Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-08-22
Washington, D. c. Aug. 49,

Washington, D. c. Aug. 10
Whether, as some claim there has
been a recent marked increase in the
illicit consumption of opium and 9TH
er habit-forming drugs. the fact re-
mains that not since the middle sos
has there been so much agitation
against the contraband traffic in mar
cotics as there is at present. The
American newspapers are continually
printing stories dealing with the evil
in this country. The opponents Of
prohibition yer that the alarming
growth in the number of drug fiends
Is but the inevitable result of the dry
amendment and the >Volstead law.
But the commotion is by no means
confined to the United States. The
League of Nations has undertaken a
world wide crusade against the drug
traffic; and it Is said hat the recent
note Of the league, which the state
department felt it polite not to an
swer, asked for the statistics Of drug
consumption in this country.
In the work of suppression the
United States nevertheless is doing its
share; and this share consists prin-
cipally in making it difficult to bring
narcotics into the United States ex-
cept for their legitimate uses. The
customs service at the ports and along
the borders is only the final battle
ment which the dope smuggler has to
scale. Many and devious are his
methods Of escaping the vigilance of
the customs officers. Not so long ago
a high official Of the government, re-
turning from the orient, was the in
nocent .accomplice of al opium run
ner. The officials baggage was by
courtesy exempt from customs in
spection. His trusted servant was
aware.of this fact and loaded the i'm
mune baggage with opium. MOI un-
til this man began to peddle the dope
was he caught and his clever scheme
discovered.
Yet long before the opium runner
reaches the edge of the United States.
he has had to run another. gauntlet
and one which often entraps him.
This. barrier Is that laid by the Amer
earth. where. opium and other drugs
are produced. The consul Is Uncle
Sans man Of all work in foreign
lands. He is not so decorative as an
ambassador or minister: but, taking
him 365 days In the year, he Is much
useful. He vtsas the passports
Of aliens seeking to enter the United
States, keeps his eyes open for OPP
portunities for American trade. looks
after American shipping, and every
now and then digs down into his
pocket for the relief Of some strand
ed American tourist.
Feats of Consul AdamsL &
Besides these one Of the chief du-
ties Of our consuls in Chiua Is to aid
In the prevention Of the !contraband
drug traffic across the Pacific. Since
1887 IL has been a crime to smuggle
opium either into China or into the
United States; and since 1887, but
never more so than at present. the
opium runner has been a cross for
every American CONSUL along the Chi
nese coast to bear. Recently the at
tention Of 1.-THE consular service has
been directed to the success OF Vice
Consul Walter "A. Adams in China In
breaking up two wholesale attempts
to traffic in opium on Q large scale.
Consul Adams attention was first
directed to the fact that In the Chi
nese section of Changsa. whore he
was stationed. there was . native no
tel displaying q Sign in Chinese that
1t q an American institution and
under the protection Of the American
flag. China 10 peculiar In that by
treaty with that country all Ameri-
can-owned or Amertcan-occupied
property therein. no: matter whore To-
Gated. u subject not to the jurdsdic-
tton Of the government Of China. but
government maintadns,A federal court
In Hhanghai. which has jurtsdiction
over all Americans and their property
In Chtnae Consequently. anys sstab-
|lishnnent which the sChiness authort-
ties had reason To- think wa owned
~ AlmsEdcans would non be molested