Evening journal., 1913-08-20
WEDNESDAY. AUG. 20. 1918.
THE wEBB.kENYON AND THE HAZEL LAWS.


xE do not think that even tho earnest advo-
w cate Of local option prohibition will contend
that IT is fair or just prohibit shipments OF liquor
from New Castle county into Kent and Sussex coun-
ties under the Hazel law and to permit shipments
of liquor from other States into those counties under
the Webb-Kenyon law There is lack of equity and
common-sonse about such situation that no one can
defend with a clear conscience.
The people of Kent and Sussex counties have issued
their that those counties shall be dry Scores
hotel propretors and saloon keepers have been put
out OF business The commercial value Of much prop
ery has been destroyed Those risks which we're
taken however, by those who engaged in the liquor
traffic, or who owned property devoted to that busi-
ness Their pecuniary interests subservient to
the interests of the public majority of the voters
IN those counties those interests. Before the
mandates issued by the people private interests had
TO give way.
After the hotels the saloons in Kent and Sussex
had put of business, II discovered
that liquors of all kinds being shipped carried
into those two counties and that they in large
measure defeating those mandates. That led to the
passage by the Legislature of the socaed Hazel law,
which prohibited such shipments and placed rigid re-
strictons upon the amounts Of liquor that might be
carried those counties. The interstate phase of
the trouble local option and prohibition territory in
this and other states sought to be cured by the
passage by Congress of the Webb-Kcnyon law.
In our own state was thought that the Hazel law
would prevent the shipment Kent and Sussex Of
intoxicating liquors from this county and that the
webb-Kenyon law would prevent such shipments into
those counties Of liquors from other States The
idea prevailing that Kent and Sussex would be
dry in fact we'll in
Liquor clubs we're set up in Of the Sussex
county towns They suppressed by the Federal
Government and some their operators we're tried,
convicted and punished The State authorities also be-
came active aud the lid was held down"
The situation seemed we'll in hand until in the case
of The Commonwealth of Kentucky the Adams Ex-
press Company tried in the courts of that state the
right to make Interstate shipments dry territory
upheld Immediately thereafter liquor men and
common carriers began shipping intoxicating liquors
in large quantities into dry territory. citing the Ken
tucly decision their justification for doing Kent
and Sussex counties were immune from such ship.
ments, Notwithstanding state officials refused tC
concede that the Kentucky decision upset the Webb
kenyon law nullhed the Hazel law in far as In
erstatc shipments affected. Several arrests wer
made and all the prisoners held for court
That, in brief is the history Of the situation tina
confrons the people of Delaware The point q
Il All is that New Castle county liquor dealers. VIII
pay state license for the right to transact bus
in Delaware. are prevented by the Hazel la'
from making any shipments into Kent and SUISSE
counties, while the liquor in other States VIII
pay absolutely nothing for the support of stat
government. may ship into those counties all N
liquors they desire under the Kentuckq constructio
OF the Webb-Kenyon law
Entirely apart from the moral questions involve
IN the sale and the prohibition of sale of inoxcstn
liquors. submit that it is a gross injustice to clos
those two counties to the liquor dealers in New Cast
county under the Hazel law and throw them wiC
to the liquor dealers of the entire country und,
the Webb-Nenyon law. Certainly II that is to be n
situation then the Hazel law should be repealed ;
Il will work benefit to Kent and will il
nct an unwarsrnted discrimination upon the liquC
dealers in this county