Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-06-21

Edgerton Sees Success of
Prohibition Issues State
Ment With His Resignation

NEWARK. June 21-With a
statement touching on the success
of prohibition in this state and in
the whole United States, Prohibi-
tion Director James a. Edgerton,
of Newark, resigned from his po-
sition today. and it Is likely that
| George w. Van Note. of Belmar,
will be chosen to succeed him. In
his statement the retiring officer
spoke on the success of the law so
| far, and states that in time every
one will obey the act. His reason
for resignation is in accordance
with his original understanding
when he first accepted the position
under protest. that he be permitted
to resign as soon as he had it in
running order.
His statement follows:
New Jersey may be a conserva-
tive state, but 1t is also a law-abid-
ing state. The traffic in intoxicating
liquors for beverage purposes is a
violation of the constitution and laws
of the United States. AS a loyal
member of the Union, New Jersey
will help enforce these laws in good
faith.
"As a citizen, who is proud of his
state and her good name, | refuse
law has come. to stay. The saloon
is outlawed forever. Its going will
prove to be aa immeasurable bless
ing to society. Give the law time
and a fair chance. Already it's bene-
fits are apparent in decrease of
crime and an increase in the COM
forts of life TO the poor.
I'm a few years public opinion
will be overwhelmingly in its favor
in New Jersey and elsewhere. 1t is
for the public good. Honest men who
were formerly in the liquor business,
as well as honest men who are now
engaged in the non-beverage traffic,
are obeying it. Let us compel the
crooks also to obey it and so give
everybody a square deal.
II want TO give notice again that
this law is going to be enforced. The
director has charge of permits. Re-
Gently we have been checking up
wholesalers and have suspended sew
eral of them because of irregulari-
ties. | take this occasion to serve
public notice on these and other
wholesalers that they must observe
the law and stop selling liquor to
crooks on faxed permits. Not only
that but if wholesalers do not show
mQre of a disposition to abey the
spirit as well as the letter of the
law. all wholesalers permits will be
revoked.
my resignation as prohibition di-
rector for New Jersey merely fol-
lows out the original understanding
when 1 was appointed. 1 accepted
the place under protest and only on
the condition that l be permitted to
retire as soon as | had ii organized
an in running order. | have re-
NAMED longer than was originally
contemplated, for the purpose OF
perfecting certain plans for the bet
ter enforcement of the Volstead act.
1t is impossible for me to stay for
the carrying out of these plans and
any credit incident thereto is cheer
fully passed on to my successor.
"Some question has arisen as TO
the cooperation of State, county and
municipal authorities in prohibition
enforcement. The eighteenth amend
ment to the constitution, Article 2,
provides that: The congress and
several states shall have concurrent
power to enforce this article by ap-
propriate legislation The legisla-
ture of New Jersey has not seen fit
TO avail itself of this power, further
than to pass an act defining an intox-
icating beverage as one containing
3.5 per cent. alcohol by volume,
which act is rendered null and void
by the recent decision of the United
States supreme court.
While the federal authorities can
not recognize the 5.5 per cent. limit
placed on lntoxicants. we would be
greatly pleased II the state officials
would help us prohibit all beverages
with more than that alcoholic con-
tent