Smyrna times., 1928-06-27
P.S. duPONT QUEST|ONNAIRES
SHOWS MANY WANT CHANGE
s7es OF THOSE ANSWERING FAV-
OR CHANGE OF LIQUOR LAWS
Statewide Canvass Made Public Last
Week-The Six Inquiries Made and
the Number of Replies Are Given

the Number of Replies Are GlVen
Returns from the statewide canvass
Of voters of Delaware on the prohibi-
ton question show an overwhelming
sentiment against the present federal
laws, according to official figures made
public here last week. Out of 100000
questionnaires sent out by Pierre S.
dupont, a National Director and a
member of the Executive Committee
of the Delaware Division of the Asso-
citation Against the Prohibition
Amendment, 1881 replies were re
ceived, with 81 per cent voting in
favor of change in the present laws,
against 1912 per cent approving their
retention. Eighty-five per cent of the
uuestionnaires returned contained the
signatures Of the individual voters Of
the State. These signatures can be
readily verified from official records,
and therefore establish definitely the
bonifed character of the canvass. The
questionnaires were sent to every
known man and woman of voting age
in Delaware with return envelope ad
dressed to "Trust Department, Will
mington Trust Company" which was
the custodian of all returns. a COM
mittee Of two Delaware citizens-Wil-
liam B. Foster, Of Wilmington, and
DR.. OF Layton Grier, Of Milford,-who
are regarded as advocates Of prohibi-
ton, superintended the canvass Of the
answers, and the actual counting Of
u xyhVaT1d
Ross Brothers and Montgomery, a
firm Of accountants and auditors Of
Philadelphia, selected BY them. The
committee Set up rigid regulations to
make positive that the final count and
classification properly represented the
views Of the voters who responded.
Four groupings of the responses We're
followed affirmative, negative, quail
fled and no answer. III reporting The
final count to the committee, the ac-
countants said: 1--WE considered az di-
rect answers such statements as yes,
ives of course, 'yes without a doubt,
sure and most assuredly' and no,
never, 4 would not, no indeed,
most decidedly not, etc. "a number of
answers to certain questions We're
qualified and as it was extremely diff
fcult to interpret the opinions Of the
persons giving such answers, We did
not consider such replies as affirma
tive or negative, but classified them
as qualified. Certain questions were
not answered by a number cf persons
and it was therefore necessary to
show a mo answer classification"
The six inquiries made in the ques
tionnaire and the ''yes" and mo- an
swers to each follows:
do you believe that much harm
results from abuse of drink under the
prohibition laws that are in force in
this country? Yes, 34,327; No. 2,-
215.
2-Do you believe that alcoholic
liquors such Wy beers, wine, whiskey
and gin may now be bought, illegally,
But freely INV those who wish To buy
It'll? YES, 34,869; No. 1,848.
3-Do YOU believe that the general
disregard of prohibition laws IL lead
ing To other lawlessness? Yes, 80
761; No. 1892.
do you thlnk that change III Ihe
existing prohibition laws is needed !?
Yes, 32,915; M, 4,422
5-If the sale Of light wines and
beer were permitted, 10 you believe
that the call for whiskey and gin
would materially decrease? Yes, 29,-
207; No, 7,215.
eff you favor a change in our
laws, but do not want the old time sa-
loon back, would you vote for change
that permitted sale Of spirits, wine
and beer through properly conducted
and government supervised places Of
sale Yes, 1903; No, 4,977.
In addition to the foregoing posi-
. tive replies, Approximately 1,200 vot-
, ers gave qualified answers or failet
entirely to register their sentiments
. The committee disregarded 292 reptile!
: because they were contained in unseal
4. ed envelopes, came from nonresident
or were left personally at the office
: Of the Wilmington Trust Compan!
which had charge Of the receipt an