Although the records cover the years roughly from 1916 to 1934, most of the material applies to the time between 1917 and 1919 when the League was at the zenith of its political influence. In addition, the records of this three-year period comprise chiefly the correspondence of James J. McDonald, who acted as corresponding secretary and attorney-at-law for the League. The records, which richly document the League's crusade to pass and enforce prohibitory measures, are arranged under the following headings: Investigations, Speeches and Personal Notes, Pamphlets, Articles, Liquor Legislation, and Miscellany.
INVESTIGATIONS comprises the bulk of the records and is divided into two subseries: Blind Pigs Cases and Election Cases. Records pertaining to the Blind Pigs Cases include correspondence, detective investigation reports, and county and circuit court testimony, briefs, and decisions. The term “blind-pigging” refers to the illegal sale, manufacture, or transfer of alcohol. The cases graphically depict the undercover activities of the Wisconsin League in its efforts to enforce prohibition laws in a number of towns in the state. The blind pigs cases involved the League's enlistment of the services of private detective agencies to investigate individuals and saloon establishments suspected of violating local and federal prohibition laws. To secure evidence for prosecution, the League initiated a “John Doe” proceeding. Witnesses would be subpoenaed and compelled to testify under oath before an examining magistrate, although the proceeding was merely a preliminary examination of the facts of the case. If the evidence indicated extensive criminal activity, the case would be turned over to a grand jury for prosecution.
Records relating to Election Cases deal with legal proceedings brought against the outcome of a local option election. Local option elections were held to determine whether individuals in a given town could lawfully obtain a liquor license to sell alcohol. Included are court petitions, complaints, temporary injunction orders, subpoenas, testimony, briefs, and final rulings. In contesting an election result, either wet or dry forces often accused the opposition of using fraudulent means to secure victory. An investigation would be ordered by the circuit district court and if any evidence of wrongdoing was found, the court would order an election “recount.”
SPEECHES AND PERSONAL NOTES consists of the notes of James J. McDonald, scribbled on index cards and scraps of paper. Personal notes reflect McDonald's ideas on prohibition. The speech notes address various topics of concern at that time: liquor and labor, liquor and hospitality, the evils of the liquor trade, and so forth.
The League printed a wide assortment of propaganda PAMPHLETS, designed to educate and sway the public and lawmakers in favor of prohibition. Examples of the pamphlets included are “Liquor and Labor,” “Drink and the Underworld,” “Personal Liberty and the Saloon,” and “The Farmer and Prohibition.” Also included are some wet propaganda materials: a report published by Anheuser-Busch, Inc. detailing the beneficial effects of the Quebec and Wine System on temperance, and clippings from Progress--“A Journal Devoted To The Interest of Every Department Of The Liquor Trade.”
Numerous ARTICLES from prohibition journals and local newspapers examine virtually every issue of concern to prohibitionists. Included are articles from some of the most prominent prohibition journals of the day: The Amethyst, Think It Over, The California Liberator, The Instructor, The Campaigner, The Beaver, The New Republic, Efficiency, and the main organ of the Anti-Saloon League, The American Issue. A wide variety of miscellaneous articles as well as a file of McDonald's personal clippings relating to his activities as attorney-at-law for the League are also included.
LIQUOR LEGISLATION contains a number of local city ordinances, reports and copies of Wisconsin liquor laws, pamphlets issued by the Treasury Department in 1933, and a memorandum summarizing the accomplishments of the special session of the 1933-1934 State Legislature with regard to the regulation and taxation of intoxicating beverages. Material on the Evjue Referendum Bill and the Mulberger Act is included.
MISCELLANY consists mostly of correspondence (1924-1926) relating to a local option petition and drafts of license application forms. Also included is correspondence between James McDonald and the Superintendent of the Wisconsin League, D. L. McBride, regarding McDonald's election campaign for State Assemblyman.
