Middletown transcript., 1909-12-11
SITUATION IN SUSSEX
An Unbiased Statement of the NO.Liceuse
Condition in One of the Lower Counties

Condition in One of the Lower Counties
The Sunday Star.
Editor of The Star: Nearlytwo years
have elapsed since the two lower counties
i'll accordance With a vote OF the people
closed the public bars. Since that time
the question of the success or failure of
local prohibition has been discussed from
time TO time in the papers Of the State.
The rural correspondents in touching
upon the subject usually represent their
own personal views or preiudices, while
enthusiastic temperance advocates assure
US that Kent and Sussex are 'dry" in
effect as well as in name.
When, then, you asked me to write an
unbiased article, stating conditions as
they actually are, it seemed to me worthy
OF little effort on my part to assist in
getting the real truth before your readers.
Liquor has not been banished from
Kent and Sussex. That question was
never submitted to our people. What
they did decide was that it should not be
made and sold under the law in these
two counties. Many persons keep liquor
in their homes, and the business of the
express companies has materially in
creased, because of the package contain.
ing liquor brought from distance.
There is no question, either, that a
considerable quantity OF liquor, chiefly
whiskey, is sold in violation of law. In
several OF the towns speakeasies flourish
and dispense quality of liquor that is
evidently very bad stuff.
Under the old system practically all the
liquor consumed was bought at home, and
the speakeasy was an Institution almost
unknown. The law was not violated, be-
cause it licensed the sale of liquor. Con-
seqnensly, when the law prohibits its
sac, He may expect violations. In other
words, there can be no violation of law
when there is no Law to violate, or when
the Law licenses that particular thing.
But, we must remember, that at pres
ent, violations OF the liquor law consist
in selling without license, while in the
past most of the violations were of another
class and were rarely punished. The law
forbid selling to minors, selling on Sun
days, selling TO intoxicated persons or to
babitual drunkards. Asevery body knows,
these provisions were violated every day;
and, hence, anybody who deplores the
fact that under the no-license system the
law is often violated should remember
that it is more often violated under the
license System.
But, notwithstanding express shipments
and the vast amount Of advertising matter
sent into this territory by liquor houses,
and notwithstanding number OF speak
easies, there is probably not fourth Of
the liquor drunk that there was before
the bars were cosed.
As an illustration, take the town of
Milford, where there are probably more
speakeasies than anywhere else in lower
Delaware The grocery and notion stores
never did better business; there was
never so many of them and their casb
sales never aggregated SO much. Ofcourse
there are persons who 60 TO the railroad
station and point to the express packages
and exclaim at the tremendous amount
OF liquor brought to the town. Perhaps
there is $500 worth of wet goods there
while in the old days the three bars ofthe |
town Io0k ia every year from $780, 900 to
SIC. 900 (About 1928 day not to mention
the iqnor bought at distance aud which
came inst as IT now does. In the old days
on Saturdays il took bartenders work
ing rapidly to supply the thirst-queuching
elements of the town. Does anybody
imagine that such quantities OF liquor
could be dispensed now without it being
q public matter?
Now certain spots in these two counties
are wet and certain other spots 'sdry."
There Is no need to ask WHY there is this
,ondiiinn. The law is enforced where
he people want il enforced, and is null.
ified here the people are indifferent or
lfe friendly 10 The speakeasies. When.
lser Town officials are elected their atti-
pde on the liquor question is certain 10
lAYe doe consideration. Consequently,
own boards are for liquor or against il.
( they are for the licensed bars, they
laye the upnOrt Of the liquor element,
including the sppakeasy contingent Nat
rally, # elected. they are not disposed
make il uncomfortable for anybody
% violates lie liquor laws.
3 certain communities the negroes are