Evening star., 1922-06-24
There Hardly Can Be One Law for
the Land and Another for Sea,

The controversy between Adolphus
Busch, Sd, and Albert Lasker, chair
man of the Shipping Board. over the
serving of liquors on board the ves-
sells outside OF the three-mile limit
has been the subject Of editorial dis
cussion in nearly every newspaper in
the country. The majority Of the
editors seem to lean to the view that
If the Volstead act applies on land
1t should equally be made to apply at
sea If a privileged class is not to be
created. However, there are many
papers which sympathize with the
Lasker position that If the merchant
marine Is to be maintained so that
II will be useful in time of war as
fleet auxiliaries and the like, an ex-
ception must be made. The papers
to Congress" and that action must
be expected from that quarter.
America cannot" the Boston Trav-
e1er declares. 'in fairness to its citi-
zens or to its own good name, con-
tinue dry on land and wet on ship
board" because. the Cleveland Plain
Dealer continues, 1.-The Shipping Board
is off on the wrong tack on this
matter. It is hardly conceivable
that the sale Of liquor aboard Is es-
sential to the success Of the mer-
chant marine. But If that should
prove to be true the merchant ma
rire rather than prohibition should
be sacrificed" No matter how the
case is studied. the Springfield Re-
publican suggests. "the moral aspect
Of the case Is the worst imaginable.
for no government can seek financial
excuses for violating its own laws
without pillorying itself as the rank
est Of hypocrites whenever 1t throws
its citizens into Jail for the same
offense." But. after all. the Brook
lyn Eagle points out. this question
vas started in Congress and it is
Congress made millions Of American
hypocrites and has remained indif-
ferent to the result of it's handi-
work. With the willing aid Of the
espedient Mr.. Lasker. Congress has
made the government a fragrant
bootlegeer; But will the nation con-
full toke?"
The fact that the initial protest
came from the "pro-German" An
heuser element must be disregarded
in considering the argument, the sa-
'if there is going to be prohibition
we should play the game according
TO the rules. II people are prohibited
from selling LIQUOR in American shops
they should also be prohibited from
doing this on American ships We
have not much sympathy with the
Anheusers. but we believe there Is
merit in their protest" There Ia also
much to be commended In Chairman
Lasker's reply, the Pittsburgh Leader
believes suggesting that he does not
"fail to omit mention Of excellent
reasons why Mf Busch may be more
concerned in the success Of rebuild
ing the German marine than in Amer
lean vessels. If the sale Of liquor
aboard our shipping vessels Is lawful
Mr.. Busch may find trouble to explain
his hostility to an imitation Of what
ia common practice on all foreign
lines, except on the basis Of desire
to injure American interests as COM
petitors." Stripped Of all other mat
ters, the Newark News points out
that "the practical question is
whether, If prohibition be enforced
aboard ships at sea, there will be
any considerable support for the
class Of ships that are most neces-
sary to a we'll balanced marine in
peace time and indispensable as naval
auxiliaries and secondary combat
fleets in time Of war" Which leads
the philadelphia Bulletin to suggest
that "the paradoxes Of politics never
made stronger teammates than Adolf
phus Busch, 80. and Wayne Wheeler"
Public sentiment will settle the
question, the Indianapolis News
points out. because what the lew
abiding citizens Of this oouAtry may
think Of the case Will doubtiess soon