The Washington times., 1923-08-09
OFF |C|ALS
TELL Of
CHANGE
Little LaWIessness on Potomac
Now, Say Dry Agents and
Campers Chief.

The Potomac river, last sum-
mer a haven Of bootleggers and
q mecca for moonlight drinking
parties, is one Of the most law
abiding sections of the Capital
pday.
The metamorphosis was brought
about through the efforts of
Federal prohibition agents and
the Potomac Campers Associa-
ton. These two agencies did not
combine forces, and rarely, if
ever, came in contact with each
other. The results, however,
have been gratifying to officials
on both sides.
Police Were Baffled.
During the summer of 1922, and
In earlier summers, the moon shone
down upon midnight orgies which
sometimes ended fatally for one or
more of the participants. The law
breaking was so widespread that POI
lice were unable to cope with the
situation.
Made reckless by liquor, canoeists
took desperate chances and were
drowned. Shooting scrapes were
frequent. ITO go up the river" be-
came a synonym for scandalous
conduct.
The river steamers were taken
over by the same disorderly ele-
ment. Ambulances waited at the
knife fights. The Potomac river OF
hailowed associations had turned
into a stream of shame and scandal.
Worked to Same End.
Harry NJ. Luckett, acting divi-
sional chief of prohibition agents,
and Louis S. Grisby, one of the
ers Association during the past
spring determined, each in his in
dividual way, to enforce the law
upon the river.
The former would proceed under
the authority given by Federal stat.
utes, the latter by the common con.
sent Of the sportsmen and sports
women who comprise the associa.
ton.
Luckett declared today that agents
stationed on the steamers which ply
between Washington and the vart.
Gus historical and pleasure points on
the river have reported no notice
able violations of the prohibition
law.
Stills of nnoonshiners among the
trees bordering the river below
Washington have been ruthlessly
destroyed and their owners pun.
ished. The raids have cost the
moonshiners too much money to
make the Illicit manufacture Of H.
quor in that section profitable VEN
ture.
Campers Keep Order.
1.-The public order committee Of
the Potomac Campers Association"
Grigsby said today. lis practically
a supreme authority nong the fiftv
or more camps which admits its ii.
risdiction.
1T is the intention Of the asso.
ciaion to make the upper Potomac
safe morally for Washington fanni.
lies, and this aim is being realized
beyond our highest hopes
1.-THE members of the association
are ladies and gentlemen, and the
threat of ostracism is sufficient to
control persons whose actions might
tend to cast 0lscredlt on the aSSoCia-
ton as a whole"
Police, prohibition officers and
camping authorities Of the District
and Virginia are unanimous in the
opinion that there has been less
trouble on the river this summer
than in any other year.
Fewer drownings have been noted
and reports Of lawless parties under
the spreading trees of the river
banks are few and not always are
gubstantiated.
Jazz Beach, the rendezvous of wild
partygoers below Alexandria, Is de-
serted. The story Of the finding Of
an abandoned baby on the sandy
stretch was effectual in deterring
further parties there.