The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1911-02-02
PRESIDENT BACKS
| CRUSADE AGAINST
THE OPIUM TRADE
More of It Is Used Per Capita
In the United States Than In
China, According to
Statistics.

New York, Jan. 31.-The recent raids
opium smugglers made In New York
nd other cities by federal officers were
Inspired directly by President Taft, and
re preliminary to nationwide cru
kade by the authorities in Washington
10 check the ravages Of the opium
habit.
Government statistics reveal that
nore opium is consumed in this coun-
r., ner capita than in China. Four
hui, afed thousand pounds Of crude
bpium are imported annually. A tariff
n 1.50 a pound is imposed: but the
Eaids show that vast quantities are
Emuggled. The population Of the
United States is 91,000,000 The annual
consumption of opium in China in all
korms is 100000 pounds. China's pop
Llation Is more than 400,000,0O0.
William Jay Schiffelin, president of
Echiffelin & Co., the oldest wholesale
[lrug house in the United States, and
&he largest importer OF opium, called
The attention of the National Civic Fed
bration, recently In session here, to the
trightful growth Of the evil.
Taft Takes Hand.
President Taft was moved to send a
Special message to congress on January
the growth Of the evil. The message
contained a report by Secretary OF State
Knox, outlining the work of the Inter-
national Opium conference, held at
Shanghai two years ago. DR.. Hamilton
Wright, of Washington, who repre-
Rented this country at Shanghai, will
Intend another similar conference at
The Hague next month.
There is now pending in both
branches of congress measure, known
Is the Cullom- Foster bill, to control the
araffic by subjecting it to heavy inter-
pal revenue taxes. The bill also pro-
/ rides for a practically prohibitive tax
1890 pound-on smoking opium.
rhe control of other forms, principally
morphine, will be more difficult. it is
conceded, although 1t is said that in
That form the drug is most widely used
| Secretary Knoxs report says the
highest medical authorities estimate
that 10000 pounds of opium should
.kuffice for the medical needs of the
United States yearly, and that fully rs
per cent Of the 100000 pounds imported
S manufactured into morphine.
Clue to Staying of SigeI Girl.
/ Collector Loeb and Surveyor Henry
| hay that other raids on opium snug
glers would probably be made here and
1t other points within few days.
| The raid on the opium emporium OF
charley Boston on Seventh avenue may
cad to the solution Of the mysterious
playing in June, 1909, of Elsie Sigel
granddaughter of the late General
Franz Sigel. Her body was found in
fiat in Eighth avenue, within @ few
blocks of where Boston was conducting
bis opium traffic.
| Several hundred letters in Chinese
were seized by the customs raiders as
we'll as many in English. addressed to
Boston and his friends. In some OF
fhem Elsie Sigers name is mentioned.
Edward Norwood found the letters
Norwood was instructed by Surveyor
Henry to have the letters translated
|hnd is cooperating with District Attor-
hey Wise in the matter.
Boston has disappeared. His place
|was the headquarters for the under
world of Chinatown and he is the sup
posed chief Of the On Leong Tong So
.ciety, which long has been at war with
fhe Hip Sing Tongs for control of the
gambling privileges of Chinatown.