Prohibition, like many other attempts at social engineering, had a noble goal but created a much different reality. Instantly the country was divided into two camps, wets and dries, and the new law had declared that one of them was illegal. Government attempts to increase enforcement was met with more-sophisticated ways of breaking the law. The biggest problem was the border and keeping alcohol out of the country.

In February 1924. U.S. Attorney General Harry Daugherty told reporters, “Another very interesting phase of enforcement,…