Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1920-12-02
OUTL|NESPLAN
ON DRY LAWS
Samuel Wilson of nti-Saloon
League Sends Circular Let
ter to Several Authorities.
FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL
Refers to Injunction and
Abatement Features of the
National Prohibition Law.

A circular letter has been sent out
by Samuel Wilson. assistant state
superintendent in charge of law en-
forcement department of the ANTI
Saloon League of New Jersey, TO
United States District Attorney FL :
mer II. Geran, Attorney General
Thomas +. McCran, prosecutors and
municipal attorneys pointing out an
effective weapon which might be
used in stamping out the lawlessneSs
resulting from the failure to enforce
the prohibition law. The injunction
and abatement features of the pro-
hibition act are referred to in TINS
letter, which state that premises or
vehicle where Intoxicating liquor is
manufactured, sold. kept or bartered
may be held on lien.
The letter follows:
ANTI SALOON LEAGUE OF n. j.,
''207 Market Street.
Newark, n. J.
Dec. /, 1920.
Hon, Elmer n. Geran, L. 5. District
Attorney: Hon. Thomas f. Nc
Gran, Attorney-Gen and al
Prosecutors of the Pleas and Mu-
nicipal Attorneys of the State OF
New Jersey.
Gentlemen:
"In view of the importance OF
stamping out the widespread law
lessness on the part of makers and
dealers in Intoxicating liquors. per-
nit me to bring to your attention a
very effective weapon that has moi
yet been used in the state, /. e.. the
injunction and abatement features c.
the national prohibition act, as Gov
cred by sections 81 and % of title IL
please note that any room, house
building. boat, vehicle. structure OF
place where Intoxicating liquor /:
manufactured, sold, kept or bar
tered: and all intoxicating liquor and
property kept or used in maintaining
the same. is declared to be a com
mon nuisance.
THE law further provides that the
premises or vehicle may be held OF
lien.
ALSO, that actionJto enjoin sue.
nuisance may be brought in th'
name of the United States. not only
by representatives of the fedora
government, but by the prosecuting
attorney of any state or any subdi
vision thereof in the United States
district court
1T is very clear, therefore, tina
the attorney-general of New Jersey
all prosecutors of the pleas, and al
municipal attorneys have not onl.
the power but a responsibility I
abate such nuisances.
In our leading cities there ar
wholesale liquor dealers who hol'
and sell vast quantities of intoxicat
ing liquors contrary to law. Not onl!
the premises, but the stocks of liquo
may be seized under this law by eth
err federal. state, county or munici
pal officers. Were these wholesalers
stocks OF liquor checked and gauged
very few would be able to show ;
clean record. These sourcts of sup
ply of liquor for saloons and boot
leggers could thus be closed.
DAILY trucks and caravans of au
tomobiles traverse the highways o
our state, loaded with illicit booze
This nuisance you have the powc
to abate.
"Moonshine stills are being opcr
ated quite notoriously in our state
You have the power to abate thi
nuisance without the complication
and delay of criminal prosecutions
"'ihere are thousands of saloon
and speakeasies that you can enjoin
Vigorous action on your par
along the lines suggested wouiC
warn landlords who own premise
now occupied by Illicit liquor deal
ers. that the court may order sucl
nuisance abated and the premise
closed for all purposes for one year
Trusting that you will use thi
convenient and effective method o
teaching reverence for law to tn
men, chiefly aliens. who are nov
treating our constitution and law
with contempt, l am
Sincerely yours.
SAMUEL WILSON,
Assistant State Superintendent. il
Charge of Law Enforcement De
rf,