Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-03-19

shogn by the following editorials from two
prominent newspapers. the New York Evening
Mail and the Elizabeth Daily Journal. The Eve
ming Mail says:
arthur brisbane, in the American declares
that gin. not the negro, Killed Mrs. Ealth NJ.
son al Perth AmbUy last saturday nlght. Inc
negro is in Jail and viii surely be executed the
Jersey authorizes have now arrested the saiooho
Neeper VINO sold the gin that aroused ~ thS
brutal instincts OF the murderer. lie violated
the law when he sold the gin; he violated a
higher law than man-made Jaw when ne per
mitted the negro and his two companions to go
out from his rum shop into the streets IN theli
rum-frenzIed state, to waylay men, women =,
children, as the case may be, and 10 eoHiml
deeds more 1endisn than murder.
Legally there is no punishment for TINS rum
seHer except d fine for violating the Nolstead
act; morally the penalty Tor the crime shouia
reach into the conscience of the rum-seiler anu
cake him feel his responsibility for that poor
girls horrible fate. He shares 1t, as he shares
responsibility Tor all the tragedies, big, and lit
tie. that the rum he sells unquestionaoly brings
into the family life OF Perth Amboy.
The most frequent argument heard against
the prohibition amendment is that II interIeres
that appeals strongly TO persons who DO not stop
to tnInh beyond the superficial. Inc fertn Am
boy tragedy is an example of the only Kind OF
personal liberty interfered with by the anti
liquor laws. The real prohibition now in force
is prohibition against crime. against poverty
against disease, against the indeceneies of life.
mat is personal liberty that is denied, and il is
denied on the ground Of its menace to the COM
munity as we'll as 10 the individual.
With such examples before them as this
Perth Amboy crime and its direct trace to the
ginmill as the real inspiration, those legislators
at Albany and Washington and those law-en-
forcing officials everywhere who endeavor to
eyade enforcement have no reason to be proud
OF their responsibility for the laxness that ex-
lists"
The following editorial published in the
Elizabeth Journal:
The murder Of Mrs. Edith Wilson, the pretty
and talented church 1rganist of Perth Amboy,
must be attributed primarily to a pint OF boot
leggar's gin,
"The brute who crushed out the life of the
popuIar Young musician and community worker
has been caught. Society is glad he was so
quickly apprehended. The next to receive atten-
ton should be the law-violators who sold him
the gin that brought all his animal instincts TO
"Prohibition received its impetus. particularly
in the South, because of the necessity of keeping
rum out of the hands of such as George Wash
ington Knight. Yet he was able to get his fill
Of il in a community in our own state.
1T is necessary that the public should rightly
appraise at whose doors the murder of the young
woman should be laid. There is blood on more
hands than those of George Washington knight.
This foul tragedy should teach its lesson to
any resident of New Jersey who walks like a
man-to do what he can to make 1t impossible
for anyone to peddle murder -inciting booze in
this state"
1t is apparent that Indignation is rising against
the open manner in which booze can be secured
in this city-and Perth Amboy is no exception
in this respect. Prohibition is a part of the con-
stitution of the United States: a strict enforce
rnent law has been passed by congress and a
similar law is now pending in the state legisla-
ture at Trenton with every prospect of being
passed.
How long are the authorities in the various
municipalities, especially here in the East. going
to make themselves liable to blame for such a
crime as was mmit here Saturday night
by refusing to do their duty in putting an end
10 tb;S IayvIesSnesS in booZe selling?
Is it not time for the local authorities to up
hold the excellent reputation they have already
secured in connection with the arrest of Mrs.
Wilson'S murderer by closing up these places in
Perth Amboy that are at the present time at
tracing such an undesirable element to this
city?