Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1907-09-06
SANE OLD STORY.
Failure of Local Prohibition In Kent
County, Maryland.
Wade Drunkards by LawleSS DealerS---A
for Prohibition is Vote for the Speak

appalling to a community that admits on
every hand that prohibition does net pro-
hibit there is no moral difference be-
tween the two counties, or if there is, the
difference is in favor of New Castle, be-
cause of the general and sweeping perjury
that yitiates the entire community in Kent
Another fact is recognized as these tax
figures are studied New Castle county is
far ahead of Kent in the excellence of its
public institutions. To be sure they are
not paid for but the interest charges
upon them approximate the actual ex-
pense of conducting the public institu-
tons.
The latter's court house was built in
1860 and the Jail in 1880; but they COM
pare in no particular with the modern
public buildings of New Castle county.
Lower taxes and better buildings touch
the hard sense of the taxpayer anywhere.
Hence, it is no surprise that the people OF
Kent are tired of prohibition and are get
ting ready to knock ost the pharisaical
system. Coupled with this principle the
common conviction that the system does
not reduce drunkenness, but surely in
creases it, and the conviction becomes a
determination to do the utmost to get rid
of the damaging and costly farce. The
foremost men that have sat upon grand
juries express a change of opinion and
their common disgust at the perjury
which it invariably produces. But let
them speak for themselves.
William W. Beck, Esq, the present
state or prosecuting attorney, said briefly,
although very frankly:
"My position forbids me to talk. The
speak-easy is here and cannot be sup
pressed. We sent them up House of
Correction) right along, and have closed
a good many places but whiskey is still
sold. They walk the streets and sell at
night, as much as a half pint at time.
1t comes here by rail from Wilmington,
and of course, from Baltimore by boat"
NJ. Wilbert Thomas, the postmaster,
man of keen discernment and unquestion-
able honesty, said frankly: Prohibition
helps our party, but it does not help bust
ness.
DR.. F. H. Hines the leading physician
and surgeon Of Kent county, residing at
Chestertown, spoke heartily as follows
Il think that all in all, prohibition has
helped Kent county by the abolition of
the saloon, it appears to have helped the
moral tone of this town, but there is just |
as much LIQUOR drunk here as ever. The |
better class order it in large quantities |
The other class get it from speak-easies. |
OF course, no man, even hard drinker |
if he has self-respect, will patrOnize the
speak-easy. He always manages to get it |
by importation from Wilmington or Bal
timoTe.
prohibition creates secret drinking |
and it takes a strong man to resist that |
When the Jug is at ones elbow it is often |
tilted. l have no doubt, that prohibition |
hurts business. Men go to do business
where they are free to act as men. Nor
ally, matters look better, but from bust |
ness point of view it is injurious. We .
ought to have high license, very high, |
and make the landlords officers of the |
law. They would have the interest to |
break up the speak.easy and thus the
county would get heavy revenue. The |
question is not properly handled. 1t is a
question of hygiene, and not of politics
nor prejudice. The children should be
honestly taught what whiskey means to
their bodies and minds"
James T. Dixon, Clerk of the Circuit
Court, said
at is a difficult matter and the enforce
ment of the law is still more difficult.
Prohibition costs Kent county great deal
of money. OF course the violator of the
law will lie and so will his customers.
Whiskey is sold, of course, the county
paws thousands Of dollars for prosecutions
that punish no one and the county gets
no revenue out of the business. There is
a feeling here, even among the temper
ance men-aHd l am one of them-that
high license-say $l00O-would be better
and wiser than what we now have. There
is some building being done and tho banks
are Furnishing They pay 3 per cent
which commands everybody's money, but
the capital, probably $1,000, 900 in the
three banks, has no market here There
is very little business here, and our capt.
tai is taken to other towns for investment
"They go to other places for invest
ment, Just as our drinkers go to Baltimore,
Townsend or Wilmington for their v his
key. You ask conductor, John Welsh,
Of our local train, about the Saturday
night trouble he has coming home from
Townsend"
William L. Meredith, a farmer, who
resides near Crumpton, offered the opin-
on that prohibition had done more good
han harm in Kent county, except to
business. ''There is no business in Ches-
.ertown, as you see, except by the banks,
and their money million or more is not
invested here"