Milford chronicle., 1931-02-13
PTERRES. DU PONT
SUBMITS PETITION
[Coniinued from Firsi Pa0r1

tiict with those wishes not further
than Congress is willing to do in
Washington and elsewhere" he con-
tinued.
Mr.. du Points figures showed that
62 per cent of the voters of Will
mington, according to the last cleo
ton, favored repeal in the petition.
Representative Walter G. Tatnall,
Jr., made the motion to extend Mr.
du Pont the privilege of the floor,
shortly after the two houses went
into joint session. A large gallery
was present.
Mr.. du Points prepared statement
to the General Assembly follows:
1.-The question of regulation of the
traffic in Intoxicating liquor in an
effort to promote temperance has
been before the people of this State
for many years.
1.-The Constitution of Delaware re-
quires the General Assembly to offer
vote on Local Option to a coun-
ty or to the city of Wilmington on
the request of a majority of the
Senators and Representatives elect
ed from any one of these divisions.
Under this provision of the Con-
stitutiOn the people of the three
counties voted to prohibit the sale
of intoxicating liquor within county
borders. However, those favorable
to prohibition of licensed sale were
in no case half of the voters of the
county and all majOrities were less
than 20 per cent of the voters.
I'm 1917 the people of the City of
Wilmington voted to continue the
system of licensed sale. Notwith-
standing this decision, affecting half
the population of the State, the GEN
eral Assembly of 1919 violated the
Local Option rights retained by the
people under their Constitution and
ratified the 18th Amendment.
1.-The familiar Loose Law was en-
acted in 1917. 1t was aimed to pro-
tect the counties from shipments of
liquor from without. This law pro-
hibits Importation or possession of
more than one quart of spurious
liquor, or one dozen pintS of malt |
liquor into divisions of the State !
where the sale of intoxicating liquor
is prohibited by law, but the manu-
facture of wine or cider from native
fruit for home consumption is spe-
officially permitted.
The Klair Law, enacted in 1919,
supports the 18th Amendment to the
Constitution of the United States. 1t
prohibits the manufacture, sale, bar
ter, or furnishing of any intoxicat-
sv,r
State of Delaware, as long as the
18th Amendment shall be valid and
effective. Pure grain alcohol for
medicinal, scientific, industrial, or
chemical purposes, or wine for sac
ramental purposes may be sold un-
der restrictions.
"The above laws, together with
those of the United States, if en-
forced, would prevent absolutely the
use of intoxicating liquor as a bev-
erage. 1t appears however, after
several years trial, that enforce
ment is not effective. Many citizens,
even those of irreproachable char
acter do not hesitate to obtain and
possess liquor for personal use and I
for medicinal purposes in
violation of the law.
I'm the year 1928, QUESTIONABLE
to all known citizens of
Delaware over 21 years of age 0hen
approximately 100000 persons)
brought replies from about 100000
Of these, $4,000 to $4,000 agreed as J
follows:
"'Much harm has resulted from
the abuse of drink under prohibit {
tion laws in force.
Alcoholic liquors such as beer,
wine, whiskey, and gin can be {
bought illegally but freely by those
who wish to buy. I
General disregard of the prohi- s
Dition laws is leading to other law I
{
GA change in the existing prohi- 3
1ition laws is needed
I'm accordance with this vote of 4
he people of Delaware, bills were G
Introduced in the General Assembly 3
If 1929, proposing repeal of the A
Loose Law and such parts of the
Klair Law as did not conform to
federal laws with respect to medi- 9
.inal liquors. (
"The purpose of these bills was to 3
make the laws of Delaware accord q
With the Eighteenth Amendment of =
he Constitution of the United States q
nd, as far as possible, to the right 9
f Local Option retained by the 4
'eople of Delaware, under the pro- q
isions of their State constitution.
Neither of the bills of 1929 was G
assed by the General Assembly of u
hat year. Z
IN April 1880, a letter was sent :
D 100000 citizens or residents of e
Delaware, age q years or more. The {
stter proposed a petition for the 3
epeal or for the retention of the d
lair law. g
''Forty-fOur thousand five hundred d
eplies were received, of which 3d. .
90, or 80 per cent, favored repeal. q
ut was understood that the sign d
d petitions, if authorized, were to q
e presented to the General Assem- q
ly. Thirty-seven thousand one hun &c
red thirty-two signatures favoring u
epeal and 1928 against repeal are {,
Ibmitted herewith. Sc
I'm order to test the genuineness {,
the signatures on the petitions, y
PIT were selected at random and ~
erified by comparing with known {;
gnatures or by communication *
-ith the signer. Two thousand two y
!