The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1902-10-18
EXPERIENCE AND OBSERVATION OF A
MARYLAND CLERGYMAN UNDER A
PR0HIBIT0RY LAW III hartford
COUNTY.
Mr.. IL. X. Torbcrt.
Editor Of The Wing"


Editor of The Wing"
Dear Sir:-l am sorry to have been
50 slow in writing You tn" letter prom
!SCd with regard to the operation Of the
Local Option Prohibitory Law in Belair,
but | have been so situated. that neither
time nor convenient place was mine.
| embrace this my first opportunity to
fulfill your request. You can make any
us" You please, of what | write.
Let me say. in preface. that though
not by education prohibitionist | came
to Bclair in 1898. believer in local pro-
hihitiun. rs an effective practical means
of dealing with tn" question in villages
and small towns. | had for many years
seen such Il law in successful operation
in the town of IIcrndou. Fairfax county.
Virginia. where my family have lived
for - years, as also in Falls Church.
Na.. whore | had miniStrrcd for four
years just previous to coming to Bclair.
But very few weeks sulliccd to show
me. that the conditions were widely diff
fcrent. At Hcrndon and Falls Church.
towns of 1000 or 1900 inhabitants, three
tourthS perhaps nine-trnthS Of the popu-
lation largely of New England immigra-
ton. We're themselves total ahStainers.
and determined there should he no sale
of liquors among them. OF course the
few drinking men had their liquor. but
largely by lawful means from Washing
ton City. Occasionally some one ventur-
ell on clandcstine local sales. but the
drunken man was promptly locked up,
and the Illicit seller summarily suppress
ed.
Back Of the law. was an ovcrwhelm-
Ing public sentiment that would brook
no violation.
In Rclair. however. there was Il plainly
apparent general indifference.
The wcll-to-do-man of dcccncy and
dignity, got his liquor in quantity largely
from Baltimore. One gentleman of high
standing and absolute temperatures in
all things, himself by the way. Il strong
promoter of the present law, admitted
to me privately, that on the passage of
the law, he got from Il distillcry barrel
of good whiSkey, and kept it stored in his
attic. Another gentleman of similar
character and standing. whose health is
not strong, the the Trainer Of the law in
question, and the attorney for the Pro-
hibitionistS i'll their recently successful
opposition i'll Annapolis. to the proposed
repeal Of said law has for several years.
with characteristic openneSs. regularly
secured his beer in cases from Baltimore.
and with equal honesty and opcnness.
takes it regularly at his own table.
Inc young men about town could he
seen, i'll quite regular succession disap-
pearng behind the counter of n drug
store at the most prominent corner to
parts unknown, and each coming back
wiping his mouth i'll well known fashion.
drug store $50 called had in its
windows fine assortment of coored
drug store bottles. and patent medicines.
but 1t was well understood. seldom or
never hlled any prescriptions, save of one
sort, viz, "Sprtus Frumenti one quart,
or III broken doses rs needed"
About 1891 this ''inestimablc right of
the freeman was denied by an amend
ment to the Legislature mot however.
submitted to the vote Of the community.
The immediate effect was the spring
ing up like mushrooms of disrcputable
and partially concealed places. whence a
very thriving bottle and jug" business
or large proportions was conducted
Soon also our Railroad Station began to
be crowded with NAIL KEGS covered
with bagging, sent c. o. d., to fictitious
addresses, from Il distillery across the
line Ill pennsylvania, often to the number
Of 20 or 30 at II time q have seen them
addressed not only to Tom Jones'" Bill
Brown but to Bill Nye" and to John
The modus operandi was smple).
man, usually a negro, would come to the
agent and ask, IS there c. O. d..
package for Tom Jones'" or for John
Barleycorn z Yes, the charges are
81 Loo" The money was paid. and off
went gallon of doubtful whiskev to be
consumed in Jag" by "a half-dozen
negroes, or else peddled about amongst
young men and boys.
spoke strongly on the subject to
gentleman of prominence and character
from Baltimore, who had just established
country-house on the outskirts of our
town. lie said, Give me the facts, and
| think | can stop that" | did so.
Shortly after, there came to the agent. a
friend of mine, to whom this phase of fine
business was very dstasteful, an in
Jury (over the head of the District
Agent in BALTIMORE, from headquarters
Of Adams Express Company. He gave
prompt and honest answer. Immedia-
tely came an order, stop that" and the
sending of nail kegs to fictitious adj
dresses ceased, while those that still
came to bona-tide addresses. were only
drop in the bucket to the former food.
This is positively all that in seven years
has been done to stop the violation of the
aw. Meanwhile the violators of the law
grew daily more bold.
Every accused person when arrested,
and brought into Court, prayed of course
, jury trial. 1t was foregone conclu-
son that on every jury would be one or
more drinking men. Evidence from men
whose word could be relied on, it seemed