Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-30
Woodcock Seeks Number of
Agents Required to Ferret
Out Stills in Square Mile.
METROPOLITAN POLICE
TO PATROL D. C. BORDERS
Prohibition Director Emphasizes
Campaign Should Not Be Re-
garded as Spectacular.

Determined to stamp out liquor In
Southern Maryland, Col. Amos w. w.
Woodcock, director of prohibition. has
blesome counties that may be extended
throughout the country to provide a
mosaic of enforcement.
Col. Woodcock yesterday Described
Southern Maryland as "one of the sore
spots of the United States" He has
ordered one of the largest forces of Fed
eral agents ever sent into the territory
to travel every inch of the road in an
extensive area. While they work, more
than 80 Washington policemen, Begin
ming tomorrow, will patrol the Mary
land-District of Columbia border to
intercept any rum runners driven out
by the Federal men,
Woodcock said yesterday the drive
would be conducted with thorough.
ness that he expects will furnish valu-
able information that may be applied
elsewhere. One of the things he wants
to know is the number of agents neces-
sary to ferret out the number of pos
slole still sites in a square mile. The
success OF the effort and the value of
the information collected will determine
whether similar drives are made In
other sections, he said
-. y. interest 1nc1QentaI.
The interest of District officials in
the drive is incidental to the main pur-
pose, Southern Maryland being outside
the Jurisdiction of the Washington
police. The question Of cooperation
was suggested to Maj. Gen. Herbert B.
Crosby, District Commissioner in charge
OF the police and fire departments, and
ne directed that So policemen be as
signed to give assistance,
The Federal agents have been in the
held two days, equipped with highway
maps and other information about the
territory. The Washington policemen,
IN crews of two men, will begin their
patrol work tomorrow morning along
six of the principal highways leading
to the Capital from Maryland They
VIII work around the clock in eight
hour shifts.
native Of Maryland, and thorough
~ informed about conditions in the
State, Col Woodcock has wanted to
concentrate enforcement agencies there
ever since he became prohibition direc-
tor. He emphasized, however, that this
campaign should not be regarded as a
spectacular drive. @
Against Spectacular Drives.
81 am not in favor of spectacular
drives and have not issued any orders
for such drives during the Christmas
season" he said. MY policy Is to keep
up steady pressure against CONNER
cial violations, avoiding the spectacular
as much as possible. Liquor Is being
made in Southern Maryland and
brought into Washington, and we are
determined to stop it. The agents will
needed"
Col Woodcock thinks that no section
OF the country presents difficulties In
enforcement comparable to those en-
countered in the spersely populated
sections of Southern Maryland The
worst part of the State, from the pro-
hibition enforcement viewpoint, is cut
through with good roads that feed the
two cities, Baltimore and Washington.
Much of the area Is in woods and hun
dredS OF streams offer as many possible
still sites. Cheap labor and an indie
pendently minded element that has
kept to itself for many years. unwilling
t. respond to anything short of strong
arm methods, have made the section
one OF the most troublesome to pro-
hibition officers.
While it will be difficult to apply in
formation gained there to other sec
lions of the country, Col. Woodcock
hopes that the performance of the
agents, the period of time it takes
them to complete the task, and other
contributions will furnish him with a
yardsttck that can be applied to other
areas.