Middletown transcript., 1915-01-23
STATEWIDE PROHIBITION

That concerted effort is being made |
throughout Sussex County by the mem
bers of the Woman's Christian Tenn
perance Union to force Statewide pro-
hibition for Delaware is shown by the
fact that members of the union have
aad petitions pr pared and are engaged
at the present time obtaining signers.
They seem to be leaving no stone un'
turned and are procuring the sigma
lures of both women, and men, even but
tonholeing" men whom they know to
be rabid ''wets." 1t is believed that
they will endeavor, through some
means, if possible, to prevent the ship
ment of liquors into this county, and
there is a likelihood of some measure
dealing with the liquor question being
presented at this session of the Legis-
lature.
While the White Ribboners may
make a move and have bill presented
similar to the Hazel bill which will
''hold water" if tested before the Su-
preme Court of the State, yet the fact
that majority of the members of the
Assembly from this county are ''wets"
must not be overlooked. 1t is safe to
say, unless some of them prove traitors
as was the case at the last session, that
liquor legislation will be passed at this
session, insofar as Sussex County is
concerned. The line between the
"wets" and ''drys" in Sussex County
is to sharply drawn that majority OF
the politicians are reluctant to tell to
which faction they belong, fearing that
it may mean their political death In
order to get the annoying question Out
, of politics, a majority are in favor of 8
bill being passed by the Legislature al
lowing the voters to vote on the ques'
tion every presidential election at the
same time the officials are voted for
In this way, it is contended, the
= liquor question would not be made {
campaign issue so much as it is now
. and, moreover, it would give both sides
an equal chance. Bu not being able
to vote on the question, the ''wets'
= contend they are not being treated
0 fairly; and that as conditions are a
r this time it is a one-sided question
since that vast, throng of 'wets" il
the county have no voice.
l There are hundreds of men who arr
t lined up with the ''wet" forces agains
e any measure being presented to tn
n Legislature which has for its purpos
the prohibiting of shipments of liquo
3 from ''wet" territory into this county
e 1t may be said, however, that ther
il are hundreds of ''dry" men, who vote
Y with the "dry" forces at the loca
q option election solely to rid the towns o
saloons, who at the same time ar
greater drinkers than many of tn
IS staunch "wet" men. On the othe
y hand\ scores upon scores of tn
Or most influential citizens of this count
N are "wet", although they never take
drink. Many church members can b
" found who are opposed to making tn
is county a sahara solely because of tn
he fact that they desire to have liquor
is their homes for medicinal purpose
al Although they ore opposed to saloon
yet at the same time they are oppose
- to such laws as the Hazel Act whiC
1t was effective for a time.
90 The ''wet" forces contend that Su
es sex County would not be dry" to-d'
IA had it not been for ''dry' voter
assistants who worked in the electit
'e booths for the ''drys" cause, and tur
ty ed hundreds of votes to the "dry
Is forces The "drys" make the san
ho contention against the ''wets," al
claim they were robbed of votes. II
liquor question is one of the create
that confronts the residents of Suss
County and more interest is taken in
We from time to time than in the constru
an ton Of good roads which are necessi
a in order that the county may make a
vanced strides. Men who were on
'u' staunch friends have been made bitt
We enemies on account of this vital questic
ch Nothing more pleasing to Sussex Cou
NV tains, it Is contended, could be done
this session of the Legislature than
- make provision for giving the people
'h- right to vote at certain intervals.
I I T. H.