RUM RUNNERS AND BOOT LEGGERS? I suppose we could say that our national language remains more intact, stays where it is as the history of our national culture moves about both up and down, right - left and even in unrewarding circles at the same levels. Our language - both spoken and written - slip into slang, Tech talk of any era at hand, occupational lingo, and linguistic attempts to maintain fading
international bits-and-pieces of cultures long gone. We use some street talk at times - "commonalities" - all of which tends to cause growth within our language; expansion of meaning, enlargement of knowledge and greater acceptance of new ideas.
I had no idea the terms "rum runner" and "bootlegger" would require explanation, but one young lady was confused by their use.
One of the great features of our national life when I was a kid was the concept of prohibiting the use of alcoholic beverages nationwide by setting up legislation which said it was illegal to do so. After surviving such an era, I think I may safely say it did not work. I do not remember details of the actual campaign which resulted in the concept being built to such a peak that it became a law. Those were Post War years called "Roaring Twenties," as a tag for a time tagged, the law was ridiculed, disobeyed and questioned. It still amazes me amazes me that it took until 1934, wasn't it?... before that law was repealed.
My two families, it seems to me as I look back at it all, were not too concerned about it one way o the other, but I can remember my Grandmother and other family members talking about the way saloons once did,indeed, thrive in every block
of most cities and talk about the terrible miseries of family groups in which the evil monster of strong drink was a genuine horror. I think we kids agreed that there was a need for reform and not only in that with "Kaiser Bill" in exile chopping his own firewood.
It was common in those days for residents in rural areas, in particular, to be engaged in other than farming as occupation. Entire areas were given over entirely to the illicit manufacture of any types of which came to be called "moonshine" - used widely as in comedy. The emphasis was, naturally, in isolated, rural areas.but there were functioning distilling systems in the towns and cities as well. They were constantly being raided and trashed out, but they were back in business within a week. They became more and more complex over the years. but many were quite obvious and even “open”. As a young music dance band musician I worked in so-called “bootleg joints”. One, which was raided from time to time, had a simple system. The investigators never noticed there was always a happy black lady was always washing pots and pans. She laughed heartily as she stood there shining a big copper kettle. At the first, which, a the first signs of a raid, its contents had gone down the drain and a sudsy aroma permeated the area. Our family doctor, who served many people living on the mountain ridge above town could, from his porch on Sunday morning, point out scores of rising plumes of smoke - each an operating still. Their owners and operators out numbered those forces working to see the end of such operations.
Today we have serious problems which demand attention and it might a mark of wisdom if we would remember what happened when we decided we could ban booze. It is becoming more plain every day that it is difficult to pass any legislation to control morality and human social conduct. Let’s not be too hasty in total eradication. When a thing is made to be a "no-no", that only spurs many people to seek ways to get around it.
Controls? Yes. Total bans? No.
Andrew McCaskey amccsr@adelphia.net 10-13-06 [c-662wds]
