The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-08-19
Frederick Haskin's Letter
TRAFFIC IN NARCOTICS

washington, D. c.. Aug. 49,
Whether. a. some claim there has
been = recent marked increase In
the illicit consumption OF opium
and other habit-forming drugs, the
fact remains that not since the
middle So's has thers bosn 70 much
agitation against the contraband
traffic in narcotics d there ID at
present The American neWspa-
pers are continually printing stor-
les dealing with the evid In this
country. The opponents OF pro-
hibition aver 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 10 by no
means confined to the United States
The League Of Nations has UNDER
taken . worldwide crusade against
the drug traffic; and It y said that
the recent note Of the league,
which the state department felt 1t
polite not to answer, 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
principally in making it difficult to
bring narcotics into the United
States except for their legitimate
uses. The customs service at the
ports and along the borders is only
the final battlement which the dope
smuggler has to scale. Many and
devious are his methods of escap-
ing the vigilance of the customs
officers. Not long ago . high Of
fetal of the government, returning
from the Orient, was the innocent
accomplice Of An opium runner
The officials baggage was by cour.
tesy exempt from customs inspec-
ton. His trusted servant was
aware of this fact and loaded the
immune baggage with opium. Not
until this man began to peddle the
dope was he caught and his Clever
scheme discovered.
Yet long before the opium run
ner reaches the edge Of the United
States, he has had to run another
gauntlet and one which often en-
traps him. This barrier is tina,
laid by the American consul il
those parts Of the earth where
opium and other drugs are pro
duced. The consul is Uncle Sam!
man Of all work in foreign lands
He Is not so decorative IS an am
bassador or minister; but, taking
him 365 days In the year, he il
much more useful. He visas thu
passports of aliens seeking to en-
ter the United tSates, keeps hi!
eyes open for opportunities To-
American trade, looks after Ameri
/ can shipping, and every now ant
then digs down into his pocket TO
the RELIEF of some stranded Ameri
can tourist. ~
| Feats Of Consul Adams
| Besides these one Of the chic
duties of our consuls In China j
to aid in the prevention of the con
traband drug traffic across tn
Pacific. Since 1887 it has been
crime to smuggle opium either int,
China or into the United States
and since 1887, but never more 81
than at present, the opium runne
has been a cross for every Ameri
can sonsul along the Chinese coas
to bear. Recently the attention Q
the consular service has been di
rected to the success Of Vice Con
sui Walter A. Adams in China !,
breaking up two Wholesale al
tempts to traffic in opium on
. large scale.
Consul Adams attention was frs
directed to the fact that In th
Chinese section Of Changsa, wher
he was stationed, there was q n.
tive hotel displaying a sign in Oh
nese that 1t was an American In
stitution and under the protectio
of the American flag. China Is p.
culir in that by treaty with tn,
country all -American-owned {
American-occupied property Their,
in, no matter where located, Ia sui
Ject not to the Jurisdiction Of Ii
government Of China, but to thu
Of the United States. Our govern
ment maintains a federal court
Shanghai which has jurisdictio