The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-07-27
CAMPAIGN
ON STILLS
BEGUN
Revenue Men Hope to Check
Illicit Flood at Nearby
Sources.

Federal prohibition enforce
ment authorities today prepared
70 deal a deathblow to Maryland
and Virginia moonshiners who
are responsible for the local corn
whiskey flood.
Orders to Clean Up.
Out in the tranquil woods and
farmlands of quiet rural counties.
where weeds and stills abound in
equal proportion, agents attached to
the Washington division received
cleanup" orders today.
Acting Divisional Chief Harry NJ.
1uckett Is anxious to hit the source
or supply Of local bootleggers. It
has been definitely determined that
stills in northern Virginia and in
practically all sections of Maryland
send their output to this city.
Our purpose is to get at the
root Of the trouble" declared. Luck
EFT today. with the force of men
have working under me, I feel
sure that great results can be ac-
complished- To arrest the ordinary
hip-pocket bootlegger is a good
thing, but such action does not
relieve the situation to any great
extent. -*
ION the other hand, the destruc-
ton OF a still which has supplied
bootleggers with their corn wills.
key, and cost the owners $1,000 or
more effects a serious setback both
for the moonshiner and the boot
logger. It is our object to destroy
as many stills as possible, and to
keep a close and constant watch on
all parts Of the division
the District. Maryland, Delaware.
West Virginia and the northern
counties of Virginia. Shortly after
being appointed acting divisional
chief, to succeed Edgar n. Read, he
announced a policy Of paying as
much attention to small towns and
villages as to the larger cities.
Stills Camouflaged.
Agents are particularly active in
the vicinity of Brunswick and
ton considerable liquor is sent into
Washington and Baltimore. A re.
cent drive in this region netted nine
prisoners and more than 200 gal.
Ions OF liquor. The next offensive
OF the dry unit will be in a. differ
ent section, it was stated.
The possibility that airplanes or
even air maps might be used in the
current campaign or in latter ones,
to locate stills, was said by officials
to be remote. The stills, it was
pointed out, are often located in
dense growths Of woodland. and
cannot be detected from the air,
unless guided to within a few feet
hxr ,I-Y
acquainted with the land.
1t is common, dry agents say, to
find a still so cleverly camouflaged
on the exterior as to deceive a raid
ing party unless it is absolutely
sure Of its ground.
AS many agents as can be spared
from duty in the Washington and
Baltimore offices will be sent into
the rural districts to assist the
workers there in moppng up. These
changes will bs kept secret by the
prohibition officials, as it is not
always to their best interests to let
1t be known where forces are con.
centrated.
Thanked by Citizens.
Citizens of nearby Maryland and
Virginia towns, who recently pro
tested against a wave of vice ana
bootlegglng, nave come in person
ally to thank Chief Luckett for his
activities in Kidding their communi
ties OF the moonshine evil
According to reports from State
authorities and private citizens
roads leading into the District from
the two adjacent States are NOT
nearly so congested with bootleg
traffic as formerly. Whenever an
extraordinary increase in the mum.
Der of rum-laden cars cruising into
Washington is noticed, the knock.
off men"-arnaed pillagers of LIQUOR
filled automobiles-who first showed
activity last summer, spring up and
resume their banditry, invariably
causing a serious check to the