Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-03-31
NEW JERSEY c

With a law now on the statute books Of the
state Of New Jersey eoncrring with the federal
government in the enforcement of the prohibit
ton amendment, being practically a duplication
of the volstead act. there is no longer any ex-
cuse for the failure Of local authorities to close
up the saloons and booze joints where liquor is
still being sold.
That the United States OF America is going
to insist on prohibition must be accepted as a
fact. 1t ought to be evident by this time, even
to the most optimistic liquor dealer, that the
last hope is gone. In discussing the subject yes
terday Attorney General Dougherty said that
the nation will settle down within the next year
or two to a complete observance of the prohibi-
ton laws and there will be no bootlegging. To
some this may seem like an idle dream, but
it is the voice of the present administration.
II there ever was a wet spot on the face OF
the earth at the time the first attempt was
made to enforce prohibition 1t was New Jersey.
Governor Edwards promised. during his CAM
paign, to make the state as wet as the Atlantic
ocean. He has done his best but he has failed
utterly and one of the strongest enforcement laws
passed by the state is now in force here. 1t is
time the authorities shook off their indifference,
Yielded to the sentiment that is being more and
more manifested and made a real business of
cleaning up the situation that is so dissraceful
:. its defiance of the law.
Particularly should this apply to Perth Am
hoy where we have so recently had an awful
lesson of what Illegal booze selling leads to. If
there is any place in the United States where
= - s.s -lz-1l - Iaalf1- ayar off0rt
to put a stop to this lawlessness it is here in
Perth Amboy. No expense would be spared
10 run down a criminal after he had loaded
up with the poison and committed a heinous
crime. Why lould any expense be spared then,
in putting an end to the sale of the stuff that
incites such deeds. especially when both state
and nation have drastic laws against such n
business?
When there was only the federal law 20 be
considered the tendency was to let the federal
authorities enforce it. although it was just as
much the duty of the local authorities as it was
the federal authorities to see that it was obeyed.
But now it is a state law as well as a federal law.
Is it still going to be ignored and defied?
Perth Amboy has a great deal at stake in this
matter. 1t is folly to believe that all the drink
ing places still doing business in this city are
kept alive by the sale of near beer and soda pop.
The undesirable element that comes here every
Saturday night from nearby camps declare they
can get all the booze they want in the most open
manner. 1t is not an enviable reputation for the
city to have. 1t is useless for us to close our eyes
to the condition thinking that If we pretend not
to know what is going on here no one else will
know about it. The recent crime is enough. If
nothing else, to spread the city's reputation far
and wide. The only way to redeem ourselves is
TO make a real effort to enforce the law.
With a state law modelled after the federal
law now in force, what are the authorities go
ing to do about it?