Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-02-16
MONDAY, FEBRUARY l6, 1920.
Circulation Every 1AnH0
Evening Saturday j fOOO
A Surprising Interference.

administration of the laws governing the
same. which are peculiarly vested in the
office of the attorney-general and his
deputies, we feel prompted to raise our
voice and try to find out what is going on
IN the State of Delaware.
Recently in the town Of Georgetown,
in Sussex county, which is the residence of
MIR. Layton, until recently deputy at
torney-ceneral for Sussex county, a mob,
angered ut being requested to obey the
law touching the vaccination of persons IN
Georgetown, with force removed public
official from the county. Thereafter, ac-
cording to the public press, Mr.. Layton
-esirned as deputy encouragement. leav-
inr il to his chief, Mr.. Relnhardt, the
,ttornev-gencralfo for the State, TO conducta
proceeding against the persons who had
lad the riot in Georgetown. 1t has since
been broadly intimated in the press that
MIR. LAYTON may be reappointed to the
office OF deputy attorney-general.
How can anybody have respect for the
laws Of the land when. il the facts above
stated are true, they are fiouted at VIII by
unthinking citizens, and the official whose
dutv il Is 10 see to their enforcement. re-
signs Office rather than proceed against his
neighbors? And then, when the trouble
has blown over, there is rumor to the
effect that he Will be reappointed again
4 more recent instance is that which
u al I1,ta NJ, ,arf-
ment Of the city of Wilmington. Every
polceman on the force in Wilmington IS
required TO subscribe an oath to the rules
and regulations governing his department.
which includes the rule Of obedience 20 his
sl,periors, and these superiOTs Inciude the
Police Commissioners. Yet II Is tact
that when one Of the detective sergeants
was being examined by one OF the Police
Commissioners. he refused 10 answer
perfectly proper question OF the Police
Commissioner, and gave as reason tor
such refusal the fact that he had pledged
his word to the encouragement OF the
state of Delaware not 10 give this ntorma-
lion 10 the Police Commission. 1t Is a.
further fact that MIR. Green, one OF th9
dcputv attorneys-gencral, was present and
heard this testimony and refusal OF the
detective sergeant, and made no attempt
10 offer any explanation 10 the Police
Commissioners nor to deny the statement
1f the detective sergeant.
There is no escaping the fact that II is
perfectly well-known TO the attorney
general and TO each and every one Of his
deputies that every member Of the police
lorce OF the city Of Wilmington Is sworn TO
perform his duties, among which IS that of
m aking a truthful response to any proper
question asked him by one OF the said
Police Commissioners when the commits
sioner is in the performance Of his duty.
From the occurrence of the other day the
people Of tins State may now understand,
and must understand. that the attorney
generals Office believes II is a proper and
legal thing for 1t TO put policemen on their
oaths not 10 obey the rules and regulations
of the Police Department. This Is very
frank method Of stating the situation and
the facts concerning 1T, but because we
believe the situation is q most serious one,
and that the people of this State should
take cognizance Of what is gong on, and
proper steps TO remedy the situation, We
thus openly refer TO the matter.