The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-10-18
life or protesting against our self

officers tamper with foreign vessels and when privileges enjoyed by for eign diplomats are abridged by detec- tives searching for liquor, they are showing more zeal than discretion. A Spanish steamer was raided at Norfolk, Va, and the Spanish consul at that port demanded an apology. It was even reported that $. R.. Brame, federal prohibition officer, had 1 threatened to seize foreign vessels which put into Norfolk with liquor on board. The treasury department promptly announced that there was no authority under the Volstead act or any other law for such drastic ac- tion. Mr. Brame denied that he had made the threat.
 A more serious situation has arisen in Washington, which involves three government departments. The state department has appealed, in effect, to other government officials not to ex- anime the baggage of diplomats or seize any liquor that might be in their possession.
 From time immemorial diplomatic officials have enjoyed certain privi- leges and since America went dry not the least of them was the right to have liquor, regardless of the pro- hibition law. Embassies are extra territorial ground and the baggage of diplomats is regarded as sacred, even among the most unenlightened na- tions.
 Government departments at logger heads over prohibition is a curious spectacle, but international comity de- mands that all foreign diplomats be treated as they have been treated in the past. America is unpopular enough abroad, without creating ad- ditional friction by a serious breach of courtesy.
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 Lillian Russell has been making some witty speeches against Cox and Roosevelt to crowds who never stormed the box office when Lillian was touring the country-being Der haps too young
 Some of the columnists with repub- lican leanings have hit upon the ids or calling the democratic vice presi- 1 dential nominee, MT Roosevelt (Mex.A ! and they like it so we'll they can't quit.
 Boston court decision says Ponzi is not robber, but clever That's nice distinction most of his investors Will be unable x to < Haas. k
 obregon says the new government of Mexico will recognize all foreign debts. This should inspire a feeling. ii not of confidence, at least of friendly solicitude. ~ * xx The fact that Petrograd and Mos- ccw do most of the talking for Rus- sia is one reason why we don't know how the average Russian feels about Lenine and Trotzky. $s # * The wood alcohol scare having abated, people with thirst are again taking chance with the bootlegger's product.
 An army flyer proposes to plant fields of grain with an airplane. The work should appeal to hired man of sporting proclivities.
 * s. # Haitians may have been calling our marines the Haitian equivalent of Huns" for five years or more and we are just now hearing about it. * * # Experts declare that after he meets Hon. Depmsey, M. Carpenter will never be fit to pose for sculptor.
 * * S.
 The movies had better be on their good behavior. They are being in- vestigated by the psychiatrists.
 * < * Still, it is rather hard on the Rus sian people that they should be chosen to prove that bolshevism won't work # # T The surgeon who weighed souls has departed this life and he'll never know what his own soul weighs. < x x decrease in the world series re- ceipts this year was largely the fault Of gamblers.
 Governor Cox is tactful man. He refrained from mentioning Harding's name when he invaded Marion,