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44-651: The gang was founded by Ralph Sheldon in the months following the passage of the Volstead Act and it quickly became one of major liquor suppliers in Chicago's Southwest Side as well as a main supplier to Al Capone. The gang maintained an uneasy truce with the other rival gangs, until 1923, when a brief gang war broke out between the Sheldon Gang and the Southside O'Donnells until O'Donnell leader Edward O'Donnell

88-518: A federal prohibition of alcohol in the United States. Along with Morris Sheppard , he introduced a constitutional amendment to do so in 1914, which was ratified in 1919 as the 18th Amendment . Hobson was a prolific author on this subject, writing the books Narcotic Peril (1925), The Modern Pirates-Exterminate Them (1931) and Drug Addiction: A Malignant Racial Cancer (1933), speaking on radio programs and in front of civic groups, founding

132-549: A lucrative business in bootlegging liquor was largely helped by the minimal police surveillance at the time. There were only 134 agents designated by the Prohibition Unit to cover all of Illinois , Iowa , and parts of Wisconsin . According to Charles C. Fitzmorris, Chicago's chief of police during the beginning of the Prohibition period, "Sixty percent of my police [were] in the bootleg business." Section 29 of

176-487: A number of contributing factors that led to its ratification in 1919. For example, the formation of the Anti-Saloon League in 1893. The league used the after effects of World War I to push for national prohibition because there was a lot of prejudice and suspicion of foreigners following the war. Many reformers used the war to get measures passed and a major example of this was national prohibition. The league

220-606: A number of exceptions and exemptions. Many of them were used to evade the law's intended purpose. For example, the Act allowed a physician to prescribe whiskey for his patients but limited the amount that could be prescribed. Subsequently, the House of Delegates of the American Medical Association voted to submit to Congress a bill to remove the limit on the amount of whiskey that could be prescribed and questioned

264-634: A rancher in Canada and wrote several popular memoirs of his time there. Hobson's nephew, James Hobson Morrison, Sr. , was the Democratic congressman from the Baton Rouge -centered Sixth Congressional District of Louisiana from 1943 to 1967. One of Hobson's close friends was the inventor Nikola Tesla . Tesla served as the best man in Hobson's wedding. In later years, Hobson was the only person who

308-631: A short-lived local version of the Volstead Act, the first 4,000 arrests led to just six convictions and not one jail sentence". While the production, transport and sale of intoxicating liquor was illegal, their purchase was ruled legal in United States v. Norris . Prohibition lost support because ignoring the law gained increasing social acceptance and organized crime violence increased. By 1933, public opposition to prohibition had become overwhelming. In March of that year, Congress passed

352-599: The Cullen–Harrison Act , which legalized " 3.2 beer " (i.e. beer containing 3.2% alcohol by weight or 4% by volume) and wines of similarly low alcohol content, rather than the 0.5% limit defined by the original Volstead Act. In February 1933, Congress passed the Blaine Act , a proposed constitutional amendment to repeal the Eighteenth Amendment to end prohibition. On December 5, 1933, Utah became

396-596: The Philippines . Crowds greeted his train at many stations, and his enthusiasm for kissing admiring young women made him a sex symbol of the Victorian age . He became a sort of celebrity during the rise of popular journalism at the turn of the century and was referred to as "the most kissed man in America." Hobson authored a book, published in 1899, about the events surrounding the sinking of Merrimac . Hobson

440-521: The Spanish Navy squadron of Admiral Pascual Cervera y Topete during the Battle of Santiago de Cuba , Hobson took temporary command of the collier Merrimac , which he would attempt to sink as an obstruction in the channel leading to Santiago Harbor , Cuba . The attempt was made early June 3, under heavy Spanish fire, which disabled the steering gear of the collier. Hobson did sink Merrimac , but

484-482: The Volstead Act , was an act of the 66th United States Congress designed to execute the 18th Amendment (ratified January 1919) which established the prohibition of alcoholic drinks . The Anti-Saloon League 's Wayne Wheeler conceived and drafted the bill, which was named after Andrew Volstead , chairman of the House Judiciary Committee , who managed the legislation. The Volstead Act had

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528-496: The cocktail party among higher socioeconomic groups . Those inclined to help authorities were often intimidated and even murdered. In several major cities—notably those that served as major points of liquor importation, including Chicago and Detroit —gangs wielded significant political power. A Michigan State Police raid on Detroit's Deutsches Haus once netted the mayor, the sheriff, and the local congressman. Prohibition came into force at 12:00:01 am on January 17, 1920, and

572-677: The 36th state to ratify the Twenty-first Amendment , which repealed the Eighteenth Amendment, voiding the Volstead Act and restoring control of alcohol to the states. All states either made alcohol legal, or passed control over alcohol production and consumption to the counties and provinces they comprise. That led to the creation of dry counties , most of which are in the South . Richmond P. Hobson Richmond Pearson Hobson (August 17, 1870 – March 16, 1937)

616-464: The Act allowed 200 gallons (the equivalent of about 1000 750-ml bottles) of "non-intoxicating cider and fruit juice" to be made each year at home. Initially "intoxicating" was defined as exceeding 0.5% alcohol by volume, but the Bureau of Internal Revenue struck that down in 1920, effectively legalizing home winemaking. For beer, however, the 0.5% limit remained until 1933. Some vineyards embraced

660-526: The Eighteenth Amendment, and (3) industrial alcohol use. Before the ratification of the Eighteenth Amendment, the War Time Prohibition Act was approved on November 21, 1918. This was passed to conserve grain by prohibiting its usage in the production of spirits. Title II of the Volstead Act, "Permanent National Prohibition," which was defined as "intoxicating beverages" containing greater than 0.5 percent alcohol. This section also set forth

704-563: The International Narcotic Education Association and lobbying his former Congressional colleagues in favor of anti-drug laws. During the 1920s and '30s, Hobson was the Anti-Saloon League's highest-paid special speaker. In 1905, Hobson married Grizelda Houston Hull, cousin of U.S. Army General Joseph Wheeler , in Tuxedo Park, New York . The couple's son, Richmond P. "Rich" Hobson, Jr. , became

748-794: The New York Commandery of the Naval and Military Order of the Spanish War . As of January 1, 1902 Hobson had been promoted to captain with date of rank of June 23, 1898. After an unsuccessful attempt to retire, he resigned from the Navy in 1903. His resignation prompted Secretary of the Navy William Henry Moody to reconsider and allow him to retire. In 1933, he was awarded the Medal of Honor for his attempt to block

792-429: The Volstead Act, titled "Industrial Purposes." The production, importation, and distribution of alcoholic beverages—once the province of legitimate business—was taken over by criminal gangs, which fought each other for market control in violent confrontations, including murder. Major gangsters , such as Omaha 's Tom Dennison and Chicago 's Al Capone , became rich, and were admired locally and nationally. Enforcement

836-555: The War Time Prohibition Act in 1918. The case for wartime prohibition was strong and the prohibitionists could use their early successes under the necessities of mobilization to make the change permanent through a constitutional amendment in 1919. H.R. 6810, was the full name given to the National Prohibition Act, which in short meant, "An act to prohibit intoxicating beverages, and to regulate

880-438: The ability of a legislature to determine the therapeutic value of any substance. Vine-Glo was produced ostensibly to let people make grape juice from concentrate but it included a warning on its packaging telling people how to make wine from it. According to Neely, "The Act called for trials for anyone charged with an alcohol-related offense, and juries often failed to convict. Under the state of New York's Mullan – Gage Act,

924-662: The cause of banning drugs and alcohol, earning the nickname "The Father of American Prohibition". Hobson first became involved in the issue during the Philippine–American War when he lobbied Congress to take a tougher stand against the illegal drug trade in the Philippines . Hobson eventually came to view alcohol to be as dangerous as narcotics . In 1913, he led a major Anti-Saloon League and Women's Christian Temperance Union demonstration in Washington D.C. for

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968-473: The channel. He was the only Navy officer to receive the Medal of Honor for heroism during the Spanish–American War. After resigning from active duty in 1903, Hobson remained a staunch supporter of the navy and during his subsequent career as a Democratic U.S. Representative from Alabama , 1907–1915, was a firm advocate of naval expansion. He was denied renomination in the 1914 Democratic primary and

1012-526: The closing days of Prohibition and with the emergence of Lucky Luciano 's National Crime Syndicate the Sheldon Gang, like most of the remaining bootlegging gangs, were absorbed into the syndicate by 1932. Sometime in the 1930s, the Sheldons dropped a bomb from an airplane into an ice cream store, in Creve Coeur, Illinois . Volstead Act The National Prohibition Act , known informally as

1056-400: The fines and jail sentences for the manufacture, sale and movement of alcoholic beverages, as well as set forth regulations that described those who would enforce the laws, what search and seizure powers law enforcement had or did not have, as well as how adjunction of violations would be in place, among many others. Despite these strict laws on alcohol commerce, there were numerous ways in which

1100-431: The first documented infringement of the Volstead Act occurred in Chicago on January 17 at 12:59 am. According to police reports, six armed men stole $ 100,000 worth of "medicinal" whiskey from two freight-train cars. This trend in bootlegging liquor created a domino effect among criminals across the United States. Some gang leaders had been stashing liquor months before the Volstead Act was enforced. The ability to sustain

1144-652: The first version of the bill, which Congress amended many times. President Woodrow Wilson vetoed the bill, Congress overrode his veto, and the bill went through on October 28, 1919. The Volstead Act went into play on January 16, 1920, where it became a challenge for the United States Supreme Court to navigate through. The Volstead Act was presented to help promote the togetherness of federal and state legislation in regulating alcohol. The Volstead Act consisted of three main sections: (1) previously enacted war Prohibition, (2) Prohibition as designated by

1188-724: The highest ranking midshipman: cadet battalion commander (today's brigade commander). After duty in Chicago , he underwent additional training and was appointed assistant Naval Constructor in 1891. Hobson then served at various navy yards and facilities, including a tour of duty as instructor at the Naval Academy. In the early days of the Spanish–American War , he was with Admiral William T. Sampson in New York, and arrived off Santiago on June 1, 1898. In order to bottle up

1232-508: The manufacture, production, and sale of high-proof spirits for other than beverage purposes, and to ensure an ample supply of alcohol and promote its use in scientific research and in the development of fuel, dye, and other lawful industries." Prohibition was originally proposed by a man by the name of Richmond Hobson , and the proposition was brought to Congress as an amendment to the Constitution. Later, attorney Wayne Wheeler proposed

1276-409: The possession and personal use of alcohol remained legal under the Volstead Act. It was in fact legal to own alcoholic beverages that were obtained before the Prohibition, as well as serve these types of drinks to family or guests in the home with proof of purchase on hand. This allowed numerous individuals, specifically those who were wealthy to stockpile these beverages before Prohibition. Alcohol that

1320-427: The sale of grapes for making wine at home. Zinfandel grapes were popular among home winemakers living near vineyards, but their tight bunches left their thin skins vulnerable to rot from rubbing and abrasion on the long journey to East Coast markets. The thick skins of Alicante Bouschet were less susceptible to rot, so that and similar varieties were widely planted for the home winemaking market. The Act contained

1364-427: The sinking of the U.S.S. Merrimac at the entrance to the fortified harbor of Santiago de Cuba, 3 June 1898. Despite persistent fire from the enemy fleet and fortifications on shore, Lt. Hobson distinguished himself by extraordinary courage and carried out this operation at the risk of his own personal safety. [REDACTED]  This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of

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1408-578: Was a United States Navy rear admiral who served from 1907–1915 as a U.S. Representative from Alabama . A veteran of the Spanish–American War , he received the Medal of Honor years later for his part in that conflict. He later became a leading proponent of Prohibition in the United States . He was born at Magnolia Grove in Greensboro in Hale County in the western Black Belt of Alabama. He

1452-547: Was able to persuade Tesla to interrupt his intellectual pursuits for a movie gathering. The destroyer USS  Hobson  (DD-464) was named in his honor. A small town in south Texas was renamed from Castine to Hobson after he spoke there on a railroad tour. A small town in north-central Alabama, Hobson City , Alabama, also took his name. Rank and organization: Lieutenant, U.S. Navy. Born: 17 August 1870, Greensboro, Ala. Accredited to: New York. (Medal presented by President, 29 April 1933.) Citation: In connection with

1496-551: Was advanced ten numbers in grade after the war and was promoted to naval constructor with the rank of lieutenant to date from June 23, 1898. Following the end of the war, he helped repair and refit captured Spanish cruisers at Cavite and at various Navy shore stations. In 1899 he became a Veteran Companion of the Pennsylvania Commandery of the Military Order of Foreign Wars . He was also a Companion of

1540-409: Was difficult because the gangs became so rich that they were often able to bribe underpaid and understaffed law-enforcement personnel, and afford expensive lawyers. Many citizens were sympathetic to bootleggers , and respectable citizens were lured by the romance of illegal speakeasies , also called " blind tigers ." The loosening of social mores during the 1920s included popularizing the cocktail and

1584-639: Was forced to leave Chicago after being severely wounded, by Frank McErlane , during a drive-by shooting on September 25, 1925. Once the O'Donnells were eliminated, the Saltis-McErlane Gang, former allies of the Sheldon Gang, continued attacking the Sheldon Gang and by April of the following year the gang had lost their two top distributors, Frank DeLaurentis and John Tucillo. In October, a general amnesty had been ordered between Al Capone's Chicago Outfit and Bugs Moran 's North Side Gang . However on December 30 Sheldon Gang member Hillory Clements

1628-413: Was killed by the Saltis-McErlane Gang and in retaliation the Sheldon Gang killed Saltis gunmen Charlie Hubacek and Frank Koncil on March 11, 1927. Joe Saltis soon went to Capone who, in exchange for a large percentage of his profits, would negotiate peace between the two. During the later years of Prohibition the Sheldon Gang was suspected of supplying liquor to Capone rival Bugs Moran's North Side Gang. In

1672-794: Was notable for being the only congressman from the Deep South to vote for the (failed) women's suffrage bill in the 1915 lame duck session. In 1934, by special act of the United States Congress , he was advanced to naval constructor with a rank of rear admiral and placed on the retired list. He died on March 16, 1937, in New York City and is interred in Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia . After leaving Congress, Hobson became very active in

1716-424: Was raised to aid his parents in avoiding foreclosure of their mortgage . When Hobson was released during a prisoner exchange on July 6, 1898, hundreds of American troops snapped to attention, then burst into cheers as he passed. He was deluged with speaking invitations when he returned to the United States. After dining with President William McKinley , Hobson traveled west by train en route to San Francisco and

1760-478: Was successful in getting many states to ban alcohol prior to 1917 by claiming that to drink was to be pro-German and this had the intended results because many of the major breweries at the time had German names. Additionally, many saloons were immigrant-dominated which further supported the narrative that the Anti-Saloon League was pushing for. Another factor that led to the passage of the Volstead Act

1804-436: Was the idea that in order to feed the allied nations there was a greater need for the grain that was being used to make whiskey. Prohibitionists also argued that the manufacture and transportation of liquor was taking away from the needed resources that were already scarce going into WWI. They argued that Congress would have conserved food and coal much earlier had not liquor interests been placed above public welfare. This led to

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1848-489: Was the son of Sarah Pearson and James M. Hobson. He was the nephew of Richmond Pearson (1852–1923) and the grandson of Justice Richmond Mumford Pearson (1805–1878). He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1889. He was ostracized by his fellow midshipmen for his total abstinence from alcohol and tobacco. He maintained a superb academic record, graduating first in his class and became

1892-511: Was unable to place her in the shallowest part of the channel. With his crew of six, he was picked up by Admiral Cervera himself and treated quite chivalrously. Hobson became a hero of the American press while he was a prisoner of war in Cuba. His portrait appeared in hundreds of newspapers with embellished stories of his bravery in volunteering for what was perceived as a suicide mission. A fund

1936-621: Was used for medical purposes remained legal under the Volstead Act. Physicians were limited on what they could prescribe their patients. They were allowed one pint of spirits every ten days, a restriction the American Medical Associate opposed for being inadequate. Pastors, priests, ministers, rabbis and others who practiced religious actions could acquire a permit to provide alcohol for sacramental purposes only. Alcohol for any industrial purposes were allowed in Title III of

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