The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-13

While liquor smuggling is not con-
fined to any section o. the border FL
Paso and Laredo. opposite the Mexican
towns of Juarez ard N'ievo Laredo, are
regarded by Federal officials as the prin-
cipal points of entry. These two Next
can towns each support a score or more
Of hourishing saloons In addition to
the enormous supply OF American
whiskeys and wines that was hipre'l to
these towns last year. Mexican distilla-
tons are to be had In large quantities.
whiskey distiliery is In operation at
JrareZ and others In the interior OF
Mexico insure border towns against any
shortage OF alcoholic beverages.
Much Canadian liquor also Is smuggled
across the line. THIS Is accounted FOR by
the fact that Federal dry laws permit
the shipment OF liquor In bond from
Canada to Mexico through the United
States. Once past the Mexican Gus
tom houses the shipment leaves the
control OF Federal authorities and Is
4 then Struggled back into the United
/ States
J But to be sure there Is the Inevitable
fly in the ointment for the tippler who
ratronizes the bootlegger He doesn't
always know what he Is getting. There
is much good American whIskey in
Mexico. Lots OF II has been smuggled
back across the line since January t6.
but experience has proved that men who
will run the b1rde~ md nadd'e LIQUOR
viii commit other infra ctions OF the law
Realizing that whiskey bottle with
out the United States revenue seal
stands little chance OF sale. the liquor
trafnckcrs have forged many Govern
ment Labels which are placed IN BOTTLES
containing liquids that will do many
things besides make one drunk. Labels
Of well known brands OF American
whiskeys also have been forged Some
OF these are done inexpertly. The
forgery is obvious on close examina-
ton. but Will pass remarkably we'll In
the darkness OF a back alley.
Deaths have occurred from the con-
SUMPTION Of those faxed drinks at sew.
eral points along the border
That the United States will ever be
able 10 stop liquor smuggling along the
border as long as Mexico is wet Is
doubted BY many officials and prominent
citizens OF the border district Mr. Shev-
| III and HE aids may 10 much towarN
making line running and bootiegging an
Improbable and dangerous business. but
officials themselves admit that the task
of keeping booze IN Mexico from the
thirst parched throats Of the United
States. when only an open border OF
| I 200 desNlqfe r1'iea generates the. two
II an assignment too big for any law
enforcement body Of a few hundred men
Mexico itself May CO Dry.
However prohibition In Mexico Ia re-
garded az a possibility al an early date
Even though prohibition Il not put into
| effect w the euti~e republic the belief
n current along the border that dry
zone extending hfty to a hundred miles
south ~ the International line will be
established Any action Of this sort will
70 long way toward solving the prob
lem OF the United States prohibition Of
| fcers In the district
Saloon owners and liquor dealers In
the border towns from Matamoros TO
Tia Juana express the belief that such
action will be taken. Many girendy
have COMPLETED pans 10 transfD their
bars. stocks and fixtures TO a point with
In the wet aona The saloon men OF