Evening journal., 1907-12-10
LOCAL OPTION
In OLD SUSSEX
As Viewed by a Correspond
emf of The Baltimore
Sun in SeafOrd
SPEAKEAS!ES in THE TOWN

A Baltimore sun Stan Correspondent
writing from seaford says:
Whether the Introduction Of local option
into the two lower counties Of this state
has been success or failure Is a question
much debated here. II there is no legal
way TO stop whisky being shipped into The
town-and it seems there Is not-many Of
the 'iwew sympathizers who were mod
crate drinkers before are likely to culu-
vate antemperate habits IN their desire
to show the dry folks that they still
can get all the whisky they wish
Stin smarting with the pain Of such an
overwhelming defeat as they sustained.
the wet supporters point with satisfac-
tlon TO the fact that in this town twice as
much whisky has been drunk since local
option than before. and dsorder on the
streets and IN the suburban districts has
increased correspondingiy. Two arrests
here Saturday night for disorderiy con-
duct on the street growing out Of the
feeling over local option. the "wew people
say, is additional evidence OF the intem-
perate effect local option has had upon the
town.
Enthusiastic over their decisive victory
for local option, the Prohibnionsts while
they do not deny that whisky is being
drank in large quantities. and possibly
more than ever before. aver that it is the
natural effect Of the embryonic condition
Of local option. They say after year has
passed and the situation has become nor
mai every man who drank liquor before
will not try every Saturday TO drink
enough 20 last him until the following
Saturday. Nor viii lie. they say. send to
the cities and get such large quantities OF
whisky as people are doing now
1t is evident from the situation here that
neither side is likely to end the debate as
to success and failure Of The plan for some
time to come.
Spea<easies Appear.
IL is an undisputable fact that speak
easies, where a man can go In and say.
give me little pair of shoes" and get a
pint Of whisky. or Give me a big pair of
shoes" and get a quart of whisky. are
springing up all over the town There are
three within a stones throw of the Sussex
Hotel Grocers are laying In a large stock
] Of "bitters" the prohibition people are
commencing TO organize the local end Of
the Law and Order League and the sltu-
alton promises TO be lively.
/ In smaller towns, where the people are
poorer and cannot afford to get llauor in
large quantities, the men club together.
They hire a negro to board train going
] into one Of Maryland's wet counties on
to Wilmington and bring back whisky.
Sometimes 70 takes several hours 10 make
these trips and IN other oisses half a day.
but the buyers wait patiently. This was
witnessed in Georgetown.
When the express pulled In her on Sat
urday night a rush was made for the
baggage car while the passengers who
/ alighted Joined the crowd and looked on.
/ Five packages, each containing about tive
/ gallons Of whisky. were taken out OF the
express car and placed in charge OF the
express agent William MacDowlell,
Pastor in Word War.
At this crucial moment w. NJ Ross. a
well-known man Of the town. and fol-
| lower Of the wet faction, became en-
gagged in a warm alteration with Rev W.
O. Hurst For several moments It seemed
that personal conflict would result. The
crowd abandoned the space whore the
baggage car door had been opened and
turned expectantly to the little group o!
! uif men eulAhNIutu hl the vets.
After a little while quiet again reigned
and the jugs which were in the car were
counted by Mr.. Rawilns who fixed the
namber at five. When they had been dis.
tributed to their owners and the GROVE
started up the hill to the town another
argument ensued which ended in T. o
Whitley and /. n. Williams being arrested
They fell 70 discussing the relative merits
of local option and it was no uncerta Z
tones they used when It was necessary foi
the town marshal 10 intervene and talk
them before a magistrate.
BY o'clock the town was quiet. Aftel
that little knots Of men walked here anr
there through the streets. silently disap-
pearing into a "speakeasy" and then reap
pearing to look suspiciously up and dowl
the street and then slouch downtown
stopping in at the next one.
Two negroes, John Walker and william
Neelsins. both partly intoxicated. became
engaged in an alteration. Pulling out p.s
tolls. which most Delaware negroes seen
to carry, they blazed away az each othel
They were arrested In the midst Of an up