Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1923-06-01
LIQUOR THE CAUSE.

Inc May Term OF court winch
ended its session Wednesday
was the longest session held in
this county for many years. The
Grand Jury was in session six
days. There was little civil bus
mess before the court, most of
the session being taken up with
criminal matters.
The records of the May term
showed an increase of criminal
business over that of any term
for a number of years, a large
number Of which we're serious
crimes.
These facts bring to mind the
natural question-what is the
reason for so many and such Sc.
rious crimes Many reasons,
perhaps, may be given, but to
our mind the chief and principal
cause is liquor. The Grand Jury
attributed this as the cause and
we agree thoroughly with that
body.
When liquors were sold legiti-
mately over the bar we never had
such conditions in our criminal
court. SINCE the enactment of
the 18th Amendment IS the Con.
stitution and the passage of the
Volstead law, designed to put
said amendment in force, there
has been an unprecedented wave
of crime. Since prohibition
went in. effect which eradicated
the legitimate sale of intoxi-
eating liquors, with ruthless dis
regard of law, many persons
have learned the art of making
whisky and other liquors, not on
ly for their own use, but more
largely for sale. The liquor
made is of the most inferior
quality and serves to leave such
effect upon the nerves of those
who drink it that it leads to
crime. This Illicit liquor is con
sumed by not only those
who drank prior to days of pro-
hibition and who had a legal
right to do so, but it is now be-
ing drank by many of the young
err generation boys and girls
the result Of which their morals
are lowered and many become
depraved, ending in many cases
in the criminal courts. That
conditions are becoming worse
every day cannot be denied and
something must be done to pre-
vent a continuance.
We have never favored prohi-
bition and do not now favor it,
because we believe, rather thar
accomplish good, it has done and
will do harm. However, the 18th
Amendment was adopted and is
now part Of the organic law of
the land and should be lived up
to and obeyed. The Volstead
law was enacted for the purpose
of enforcing the 18th Amendment
it likewise should be lived up to
and obeyed. Besides this, we
have local law which serves the
same purpose and is as binding
as the national law.
There is no excuse of any kind
for the violation of these laws,
and rather than defy the law be-
cause one might be opposed to
the same and feel that they have
taken away personal liberty and
rights, being the law, we should
uphold and obey it.
There can be no doubt that the
sale, buying and drinking Of il
licit whisky is the cause and the
real cause Of a large percentage
of crime and every means should
be taken to break it up.
The Grand Jury in its report
to the court says that though
recognizing that the liquor laws
are being violated, it could not
get sufficient evidence to indict.
This jury was composed of men
Of our best citizenship, and not
fanatics. Therefore, we feel
that they have sounded a warn
ing to the officers of the law to
becomeN more vigilant and en-
deavor to apprehend the wanton
violations of our liquors laws,
bring the guilty to justice and
wipe out the cause of so much
crime. The great crime wave
should be curbed and we hope
that the officers Of the county
L. =.