohibition, others sought to cash in on the continuing and widespread demand for alcoholic beverages of all kinds. The Idaho Republican of Blackfoot reported, “Sheriff’s Office Making Harvest of Bootleggers,” and listed half-a-dozen cases. In response to pleas of innocence by those arrested, the prosecuting attorney’s standard reply was, “That’s what they all say.”
“Pullman-Auto Booze Seizure” was a Statesman headline on April 4, 1917. “Oric Cole, proprietor of the Cole auto livery, Ray Ramsay, one of the chauffeurs, and S.H. Paterson, a Pullman porter, were arrested Monday morning at the Oregon Short Line yards at about 8:30 o’clock, just as they were about to drive off in one of Cole’s autos, according to the sheriff, with 48 pints of Cedar Run whisky and two quarts of Sunnybrook that the sheriff said arrived Monday morning from Ogden in lower berth No. 1.”
Local News Stories from the Emmett Index
1911, Lee Heap arrested for Bootlegging
1911, Frank and Elmer Windes Arrested for Bootlegging
1920, Moonshiner Caught in Rooming House, Jacob Bishop, who lives on a ranch near Pearl, was caught in a room at a local rooming house
1920, Moonshiner to Pen, Sam Galdus Caught with Goods, Give Jail Sentence
1921, Moonshiners Nabbed, Lewis and Wallace McDowall and Fred Turner, Jr., arrested . .Lloyd Shelton also caught in net
1921, Wallace McDowall pleads guilty
1921, Bootlegger Arrested at dance at Little Rock
1921, Moonshine Kills Goat
1921, Still Captured on Anderson Creek, Moonshiners got away
1921, Still Captured East of Town, Moonshiners got away
1921, Elaborate Still Captured, Ed Nichols and Ike Neal caught redhanded
1922, Moonshiners Taken, Dan Cuzzulan and C Susich arrested on the edge of Dry Buck
1923, Officers Swoop Down on Still at Dustin home, a few miles northeast of Montour
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