Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-08-06
ROBERT B. ELLIOTT NOW
PROHIBITION DIRECTOR
Takes Oath and Formally As
sumes Charge of Enforce-
ment Work in This State.

are still intact where they nave beer
stored by prohibition agents for this
State. Mr.. Elliotts recent appoint.
ment was sponsored by Senator l.
! Heisler Bah.
Conditions here are, not like the,
are In Philadelphia and other places
where seized liquor has been stoleI
/ from the prohibition storage vaults.
| Mr.. Boyce was heard to remark as
he submitted a complete inventory oi
the stock on hand to Director Elliott
Every item of liquor that was seized
has been inventoried. and is accounted
for in this list" he added. mot a
single drop of Ii has disappeared since
IL has been in our custody"
MIR. Elliott took the oath OF office
shortly after o'clock at the office OF
w. Scott Vernon. a notary public. and
a short time after assumed full charge
when the official transfer OF the office
was made under the direction of r.
A. Forbes, a deputy field supervisor,
a. Washington. Mr.. EIliott's new post
calls for salary of $4,000.
The new director snid that he had
no special program OF enforcement in
mind, and reiterated his statements
that he proposes to rigidly enforce
prohibition without fear or favor. He
said he is satisfied that the methods
employed by MIR. Boyce have brought
success and for the time being, he
will conduct the work along the came
lines.
For the position of deputy prohi-
b:tion enforcement director for Kent
county, William Ball Of Dover, for the
past several years proprietor OF tho
Dover Inn, is mentioned for the po-
sition. Mr.. Ball is formerly of Della
ware City. and before removing to
Kent county was active in New
Castle county Republican circles. He
is said 10 have the support OF most
members OF the. Kent county RepubH-
can committee as wen as that OF Sena-
tor Ball.
Mr. Elliott said yesterday that he
has not had time 10 consider the mat
ter Of appointing deputies. but that he
expects in a few days TO forward his
Recommendations TO Washington. IL
IS generally believed that a deputy
will be appointed for each county.
The better part OF yesterday was
spent at prohibition offices in the En-
SAHtttAhE ENlNAft ana hfnS
streets. in checking up accounts of the
retiring director. This was in charge
OF Mr.. Forbes. He was assisted by
Harry NJ Willis. chief clerk OF the
local office; Israel Howard. chief en-
forcement officer, and Messrs. Boyce
and Elliott
Boyce's Good Record.
Director Boyce has been In Office
since January 20. 1920. In that time
hundreds of applications for alcohol
have been made, under the provisions
OF the Nolstead Act, by druggists and
physicians. Bonds are required from
such applicants. These were inspected
by Supervisor Forbes. A number OF
applications for wine for sacramental
dained ministers or proper church
authorities.
When asked il he had any state
ment TO make regarding his term as
prohibition director. Mr.. Boyce re-
piled:
Il think the public can judge my
record for itself. / have tried to do
my duty under fhe law, and / feel
that / have accomplished much good
by suppressing the liquor traffic. AS
may be recalled i stated when / took
the office that l would enforce the law
to the best OF my ability and without
discrimination. ! also said that / did
not intend employing sensational
methods and have kept my word, all
though at times my staff and myself
have had some pretty lively experien-
ces with bootieggers and rum-runners
My staff has been most loyal and ]
thoroughly appreciate their services.
Il appreciate the assistance other
officers throughout the State have
given me in my efforts. Police and
eonstabies at all times were ready to
come to my assistance when asked
TO do so.'
Mr.. Boyce said that he had always
been interested in dry" campaigns
He recalled, how, prior to his selection
as the first enforcement director OF
Delaware, he had headed the fight
against liquor in the local option cam
paign in 1918 which resulted in VIII
mington voting TO stay wet and rural
New Castle county voting to join the
other two counties as a dry district
In spite of attempts TO have the
present State liquor laws. which he
supported and helped bring about
while a member of the Legislature in
1917, changed; two Legislatures have
refused to do anything towards alter
ing them.
Rev. T.. c. Prettyman, superinten-
dent of the Anti-Saloon League and
Frank e. Haley, special agent for the
Law and Order Society, expressed their
highest appreciation of Director
Boyce's work, adding that under Mr.
Elliott they felt the Office would be
managed with efficiency and discre-
ton.
Mr.. EIliott's Plans.
81 am a business man and know no
other way TO start work in my new
position other than in a business-lik
manner" said Mr. Elliott this morning
When asked what his plans were rela-
tive to conducting the work, he replied
that he thought that Mr.. Bdyce had
made a fine success of the work when
he was in office and he intended 10
work along the same lines as his
predecessor, for the time being al
least. II intend TO return to my home
in Seaford every weekend said Mr..
Elliott. when questioned as 10 whether
he would stay permanently in this city
He has a business in Seaford and ex-
poets 10 retain his present home in
that town.
II intend 10 start things Off Mon
dayt' he said when asked how SOON
he would begin active work in his new