Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-10-07
Chairman Says Order Will
Utterly Destroy Pas
senger Trade
RESIGNATION RUMORS
Foreign Ships Now Will Receive En-
tire Passenger Trade-Shlp Sub
sidy Heed More Urgent Now Than
Ever Before He Says.
nv United PreSsJ

Washington, Oct. THE United
States government today set out to
make the ocean dry-dry as the Sa-
hara so far as all ships flying the
American flag are concerned, and
equally dry for three miles off shore
for foreign ships.
While Chairman Lasker of the
Shipping Board expressed gloomy
forebodings about the wrecking Of
the American merchant marine, as
a result of the order issued to him
yesterday by President Harding to
stop selling intoxicants aboard Ship
ping Board vessels, leaders in the
dry movement jubilated over the rul-
ing.
There were rumors today that
Chairman a. D. Lasker of the ship
ping board would resign his post
in protest against the ruling. Lasker
caused Shipping Board vessels to be-
gin the sale of liquor, as means
of competing in the passenger trade
against bar-equipped foreign liners.
Mr.. Harding's order was issued
late in the day, following approval
by council of cabinet members and
the President of a ruling drawn up
by Attorney General Daugherty,
which held:
That under the 18th amendment
and Volstead law, it was illegal for
any American vessel to carry IL
quor anywhere for any purpose.
That foreign ships entering Ameri-
can waters, within three miles of
shore, also come under Americas pro-
hibition laws, and therefore must
not carry liquor, even as ships stores.
Immediately orders were broad
casted to all Shipping Board vessels
to stop selling liquor, and to dump
the stuff overheard or get rid of it
somehow. Those ships now on the
high seas must be dry when they get
to port or. as soon thereafter as it is
possible to get rid of their stocks
of intoxicants.
International complications threat
ened as one immediate result of the
ruling. Foreign governments were
expected by government officials to
protest vigorously against the dras-
tic order against carrying liquor
within the 'inSulated zone"
Some officials frankly said they be-
lieved that part Of the Daugherty
ruling was not intended to be en-
forced, and that no attempt would be
made to enforce it literally. 1t was
issued simply to make this govern
ment's course impartial and consist
ent, by demanding universal enforce
ment, against all alike.
This is a severe blow to the
American merchant marine" Lasker
said when ne heard of the decision
reversing his policy. eve are put at
tremendous disadvantage, because
foreign ships will, in spite of the or
der, be able to continue selling in
toxicants, and they will be preferred
in the passenger trade. You cannot
have a good freight carrying trade
unless you first have a good passen-
ger trade. Therefore the effect on the
on the development of our merchant
marine is going to be far reaching.
There will be several ways for
foreign ships to evade the ruling. For
one thing, they could carry enough
liquor, on leaving foreign ports, to
last them to the three mile limit, and
then throw overheard what was left,
Or, they could put into Montreal or
Vancouver.
"The west coast is where we will be
hit hardest, for Portland and Seattle
are in a hot race with Vancouver for
J Pacific business. This hits US hard
in the Parific.'
Lasker said there is now only one
hope of saving the merchant marine
from the disastrous effects of for
eign competition.
"The ship subsidy bill is now more
than ever a necessity" he declared
81 trust this will be apparent to con-
gress."
Lasker said many people thought
! Shipping Board vessels were float
ing saloons, and "booze palaces"
"As matter of fact" ne said
sale of liquor on shipping board YES
sells has not been large. The people
who travelled on our ships did not dc
so in order to become intoxicated;
what they wanted was the knowledge
that they could buy liquor if they
wanted It"
Wayne B Wheeler, general counse
of the anti-saloon league, said the de-
cision SIS sound law and good rea-
son. Il will help law enforcement
greatly. 1t sustains the contention
which we made"
An immediate test of the Daugherty
rule will be sought in the courts
probably by both American and for
eign shipping interests. Daugherty
who said he expected litigation, an
nounced his readiness to help expedite
a final decision.