The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-04-27
BRYAN BERATES
LIQUOR SMUGGLING
Traffic Being Carried on by Other
Misunderstanding Down Laws

liam Jennings bryant Soes opAodo
in hope of finding other worlds to
put under his fleet, he might re-
ceive a reception as cordial as that
extended by England and Canada to
the renowned "Pussyfoot" Johnson.
For Mr.. Bryan, in Washington this
week, berated European and neigh
boring countries Of the United
States, for their tolerance of "pi-
rates seeking to break down the
liquor laws of the United States"
While the state department. has
said nothing relative to the Bryan
address, it is said to be true that
the administration would be pleased
were nothing done to disturb the
friendly relations between this coun-
try and the other countries of the
world.
Mr.. Bryan's speech was labeled,
Enduring Government" 1t was
a prohibition speech, and an endur-
ing government in the opinion Of
the speaker, was one which obeyed
the law irrespective of its dislike of
the law. j.
Regarding the alleged conspiracy
on. the part Of other countries to
Interfere with American statues,
Mr.. Bryan said:
'9The third matter to consider in
connection with enforcement is that
other nations should respect our
right to make laws as we please,
and to enforce them as made. At
present, the Canadian territory ad-
joining US on the north and the
British isles near our Eastern coast,
neighbors on the South, are being
used as the base for conspiracies
against our laws. Bimini, for in
stance, a practically worthless is
land, 40 miles from the Florida
coast, has been convertd into a
depot for intoxicating liquors, which
are sent out from there to various
points between Savannah and Key
West. The British government de-
rives millions in revenue from
liquor taken into Bimini for no 9TH
er purpose than to 'smuggle it into
the United States.
Canada, Cuba and Mexico,
through, their revenu laws, profit
from the sale of liquors destined for
the United States. Such conduct can
hardly be regarded as friendly, and
cannot be defended when the case is
brought before the bar of conscience
None of these nations would for a
moment think Of allowing their flag
to protect a band Of pirates who
preyed upon our commerce, and u
nation would not be long in regis
tering a protest. Is the dollar more
important than the man? Are we
more concerned about trade than
about morals" ...'
This was construed as a sugges-
ton to the state department to force
England to stop smuggling on the
part of its nationals into the United
States.
He continued: care we more in
dignant about the loss of merchan-
disc than about the invasion of our
homes by a enemy that has been
outlawed by constitutional act? This
question must soon become an inter
national matter"
It was regarded as tantamount to
an injunction to the secretary Of
state, do your duty, Nh. Hughes" v
And then Mr.. Bryan followed that
suggestion by a compliment.
eve are fortunate in having as
secretary of state a man who has
shown by his judicial decisions and
by his professional conduct that he
is not in sympathy with this lawless
traffic" -
Mr.. Bryan made no reference to
any other members of the cabinet,
none to Secretary Mellon, whom m
ti-saloon leaguers charged with
having owned the Overholt Distill-
ing company and none to Attorney
General Daugherty, who, according
to the anti-saloon leaguers, is no.