Thursday, October 29, 2009
Mr. Gat- I mean, Mr. George Remus...
Prohibition was an important part of the 1920s, and ultimately, even up to this moment. The book we read, The Great Gatsby, records this period of time and an observation of the generation and their mistake of estravagant indulgences. One of the main characters of the book, Jay Gatsby proves to have a strikingly similar personality with George Remus. Both hosted fantastic parties in a passive manner, were self-made (illegaly) men, and caused envy to those attending his parties. The difference between them is plentiful. George Remus, for one, was happily married.
Mr. Remus, I do adore your clean whiskey!
What is history? Truth? Lie? I see it as both. The winners often write history, but it is not so often you get both sides of the story. Prohibition truly is this type of history, as is something as huge as the Holocaust. No one could hide the documents, witness accounts, and efffect of the Holocaust. Nor could they hide the effect and facts pertaining to Prohibition.
I did like the book. It told both sides of the story and the topic fascinated me. To be a man like George Remus, and to have experienced what he has is an extraordinary feat. I was captivated by the struggles the Prohibitionists went through to try and control the "drunkards". I would reccomend this book to seekers of knowledge. Anyone else who reads this should relate the sad circumstances of America's past and apply it to modern practice.
I did like the book. It told both sides of the story and the topic fascinated me. To be a man like George Remus, and to have experienced what he has is an extraordinary feat. I was captivated by the struggles the Prohibitionists went through to try and control the "drunkards". I would reccomend this book to seekers of knowledge. Anyone else who reads this should relate the sad circumstances of America's past and apply it to modern practice.
Pro-hib-ition
Prohibition of alcohol, often referred to simply as prohibition, is a sumptuary law which prohibits alcohol. Typically, the manufacture, transportation, import, export, and sale of alcoholic beverages is restricted or illegal.
Prohibition: thirteen years that changed America is a truly intriguing history book. It details the America before, during, and after Prohibition. It notes the movements that first started the trouble to the point where everyone knew prohibition would be go national in only a matter of time. It documents Women's role in the Temperance movement, and the great lobbying power and influence of the Anti-Saloon League (ASL), dominated by Wayne Wheeler. The book documents how George Remus, a bootlegger-turned-lawyer rose to power and would later become known as the richest bootlegger of all time.
The moon...It's shining...Too much makes me sick!
George Remus got rich from purchasing mass amounts whiskey certificates at 65 cents to $4 a case when the nation went dry and later sold them at $80 a case. This whiskey was not cut with anything because it was professionaly made before the Volstead Act.
Moonshine (home-made alcoholic beverages) and wood alcohol, however, was cut with dangerous ingredients such as Nitric Acid, Sulfuric Acid, antifreeze, embalmbing fluid, rubbing alcohol, burnt sugar, and Nitrous Ether. Tens of thousands of people would die before Prohibtion was over from these cut alcoholic drinks.
Moonshine (home-made alcoholic beverages) and wood alcohol, however, was cut with dangerous ingredients such as Nitric Acid, Sulfuric Acid, antifreeze, embalmbing fluid, rubbing alcohol, burnt sugar, and Nitrous Ether. Tens of thousands of people would die before Prohibtion was over from these cut alcoholic drinks.
The Bigger Picture
People today often do not realize (or choose to ignore) the hilarity of our modern day society. We believe that our government is doing the right thing, and we do not blame ourselves when they mess up. Popular Soverign rule is beautiful- until you add corruption, organized crime, and violence to the picture. The politcs you think are going on actually turn out to be strings being pulled by extremely rich leaders of organized crime. The quote “Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it” is in fact true.
The prohibition of the 1920s to the early 1930s was a complete and total failure. The fact that many people though that people would give up their "evil ways" is, funny and sad, really. The government thought and still thinks that they can control behavior. Such attempts failed as much as government attempts to alter the free market. Perhaps the current prohibtion will be the last, perhaps human nature will change.(It won't).
The prohibition of the 1920s to the early 1930s was a complete and total failure. The fact that many people though that people would give up their "evil ways" is, funny and sad, really. The government thought and still thinks that they can control behavior. Such attempts failed as much as government attempts to alter the free market. Perhaps the current prohibtion will be the last, perhaps human nature will change.(It won't).
The Inner Circle (Collaborators/Links/Friends)
George Remus from the start was a guy who made friends quickly was intelligent, and full of talent. When he became a lawyer his clients were more often then not bootleggers and he briefly met Al Capone. His defense of murder-charged clients and resulting death sentences made him against capital punishment.
George Remus was friends with his associated. Those who helped run his drugstores that he opened and closed after a certain amount of his whiskey was sold. He eventually employed 3,000 people: drivers,bodyguards, shippers, accountants... eventually even the Chicago Police Department. His associated often were in contact with gangster bootleggers. Violence was not at all uncommon later on.
http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1864521_1864524_1864554,00.html
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/database/article_display.cfm?HHID=441
George Remus was friends with his associated. Those who helped run his drugstores that he opened and closed after a certain amount of his whiskey was sold. He eventually employed 3,000 people: drivers,bodyguards, shippers, accountants... eventually even the Chicago Police Department. His associated often were in contact with gangster bootleggers. Violence was not at all uncommon later on.
http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1864521_1864524_1864554,00.html
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/database/article_display.cfm?HHID=441
The man behind it all
From top to bottom: George Remus at the peak of his carreer,
George Remus in jail,
George Remus as a young man,
Political cartoon,
George Remus in jail,
George Remus as a young man,
Political cartoon,
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