Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1920-11-12
Chief OF POLICE, MAYOR
and STR|CkER CONFER
ON LIQUOR SITUATION
aothing Said, However, of
What is Planned -Anti-Sa-
, loon League Head Writes

Police Patrick J. Burke and despite
the fact that all three were reticent
to speak for publication when ques-
toned as to the nature of the dis
scussion, a. is safe to believe that
immediate action of some sort was
advocated by the prosecutor.
A combination of circumstances
are thought to have been RESPONSE
BILE for the conference, chief among
which was the visit of federation
prohibition officers here Tuesday,
when liquor valued at more than
100000 was seized and removed
from the warehouse of Frank Gold,
, Inc, the receipt of letter from
Samuel Wilson in charge of the de-
partment of Law Enforcement of the
Anti-Saloon League of New Jersey,
charging the Middlesex county au-
thorities with passing the buck" in
making arrests as a result of the i'll
licit traffic in liquor; and finally,
the wholesale arrest of seven local
whiskey runners in a small Penn
sylvania town early Wednesday
morning.
That the question discussed was
the liquor situation here. is admit
ted, but no further information could
be secured from the prosecutor,
mayor or police chief.
In the letter from the anti-saloon
officer he asked that Prosecutor
Stricken follow the example set by
prosecutors in other parts of the
state in cleaning up liquor conditions
and stated that there is no hope of
satisfactory action" on the part of
the county federal prohibition agent,
James II. Curran, who, the letter
said. is a former saloon-keeper.
The charge is made in the letter
that the law is being openly violated
in all parts of the county with re-
CARDS to the Illicit sale and traffic
of liquor. The letter states that ap-
parently no person in Middlesex
county-federal, county or local
whose duty 1t is to enforce the law,
is lifting a finger to prevent he un-
lawful sale of Intoxicating liquors the
local authorities throwing the re-
sponsibility upon the county people,
and they. in turn. passing the buck
the federal agent, who is former
'aloonkeeper."
. The letter to Prosecutor Stricken
4 'ollows:-
81 The Hon. Joseph T.. Stricken,
prosecutor of the Pleas,
"Middlesev County,
New Brunswick, N. j.
Dear Sir:
Il am receiving a great many
complaints from residents of Mid
dlesex county in relation to the Illicit
fale of liquor. These complaints
show especially bad conditions in the
larger municipalities, such as New
Brunswick, Perth Amboy, South Am
boy and Roosevelt; but 1 also get
word that saloons and road houses
in the smaller towns and in the coun-
try districts are still open. Among
the places complained of are Old
Bridge, Dunellen, South River. and
the entire region along the Staten
Island Sound.
Apparently no person whose re-
sponsibility it is to enforce the law
in MiddleseX county-federal, coun-
ty or locals lifting a finger to pre-
vent the unlawful sale of Intoxicating
liquors, the local authorities throw
ing the responsibility upon the coun-
ty people. and they. in turn. pass
ing the buck" to the federal agent,
who is a former saloonkeeper.
Some of our friends in the county
sare under the impression that the
Anti-Saloon League has authority to
enforce the law; but, of course, we
have no such power. The best that
we can do is to bring the lawless
conditions to the attention of negli-
gent and conniving officers of the
law. and prod them-through the
presto the performance of their
duty, which has brought remarkable
results in many parts of the State.
THE laws of New Jersey. in de-
fining the authority and responsible
tiles of prosecutors of the pleas,
specify that it is their duty to detect,
arrest and convict" lawbreakers.
"Of course, the first responsible
ity rests with the local officials, but
where they are negligent-as in the
conditions under discussion-the
duty of the prosecutor is very clear
and, as spokesman for a very large
Number of friends of law and order
i'm Middlesex county, ! write to urge
you to use your authority to suppress
a condition of saloon anarchy that
IS developing in Middlesex county.
"It can hardly have escaped your
attention that, especially in New
Brunswick and Perth Amboy, not
only is there a large Illicit retail
4 traffic in liquor. but, also. an exten-
tsive wholesale business, and indi-
Hiduals who formerly were impecu
hious are amassing fortunes in sup
,Iplying saloonkeepers and bootleg
gers.
There is no nope or any satlS-
!, factory action on the part of the
local federal agent to remedy these
conditions, but you have a respon-
. sibility to enforce the laws of New
\Jersey. and l would especially direct
9your attention to Article sc, of the
Aerimes act, which makes 1t a mis-
iemeanor for any person to sell at
retah amy vinous, spirituous, or
malt liquors: wine, rum, gin. brandy
or other ardent spirits, in the COM
position of which any of the said
liquors shall form the chief ingredi-
ent, without license for that pur-
pose first had and obtained
There is not valid license in
.oXicating liquors for beverage pur-
/ poses is in the criminal class.
\ prosecutors in number of
tcounties are actively working to ex-
Terminate this class of criminals.
Jerry recently. in Camden county.
lhe prosecutor arrested. and had
convicted. over 200 Illicit liquor
bealers. the expense of the investi-
Patton and prosecution being more
than covered by the collection of
oearlv s50.000 in fines. The prose-
fsutors in Hudson and Essex coun-
ties are now investigating and pros
ecuting malefactors of the same
class: and there would appear to be
no legitimate reason why the pros
ecutor of the pleas in Middlesex
county should not follow their good
example.
(Continued on mage n