Josiah William Bailey's Opinion on The Liquor Question in North Carolina, Oct. 20, 1921

Josiah William Bailey, 1940 photo from the Library of Congress Archives

The Liquor Question in North Carolina

Josiah William Bailey, who has just retired as collector of internal revenue for North Carolina, in favor of Gilliam Grissom, new appointee, in the course of a letter he writes to Col. T.H. Vanderford, federal enforcement officer, tells some things of interest to the average newspaper reader of this state.

“The present situation cannot last,” writes Mr. Bailey. “We will either abandon prohibition or make it more effective—measurably effective.”

The following is not intended as a rap at Mr. Kohloss, he assures, but merely comment on conditions which have arisen:

“Moonshine liquor was selling when you were going free-handed, at about $10 a quart. It is now selling, In understand, at about $3 a quart. The difference was caused by the breaking up of the system prior to Mr. Kohloss’ entrance into the office.

“You and I know from our experience,” continues Mr. Bailey, “what will be required to get the illicit liquor business in North Carolina in hand. About 50 deputy collectors, directed from a North Carolina point by a man such as you—a man who knows the game to the last play—and the earnest co-operation of the people of North Carolina and their sheriffs, their deputies, the constables, and the police forces. This and nothing else will be sufficient.”

Mr. Bailey reminds Mr. Vanderford of his work in Virginia when federal officials considered that to take him from that state would cost$1,000,000 a year.

“When you did finish up that work you came back to North Carolina. And then we set out to throw the full force of the United States internal revenue system into the cause of suppressing the illicit liquor traffic. You all did that a man could do. The federal courts were crowded with defendants, and prisoners were sent to Atlanta by the carload. Then the Volstead act came into force; a new regime was set up; and the courts held that Atlanta prison terms might be given only to second offenders. Of course there are few second offenders; their cousins or brothers are always the second offenders.”

From the front page of The Alamance Gleaner, Graham, N.C., Thursday, Oct. 20, 1921. Bailey would run for governor and be defeated, but he was later elected to the U.S. Senate. To learn more about him, go to www.ncpedia.org/biography/bailey-josiah-william.