While it is interesting to note how much has changed technologically and culturally since the 1920’s, it is more important to note the things that have not changed. There are certain characteristics of our political system that have changed very little in the past century. Finger-pointing, mudslinging, and partisanship were as strong in the 1920’s as they are today. The men of the Coast Guard and Customs were always caught in the crossfire. When the national Prohibition law took effect, both the Coast Guard and Customs were under-equipped, under-manned, poorly funded, yet expected to stop a tidal-wave of liquor from flooding the U.S.
The Prohibition law was extremely unpopular. It is interesting to note that the National Prohibition Act received two thirds of the vote in Congress and was ratified by 36 state legislatures. Although it soon became apparent that the law was extremely unpopular, even among police officers and politicians, Congress did not repeal the law until 13 years after it went into effect. Not only did Congress take a long time to repeal the law, it continually escalated the war on alcohol, spending hundreds of millions of dollars (billions in today’s dollars) to enforce a policy that most Americans were against. Prohibition provides a classic example of a great gap between popular opinion and the workings of our political machinery. As far as Congress was concerned, the issue was not how many people supported Prohibition, but who supported it.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Old Issues In a New World
One of the key things to know about the1920’s is that it was still a very Victorian decade. Most popular histories depict the 1920’s as a time when everyone abandoned Victorian values almost overnight. Popular documentaries simplify the entire decade by showing footage of men and women doing nothing but drinking and dancing, interspersed with footage of gangsters shooting Tommy guns. While it is true that a large number of America’s youth adopted the new social freedoms that came with the “Jazz Age,” a great portion of Americans did not. Bear in mind that the Victorian Age lasted up until World War I. People who reached adulthood before the 1920’s had a tendency to hold onto Victorian values long after that era was over. One only has to briefly look through a newspaper from the 20’s to realize that many Americans still viewed the world in 19th century terms. Many of the “hot” issues of the 1920’s were actually carried over from the previous century. Prohibition, women’s suffrage, racism, communism, immigration, workers’ rights, anti-war sentiments, and isolationism were all old issues. They all just happened to converge and reach a boiling point around 1920.
In 1920, the Coast Guard and Customs were still equipped for the age of steam and sail. Men who grew old during the Victorian era led both of those organizations during the Prohibition years. A century later, we have come to take for granted the size, training, and equipment of both agencies. The sudden, overwhelming burden brought on by Prohibition enforcement caused growing pains in federal law enforcement. It was the job of both the Coast Guard and Customs to simultaneously work through these growing pains and carry out the mission of stopping an endless flood of smuggled liquor.
In 1920, the Coast Guard and Customs were still equipped for the age of steam and sail. Men who grew old during the Victorian era led both of those organizations during the Prohibition years. A century later, we have come to take for granted the size, training, and equipment of both agencies. The sudden, overwhelming burden brought on by Prohibition enforcement caused growing pains in federal law enforcement. It was the job of both the Coast Guard and Customs to simultaneously work through these growing pains and carry out the mission of stopping an endless flood of smuggled liquor.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Gadgets in the 1920's
Telephones were still a luxury in the early 1920’s. Although the telephone had existed for a few decades by that point, only 35 percent of households had one. To provide an example, when Calvin Coolidge was Vice President, his hometown in Massachusetts only had one telephone, located in the general store. When the store closed in the evenings and on Sunday, the town’s residents had no phone access.[i]
Radios were also a new item. The first commercial radio broadcast was in November of 1920. At the time, most radio receivers were homemade crystal sets that could be put together for about $2 and used with a $4 set of earphones. At the end of 1921, there were only ten radio stations in the U.S. A year later, there were 350 radio stations.
Films were also very popular in the early 1920’s, but they had no sound. Theaters presented movies with the music of a live piano player, organist, or sometimes a live orchestra. During the period discussed in this book, Charlie Chaplain was a new silent movie star. The first feature-length “talking picture,” The Jazz Singer starring Al Jolson, did not debut until 1927.[ii]
The automobile brought swift changes to America during this period. In 1920, only one household in three owned an automobile. However, America had an extensive, reliable system of railroads that crossed the country and reached most small towns. Most cities and towns were designed for pedestrians, so car ownership was not a necessity.
During those years, most American roads were dirt roads and no paved highway existed to connect the East and West Coast. In a practical sense, this meant that during times of heavy rain, the roads could turn into muddy quagmires. On the other hand, if there were a drought, vehicles and horses kicked up large amounts of dust (including dried manure). The switch from horses to automobiles did not happen overnight. In the city and in the country, many people were still using horses and mules, each of which made about 15-25 pounds of manure a day. One can only imagine the stench of a city like New York or Chicago in those days.
Henry Ford revolutionized the assembly line system and his workers cranked out an affordable and durable car “for the masses” called the Model T. To sell his cars, Ford introduced consumer credit on a massive scale, making it possible for Americans to live beyond their means. In the 1920’s, easy credit helped expand the American economy greatly, which worked out well until the credit bubble burst in 1929.
In order to accommodate the increased number of cars and trucks on the road, Congress approved a measure to subsidize highway construction. However, even by the 1929, only one fifth of America’s roads were paved.[iii]
[i] “Table Dg34-45- Telephone Industry- telephones, access lines, wire, employees, and plant: 1876-2000.” (Cambridge University Press, 2007.)
[ii] Kyvig, pp.75-76.
[iii] Ibid., p.49.
Radios were also a new item. The first commercial radio broadcast was in November of 1920. At the time, most radio receivers were homemade crystal sets that could be put together for about $2 and used with a $4 set of earphones. At the end of 1921, there were only ten radio stations in the U.S. A year later, there were 350 radio stations.
Films were also very popular in the early 1920’s, but they had no sound. Theaters presented movies with the music of a live piano player, organist, or sometimes a live orchestra. During the period discussed in this book, Charlie Chaplain was a new silent movie star. The first feature-length “talking picture,” The Jazz Singer starring Al Jolson, did not debut until 1927.[ii]
The automobile brought swift changes to America during this period. In 1920, only one household in three owned an automobile. However, America had an extensive, reliable system of railroads that crossed the country and reached most small towns. Most cities and towns were designed for pedestrians, so car ownership was not a necessity.
During those years, most American roads were dirt roads and no paved highway existed to connect the East and West Coast. In a practical sense, this meant that during times of heavy rain, the roads could turn into muddy quagmires. On the other hand, if there were a drought, vehicles and horses kicked up large amounts of dust (including dried manure). The switch from horses to automobiles did not happen overnight. In the city and in the country, many people were still using horses and mules, each of which made about 15-25 pounds of manure a day. One can only imagine the stench of a city like New York or Chicago in those days.
Henry Ford revolutionized the assembly line system and his workers cranked out an affordable and durable car “for the masses” called the Model T. To sell his cars, Ford introduced consumer credit on a massive scale, making it possible for Americans to live beyond their means. In the 1920’s, easy credit helped expand the American economy greatly, which worked out well until the credit bubble burst in 1929.
In order to accommodate the increased number of cars and trucks on the road, Congress approved a measure to subsidize highway construction. However, even by the 1929, only one fifth of America’s roads were paved.[iii]
[i] “Table Dg34-45- Telephone Industry- telephones, access lines, wire, employees, and plant: 1876-2000.” (Cambridge University Press, 2007.)
[ii] Kyvig, pp.75-76.
[iii] Ibid., p.49.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Life In The Early 1920's
To get a real sense of the Prohibition days, one should consider what life was like for the average American. Hollywood films from then and now have given a very glamorous image to those times. Films and documentaries (sadly) depict the ′20’s as a relatively carefree time of economic prosperity when men and women wore flashy clothing and spent their free time drinking, doing dances like “the Charleston,” and listening to jazz. According to this same Hollywood image, the average person lived in a beautifully-furnished, spacious home with heat and electricity, a phone, radio, record player, and a refrigerator. The image also includes at least one big, shiny car for every household and even a household servant.
Unfortunately, that was not the case for most Americans. In the early 1920’s, the nation went through a very bad recession. Millions of war veterans returned home to find that many factories and shipyards that produced military goods had shut down. Unemployment was widespread and workers went on strike in massive numbers to protest harsh working conditions and poor pay. There were no social safety nets such as unemployment checks, worker’s compensation, Social Security, Medicaid, or food stamps. These economic conditions tempted the average worker to take part in bootlegging or rum-running. Smuggling liquor paid several times the salary of the average job for fewer hours of work, and, in many cases, the working conditions were better. Smuggling liquor by boat was usually far more bearable than working at a steel mill, coal mine, textile mill, or assembly line.
In addition to a bad economy, the government began Communist witch hunts in reaction to the Communist revolution in Russia. Politicians put striking workers and Communists in the same category, often drawing no distinction. On January 2, 1920, government agents in 33 cities rounded up thousands of suspected Communists and detained them without charges for long periods. In the face of widespread protest against the “Palmer Raids,” Attorney General Palmer argued that his program was the only practical means to prevent a Bolshevik conspiracy to overthrow the U.S. Government.
In addition to a recession and political turmoil, daily life for the average American was harsh by today’s standards. In 1920, only 47 percent of city homes and 1.6 percent of farm homes had electricity. Americans prioritized installing electrical outlets over other modern conveniences, such as running water. Much of the American population in the early ′20’s did not have central heating, bathtubs, running water, or indoor toilets.
Rural people, especially women, knew what they were missing when they read magazine advertisements and mail-order catalogs. For example, without an electric pump, women had to haul water into the house from a nearby well or stream and then heat it for cleaning, bathing, or laundry. For those Americans fortunate enough to have electricity, there were new electrical gadgets on the market. Electric irons, fans, and vacuum cleaners were new and popular items. Those who did not have electricity had to heat an iron on the stove to have wrinkle-free clothes. Electric mixers, blenders, coffee makers, and washing machines were also new on the market and were, in 1920, only affordable to the wealthy. Washing machines at that time were very simple devices with a motor that agitated water, detergent, and soiled items. After the cycle was complete, a person would have to remove the drenched clothing from the machine, insert each piece through a motorized wringer, and then hang the clothing up to dry. Washing machines would not be equipped with a spin cycle until the late 1930’s. In 1920, electric refrigerators were also very rare, even among the wealthy. Most families continued to rely on underground storage or iceboxes.[i]
[i] David E. Kyvig, Daily Life In The United States, 1920-1940. (Chicago: Ivan R. Dee, 2002.) pp.66-67
Unfortunately, that was not the case for most Americans. In the early 1920’s, the nation went through a very bad recession. Millions of war veterans returned home to find that many factories and shipyards that produced military goods had shut down. Unemployment was widespread and workers went on strike in massive numbers to protest harsh working conditions and poor pay. There were no social safety nets such as unemployment checks, worker’s compensation, Social Security, Medicaid, or food stamps. These economic conditions tempted the average worker to take part in bootlegging or rum-running. Smuggling liquor paid several times the salary of the average job for fewer hours of work, and, in many cases, the working conditions were better. Smuggling liquor by boat was usually far more bearable than working at a steel mill, coal mine, textile mill, or assembly line.
In addition to a bad economy, the government began Communist witch hunts in reaction to the Communist revolution in Russia. Politicians put striking workers and Communists in the same category, often drawing no distinction. On January 2, 1920, government agents in 33 cities rounded up thousands of suspected Communists and detained them without charges for long periods. In the face of widespread protest against the “Palmer Raids,” Attorney General Palmer argued that his program was the only practical means to prevent a Bolshevik conspiracy to overthrow the U.S. Government.
In addition to a recession and political turmoil, daily life for the average American was harsh by today’s standards. In 1920, only 47 percent of city homes and 1.6 percent of farm homes had electricity. Americans prioritized installing electrical outlets over other modern conveniences, such as running water. Much of the American population in the early ′20’s did not have central heating, bathtubs, running water, or indoor toilets.
Rural people, especially women, knew what they were missing when they read magazine advertisements and mail-order catalogs. For example, without an electric pump, women had to haul water into the house from a nearby well or stream and then heat it for cleaning, bathing, or laundry. For those Americans fortunate enough to have electricity, there were new electrical gadgets on the market. Electric irons, fans, and vacuum cleaners were new and popular items. Those who did not have electricity had to heat an iron on the stove to have wrinkle-free clothes. Electric mixers, blenders, coffee makers, and washing machines were also new on the market and were, in 1920, only affordable to the wealthy. Washing machines at that time were very simple devices with a motor that agitated water, detergent, and soiled items. After the cycle was complete, a person would have to remove the drenched clothing from the machine, insert each piece through a motorized wringer, and then hang the clothing up to dry. Washing machines would not be equipped with a spin cycle until the late 1930’s. In 1920, electric refrigerators were also very rare, even among the wealthy. Most families continued to rely on underground storage or iceboxes.[i]
[i] David E. Kyvig, Daily Life In The United States, 1920-1940. (Chicago: Ivan R. Dee, 2002.) pp.66-67
Monday, May 26, 2008
A Surplus War
It became the duty of the U.S. Coast Guard and Customs to curtail liquor smuggling at sea. As Prohibition dragged on, the war on smuggling escalated. This “war” was made possible by a surplus of both alcohol and military equipment. Much of the liquor smuggled in the U.S. during the first few years of Prohibition was actually surplus from American distilleries. The surplus liquor and beer sat in bonded warehouses, where one only needed a permit to withdraw it. In many cases, distilleries and breweries sent their alcohol overseas only to have it smuggled back into the U.S. at inflated prices.
The fighting between the Coast Guard and rum smugglers escalated quickly, largely because of America’s war surplus. World War I ended before most American factories finished cranking out their war goods; so the government auctioned off the excess items to anyone who could afford it. The smugglers were usually a step ahead of the Coast Guard with their newly-purchased gear. Smugglers were soon using airplanes, machine guns, submarines, torpedoes, armored craft, and speedboats powered by 400-horsepower Liberty engines. Most of this equipment came from government surplus auctions.
The Coast Guard also relied on surplus gear. The early Prohibition fleet was made up of submarine-chasers, made of wood, and Eagle boats. Both types of vessels were World War I surplus Navy vessels. Later on, the Coast Guard acquired more than twenty surplus destroyers to fight the rum fleet.
The fighting between the Coast Guard and rum smugglers escalated quickly, largely because of America’s war surplus. World War I ended before most American factories finished cranking out their war goods; so the government auctioned off the excess items to anyone who could afford it. The smugglers were usually a step ahead of the Coast Guard with their newly-purchased gear. Smugglers were soon using airplanes, machine guns, submarines, torpedoes, armored craft, and speedboats powered by 400-horsepower Liberty engines. Most of this equipment came from government surplus auctions.
The Coast Guard also relied on surplus gear. The early Prohibition fleet was made up of submarine-chasers, made of wood, and Eagle boats. Both types of vessels were World War I surplus Navy vessels. Later on, the Coast Guard acquired more than twenty surplus destroyers to fight the rum fleet.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
An Exciting Story!
“The reign of tears is over. The slums will soon only be a memory. We will turn our prisons into factories and our jails into storehouses and corn-cribs. Men will walk upright now, women will smile, and children will laugh. Hell will be forever for rent.”
─ Reverend Billy Sunday on the first day of Prohibition.
You are about to read an exciting story that the American public has not heard or read about in several decades. About half of the stories in this book have not been in print since the 1920’s. This is a story that involves smuggling, high speed boat chases, pirates, corruption, and scandals.
Those who are familiar with the topic of Prohibition are aware of homemade beer and wine, bathtub gin, moonshine, and other types of homemade alcohol. However, a large percentage of the alcohol Americans drank during those years was imported. The Coast Guard and Customs had the extremely difficult task of preventing liquor from landing on America’s shores and coming across the long, open land borders with Canada and Mexico.
Prohibition’s goal was to prevent the manufacture, sale, and transportation of liquor to stop alcoholism and social drinking. Prohibition was attempted in Aztec society, ancient China, feudal Japan, Norway, Sweden, Russia, Canada, and India. However, only a few Muslim countries managed to effectively ban alcohol.
The Prohibition movement in the United States can be traced back to the religious revivalism of the 1820’s and 1830’s, which stimulated movements toward perfectionism, including temperance (abstaining from alcohol) and the abolition of slavery. Massachusetts passed a law in 1838, which was repealed two years later, prohibiting the sales of spirits in less than 15-gallon quantities. Maine passed the first state Prohibition law in 1846 and many other states soon passed similar laws before the Civil War... to be continued...
─ Reverend Billy Sunday on the first day of Prohibition.
You are about to read an exciting story that the American public has not heard or read about in several decades. About half of the stories in this book have not been in print since the 1920’s. This is a story that involves smuggling, high speed boat chases, pirates, corruption, and scandals.
Those who are familiar with the topic of Prohibition are aware of homemade beer and wine, bathtub gin, moonshine, and other types of homemade alcohol. However, a large percentage of the alcohol Americans drank during those years was imported. The Coast Guard and Customs had the extremely difficult task of preventing liquor from landing on America’s shores and coming across the long, open land borders with Canada and Mexico.
Prohibition’s goal was to prevent the manufacture, sale, and transportation of liquor to stop alcoholism and social drinking. Prohibition was attempted in Aztec society, ancient China, feudal Japan, Norway, Sweden, Russia, Canada, and India. However, only a few Muslim countries managed to effectively ban alcohol.
The Prohibition movement in the United States can be traced back to the religious revivalism of the 1820’s and 1830’s, which stimulated movements toward perfectionism, including temperance (abstaining from alcohol) and the abolition of slavery. Massachusetts passed a law in 1838, which was repealed two years later, prohibiting the sales of spirits in less than 15-gallon quantities. Maine passed the first state Prohibition law in 1846 and many other states soon passed similar laws before the Civil War... to be continued...
Sunday, April 27, 2008
The booksigning and my latest research
The booksigning at the Old Exchange Building in Charleston went pretty well. I'll be doing another one next Saturday, May 3, at the same location. For someone with my incredibly limited budget it's a good way to get the word out about the book and actually talk to people face-to-face about it. (Corporate America calls it "facetime," which is a fancy word for "talking.")I met one gentleman from Homeland Security who seemed particularly intested in the subject of smuggling prevention. I also met a few Sailors and Marines. Of course when I spoke with the Marines, we didn't bother talking about the book, we just shared memories of the Corps.
I've been going through more old newspapers on microfilm. There's a great website called newspaperarchive.com, which has a great collection of old newspapers, some going back to colonial times. So if you ever need a good collection of primary sources and you don't feel like leaving your computer, newspaperarchive.com is a great starting point. The best part about the site is that you can type in some key words and the search engine will actually pull up those newspapers, which you can view in their entirety.
I've also been reading a great book titled "Only Yesterday" by Frederick Lewis Allan. The book, which was first published in 1931, gives a good overall summary of the 1920's for the layman. Anyone can pick up that book, read it, and understand it, regardless of their knowledge of history. What is interesting to note is that the 1920's was very similar to the 1960's in certain ways, including a revolution in music, dance, sexuality, intellectualism, phsychology, and a widespread disregard for traditional values. The Victorians considered Jazz the Devil's music much like rock and roll would be considered later on. The 1920's also brought provacative dancing like the tango, the mambo, and many other styles of dance that involved girating body parts, sexually suggestive moves, and close physical contact between men and women. Sex before marriage became far more common and socially acceptable. Because of the general disillusionment following the Great War, plus the public's greater exposure to new scientific theories explaining the universe, many Americans disregarded religion and Victorian ideals. However, while there were many who disregarded the old values, there were just as many Americans who held on tightly to their old ideals, like the Prohibitionists.
If you want to read the definitive book on the '20's, "Only Yesterday" is that book.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Book signing this weekend!
This Saturday, April 19th, I will be doing a booksigning at the Old Exchange Building, located at 122 East Bay St. in Charleston, SC. The Exchange was used as a headquarters building for the Coast Guard during World War II. It was also used as a Customs House as far back as 1771. The reason I mention those two facts is because the Coast Guard and Customs play a central role in my book. Although I do not discuss South Carolina much in my book, Charleston was, and is, a major Southern port and is a smuggler's dream with its numerous waterways and marshes.
In fact, next to the exchange is a building that has been selling liquor since the days of pirates. During prohibition, there was a secret passageway underneath the building to transport liquor from the nearby wharf. Down the street from the exchange, on Broad Street, is a pub called the Blind Tiger, which served liquor during Prohibition. Under Prohibition laws, it was illegal to sell, manufacture, or transport liquor without a permit. The Blind Tiger did not "sell" liquor. That establishment, and many others like it, charged patrons an admission fee to see a "blind tiger." While the guests were inside looking at this "blind tiger," they just happened to consume the alcohol on hand, which was perfectly legal within the letter of the law.
Anyway, I'll be at the exchange from 9 AM to 5PM this Saturday. See you there!
In fact, next to the exchange is a building that has been selling liquor since the days of pirates. During prohibition, there was a secret passageway underneath the building to transport liquor from the nearby wharf. Down the street from the exchange, on Broad Street, is a pub called the Blind Tiger, which served liquor during Prohibition. Under Prohibition laws, it was illegal to sell, manufacture, or transport liquor without a permit. The Blind Tiger did not "sell" liquor. That establishment, and many others like it, charged patrons an admission fee to see a "blind tiger." While the guests were inside looking at this "blind tiger," they just happened to consume the alcohol on hand, which was perfectly legal within the letter of the law.
Anyway, I'll be at the exchange from 9 AM to 5PM this Saturday. See you there!
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Hope somebody reads this!
Hi! My name is James Morrison and this is the first entry to my new blog, which is based on my new book. Since a blog is incredibly boring if no one comments, please feel free to add your two cents to whatever rambling nonsense I put on this page.
To begin with, I believe that far too many Americans are ignorant of history, which is why we are doomed to repeat it and why the masses can be led rushing over the proverbial cliff like so many cattle. In doing research for this book and its sequel, which I'm writing now, I've come across many parallels between the 1920's and recent times. Here are a few:
1. A short housing boom followed by a bust.
2. An incredible increase in the size of federal law enforcement agencies.
3. A revolution in communication technology.
4. A credit crisis.
5. A massive war debt.
6. A tumultuous stock market.
There are many other similarities, but these are just a few to start with. What most people are not aware of is that the 'roaring twenties' began with a very bad recession, unemployment, and strikes on a massive scale, following the end of a disillusioning war. Due to cheap and easy credit, and the fact that the United States' main economic rivals were devastated by World War I, the economy boomed for several years. Eventually, the credit bubble burst, the stock market collapsed, and banks failed in massive numbers, leading to the Great Depression. And on that cheerful note, I'll conclude this entry.
To begin with, I believe that far too many Americans are ignorant of history, which is why we are doomed to repeat it and why the masses can be led rushing over the proverbial cliff like so many cattle. In doing research for this book and its sequel, which I'm writing now, I've come across many parallels between the 1920's and recent times. Here are a few:
1. A short housing boom followed by a bust.
2. An incredible increase in the size of federal law enforcement agencies.
3. A revolution in communication technology.
4. A credit crisis.
5. A massive war debt.
6. A tumultuous stock market.
There are many other similarities, but these are just a few to start with. What most people are not aware of is that the 'roaring twenties' began with a very bad recession, unemployment, and strikes on a massive scale, following the end of a disillusioning war. Due to cheap and easy credit, and the fact that the United States' main economic rivals were devastated by World War I, the economy boomed for several years. Eventually, the credit bubble burst, the stock market collapsed, and banks failed in massive numbers, leading to the Great Depression. And on that cheerful note, I'll conclude this entry.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)