The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1922-06-22
BY EDWARD w. PIckARo

coholic beverages are sold on passen-
ger vessels owned and controlled by
the government, outside the three-mlle
limit.
The storm Of controversy. which has
It's center In Washington, II amusing
10 the people generally. but II Is
mighty serious affair for Chairman
Lasker and the other members Of the
United States shipping board. who are
trying to compete with the passenger
liners Of other nations. And II Is
likely TO be equally serious for those
who favor and are trying TO pass ship
subsidy legislation.
Prohibition. like politics, makes
strange bedfeilows. United In the at
tack on Chairman Lasker's policy are
the Anti-Ssloon league. the dry leaders
In congress, the Association Against
Prohibition and such eminent vets rs
the men Of the Busch family. brewers
Of 81. Louis. The Busch men, indeed.
started the row by letters written
while on a shipping board vessel
on which drinks were sold. openly and
at moderate prices. Their wall. Of
course, Is directed against a policy
that prevents their brewing and selling
beer while II permits the selling Of
German and English beer on govern
ment-owned ships The Association
Against Prohibition insists that the
voIstead act be enforced to the limit,
In the hope and expectation that II
will thus be proved 80 unpopular that
II will be rescinded. Wayne r.
Wheeler. counsel for the Anti Saloon
league, reiterates the leagues position
concerning the three-mil limit, hold
ing that liquor cannot legally be sold
on American vessels anywhere: but
he BAYS the Busch attack II simply
an effort TO discredit prohibition and
create sentiment for the sale Of beer"
and he thinks the shipping board can
take care OF itself Prohibition Com
missioner Haynes admits there has
been a difference Of opinion a. to
whether the volstead act applies To
vessels outside the three-mile limit.
That IL does not 20 apply IL held by
counsel for the shipping board. accord
ing to Mr.. Lasker. and he adds:
Both from the standpoint Of legal
right and from the standpoint Of the
life and security Of our national mer-
chant marine the shipping board has
permitted. and will continue 10 permit,
the serving Of liquor on its ships. no
long ms foreign ships are allowed to
enter and depart from our shores ex-
ercisins that privilege"
Tn CONGRESS- the results Of the con-
i troversy may be more serious be-
cause, as has been said already. the
ship subsidy legislation II likely to get
mixed up In the tangle. Senator Willis
of Ohio. Republican, and one Of the
most ardent dry leaders, said Il was
about time for the prohibition navy"
to turn Its guns on the American mer-
chant marine. and that the ship sub
sidy bill about to come up offered an
excellent and timely legislative vehicle
for action to end the sale of liquor on
ships operated by the government.
Senator Jones OF Washington. who
u Just a. arid as Senator Willis. but
who IL also chairman Of the commerce
committee. made energetic protest
against the Ohioan's proposal. He de-
csared that the prohibition issue would
complicate seriously the ship subsidy
legislation and imperil Its success.
This Is also the opinion OF leading
Democrats In the lower house. where
fore they are gleefully getting ready to
offer amendments to the subsidy
measure providing that subsidies shan
not be paid to shlpOwners who sell
liquor on American ships outside the
three mile limit.
So long as Mr.. Lasker Ia able to
\ tntaln his position-that an Amer
lea ship Is not American territory
after I passes the three mile limit
thousands OF thirsty and grateful
Americans win patronize the shipping
board vessels. II and when he Ii
driven from that position. the thirsty
American tray will transfer their
patronage to 4 that fly some other
flag than the s. and Stripes
DRESIDENT HARDING 10 90 In
! sistent on the passage Of the ship
subsidy bill. which has been re-drafted
by the house committee on merchant
marine, that he has warned congress
It's failure In this respect will certain
ly lead him to call an immediate ex-
traordinary session. The President has
also let congress know that In his
opinion the tariff IL the most important
matter before II. and that II should
have undivided attention until II is
disposed Of. Then. and not until then,
he thinks the soldiers bonus bill
should be taken up. McCumber and
other senators who are pushing the
bonus legislation showed Q disposition
to disregard this advice from the
White House and went ahead with
plans for sldetrscking the tariff In
favor ~ tho honns this week. They