Evening journal., 1913-04-01
TUESDAY. APR. 1. 1918
JuDcE BRADFORD's TIMELY WARNING.


THE action of Judge Bradford. Of the United
States District Court in this city in INJECTING a
prison sentence upon OF the men arrested for
selling Intoxicating liquors In Sussex county without
a Federal license will meet with general approval
There was no doubt relative the prisoners guilt lie
had entered plea of guilty Judge Bradford quite
properly decided to make example Of him. Hay-
inr established that precedent with respect TO man
who had pleaded guilty doubt he will innict even
heavier sentences upon those who may be convicted
after forcing the Government to the trouble and
pense Of trying them In that, too. he will be sup
ported by public opinion.
Both Kent and Sussex counties voted in favor OF
local option. The old licensed and regulated system
OF selling liquors abolished in those counties
by a mandate Of the people. Men who had their all
tied up In hotels and saloons were put out of bust
ness Most Of them we're burt seriously ina financial
Following that systomstzed efforts we're made to
nuify the local option law. Certain men decided
that it would be a paying thing to set up so-called
booze-clubs in the dry districts. They were so bold
in their operations that they did not even take the
prccaution to obtain Federal licenses. Perhaps they
thought that il they did it would lead to trouble
with the State authorities Several OF those clubs
established Their operations became notorious
The Federal Government started investigation. 1t
led TO the arrest and indictment OF several men.
One Of them IS Alfred H. Willin, the whom
Judge Bradford Just has sentenced to pay fine Of
5000 and costs, and be imprisoned in the workhouso
for thirty days What the fate Of the others will be
is known Some OF them have pleaded not
guilty Others have sought safety in flight No
doubt they will DO captured later on. and tho
penalties inflicted will be all the more severe owing
to the trouble they caused the Federal Govern
mont.
The important thing is that Notwithstanding the
inactivity OF our State officials the Federal Govern
ment has done its duty in this matter The people
cannot fail TO appreciate A. The sentencing Of
Wiln to the workhouse is due notice to other vio-
lators OF the local option law in Kent and Sussex
counties that they engaged IN exceedingly .faz-
ardous enterprise The effect should be TO them
70 close up their booze-cubs speak-eases and blind
pigs It also should stir the State officials to ac-
tivty.
Rrom this time forward there should be earnest
and intelligent cooperation between the Federal and
the State officials All offenders against the local op-
ton law in Kent and Sussex counties should be
brought to justice by this proposed alliance Nor
should the State authorities lose sight OF the fact
wn, by pleading guilty OF the crime OF selling
liquor without Federal license. automatically pleaded
guilty selling liquor without State license and
that the State has a to settle against him after
he has served his thirty days in the workhouse That
also will be true Of all others who may plead guilty
be convicted in the Federal court All such mer
viii be absolutely without defense in the State courts
II Kent and Sussex are TO be dry they should b,
dry in fact as we'll as in name and the purpose,
OF the local option law should be defeated b,
the county TO have licensed and regulated excis
system than to have local option system with sucl
him permitted 10 violate ii at will and to Sc
81 a. defiance The State officials have a response
hiiity in this matter and they should recognize tn
fact and meet IT,