The Washington times., 1923-07-05
DRY CHIEF
To CHECK
FLOW OF
corr"
Plans to Take Men From Cities
and Send Them Into Rural
Districts.

Striking directly at the source
Of the moonshine traffic in the
vicinity of the National Capital
Federal prohibition officials to.
day planned the dispersal Of
revenue agents through the rural
regions of Maryland, northern
Virginia, West Virginia and Della
ware. s
The action was in part infn-
enced by the serious complaints
made by residents Of nearby
Maryland and Virginia towns
against their own, county authori-
ties, to the effect that boot
logging, gambling, and other
forms of vice flourished in open
defiance of the police
Force Unequally Divided. q
: Harry NJ. LuclSett. new acting
chief Of general prohibition agents
IA the sections mentioned, decided
that his office should do its bit
toward ridding the country sur
rounding washington of moon
shining and bootIegging. thus help
Ing toAquell the scandal raised by
outraged citizens OF adjacent towns.
He expressed the belief that the
agents force was, in view of the
circumstances. unedually divided,
the far greater number Of workers
being retained in Washington, Balti-
more and other cities, while the
rural districts were subject only to
occasional raids.
A conference was held by Luckett
with his assistant, Ralph Ruby, and
with other men attached to his
course in covering all sections OF
his division with equal efficiency
and vigilance.
"I am just entering into this
work in an executive capacity"
said Luckett today, and don't
want it said that any part of my
division is not receiving the atten-
ton to which the law entities it.
"Of course, am not in a position
to divulge the details Of my plan
Of operations, especially in connec-
tion with the towns near Washing
ton. l can only say that a very
vigorous system of enforcement
will be observed throughout the en-
tire division
River Resorts Watched.
Luckett stated that, during the
summer months, especial caution
would be taken against the mush.
rooming Of bootleg distilleries along
the Potomac river and at beach
resorts.
An inspection Of Marshall Hall
and Colonial Beach, and the boats
travelling between Washington and
these points, was made yesterday by
agents from his office.
According to the agents assigned
to this work, very little evidence of
law violations was observed either
aboard the boats or at the resorts.
A report that corn liquor was being
sold from rum running automobiles
at the rear Of Marshall Hall was
Investigated and was discovered to
be unfounded.
One of the principal tasks Of
Chief Luckett's men under the
present arrangements will be the
destruction of stills and more fire.
quent trips Of inspection through
the countryland to make certain
that old violators have not re-
sumed their activities by recon-
structing demolished stills or build.
ing new ones. This, 1t is felt by
prohibition authorities, will result
in cleaning-up of the lawless sit.
uation which exists in the small
towns near Washington, insofar as
the prohibition unit is able to
remedy conditions.
The re-allocation Of general
agents to rural points throughout
the division will tend to keep down
Washington corn liquor supply.
It. is believed. At the same time
agents activities in the large cen.
tiers will not be neglected, accordinr
TO Luckett.