Evening journal., 1922-01-12
DELAWARE FAR
FROM DRYEST
Government Agents Say
Much Liquor Was Seized
Here Last Year
% ARRESTS FOR
LAW VIOLATIONS

There was no little laughter to-
day about the city. some OF it in
high places. over the declaration by
New York newspaper that Della
ware is the dryest State in the
Union; and more particularly that
''just one gallon Of illegal whiskey
was seized in the past year in the
State" and that mo stills were
taken, and but ffty-two gallons OF
beer"
/ In an effort to get at the truth
Of the matter, The Evening Journal
requested Federal Prohibition Di-
rector Elliott to supply a summary
OF the work done by his office. He
did so this afternoon. and the results
are distinctly different from those
OF the so-called New York survey.
Director Elliott's summary covers
the past six months. from July /.
1921 to January /. 1922. This per-
iod forms the first half OF the gov
ernment's fiscal year. The summary
shows that in that time, 2S arrests
were made for unlawful liquor
transportation. sale or possession.
Ten stills were seized. $50 gallons
Of mash we're destroyed and 159
gallons OF finished product we're cap
tured.
Thirteen prisoners are serving
time for onenses and fifteen cases
are pending in the Federal court.
The record by counties in the
state is shown that also Of the 2s
arrests. 90 were made in New Castle
county. 8 in Sussex and none in
Kent. OF the stills found and de-
stroyed. 3 we're taken In New Castle
in Kent and 6 in Sussex.
When the gallons OF mash, from
which liquor is distilled. is compar-
cd old sussex beat out New Castle
bv a score OF $40 gallons 10 25O'
with Kent trailing far in the rear,
with only 80 gallons. This is eX-
nlained by reason Of the practice in
,ovvcr Delaware OF distilling corn
ukker." or white mule" as it is
known.
But when the finished product
seized is considered New Castle. with
90 gallons. topped Sussex. with &C
gallons. Kert proved the banner
white ribbon" county with but one
? gallon Of finished product cap
tured.
commenting on the summary
b. Director Elliott said frankly;
3 As compared with other States
r Delaware is dryer. There can be no
[ question OF that. But TO give the
impression that there have been nc
s ARE SITS made. no stills seized, nc
mash destroyed and no finished
product captured, is palpably unfaii
to the enforcement officers.
The reason why Delaware Is
dryer than some OF its sister States
is due largely TO the effort oui
/, agents have made TO stamp ou
ibootlegging and whisky running.
think the summary speaks foi
4 itself"
Israel Howard. chief enforcement
officer Of the Federal prohibition OF
fice. and Charles Edwards. an en-
q. forcement agent, supported Directo
Elliott's views. Howard laid stres
on the location OF Delaware. geo
u graphically.
t Delaware lies in what might b
O termed the very heart OF a liquo
belt. It is doubtful II there are tw'
wettor cities to be found than Phil
adelphia and Baltimore; one to tn
north. and the other TO the souh o
us. Then Delaware is not so IA
distant from New York as not Il
feel the effects OF the liquor tram
there. And along side OF us Is New
Jersey, commonly regarded as non
too dry"
Interesting light on the alcohol
I wetness OF Wilmington is shed b.
the police records. The police. b.
the by. were highly compliments
- 10y Director Elliott and Chief En-
y. forcement Agent Howard for thei
work in rounding up liquor offend
a ers.
- In his report for the fiscal yea
a. which ended last June. Superintend
ent OF Police Black showed that 40
/, arrests for drunkenness we're mad
- as against 295 in the fiscal year O
a 1920. Speaking OF this increase. su
,s perintendent Black said:
"A How can you prevent a ma
from going only fifteen miles froi
. Wilmington. above the State lin'
=, and getting all the intoxicants h
= wants? That is where a lot OF ou
"A trouble develops. OF course. ther
/, are some stills in the city. but the
a. are in private homes. and the
- owners make liquor for their ow
use. They do not sell any OF
which makes il extremely dificu
A to get any evidence against then
"A on the whole I think we have
N pretty clean city"
v,