The Washington times., 1922-05-06
I TRAFF|C IS
CHECKEO|N
ALL POR IS
Arrangements Made With Cuba
and Bahamas Against Ship
ping-Not Part of Drink
Habit.
BY CORNELIUS VANDERBILT, Jr.

BY CORNELIUS VANDERBILT. Jr.
Copyright. 1922. by Universal service)
AS a result of stern repressive
measures by the United States
Government, the illegal use Of
narcotics is gradually declining
over the country. Contrary to
the opinion of most people, pro-
hibition has not stimulated the
use of drugs and any such claim
In this respect can be set down as
pure and simple propaganda put
out with a view to win sympathy
for the cause of the anti-prohibi-
tionists.
Made Extensive Study.
This is the assesrtion of l.. q.
Mutt, in charge of narcotic durg con.
troll under Prohibition Director
Haynes. Mr.. Mutt has just returned
from an extensive trip of inspection
of the drug evil, embracing not only
continental United States, but Cuba,
the Bahama Islands and Tia Juana,
Mexico, from which sections much IL
legal traffic in drugs has been car
ried on with agents in the United
States.
The drug evil is entirely dissoci.
ated from the liquor habit. and in
this respect there is absolutely no
relation to prohibition or questions
affecting it," said Mr.. Mutt this
morning.
II can state unequiVoCally that in
the course of my exhaustive inves-
LEGATIONS, covering every phase Of
the drug traffic in this country, |
have not uncovered a single case Of
Il Il, V,.v,.
to the liquor habit. | have dis
covered that any claims as TO the
use of drugs to satisfy the craving
for liquor are propaganda dissem-
mated broadcast by those interested
In the adjustment of the Nolstead
Amendment.
at is gratifying to know that
though a substantial percentage of
our citizens may be opposed to com
plete prohibition. fully 99 per cent OF
them. including every civic organiZa-
tion in the country, stand against
this sinister drug evil which, If not
stamped out now, will threaten our
posterity and the virility of the race
as well.
81 am happy 10 state thai 1t is
being STAMPED out. and that close 10
5000 trained men in this department
are uolne ll1t "pl n W lfuN"lll 'ul
drug addiCts in the upper and lower
walks of l!fe, and to shut the door
against this inflow of drugs from
abroad.
Seattle Headquarters.
1.-THE most important port through
which drugs enter this country from
abroad is Seattle. Wash, and the
Government is now concentrating or
that point with most satisfactory re-
suits We have sent 10 Seattle in
recent months several hundred in
speCtors who have stirred up con
siderable agitation against this Illegal
traffic. More than one hundred con.
victions, carrying sentences o. from
one TO ten years, have resulted from
this crusade.
THE chief sources from which IL
legal drugs come are Japan. Turkey.
and Argentina, and these Consign.
ments of opium, morphine, heron.
cocaine, and others, are smuggled
into the United States TIN ough
Seattle. Tia Juana. Mexico: Cuba. and
the Bahamas.
"As have stated. we have Seattle
pretty well bottled up and are keep.
ing an incessant watch at Tia Juana.
Recently, as a resulSof negotiations
with the Cuban government. Its
officials will cooperate with ours and
will cable this Government when con.
traband drug shipments depart from
Cuba for the United Sites.
With reference ~ the Bahamas,
the Nassau government has intro
duCed bill prohibiting the export OF
drugs to the United States.
THE crusade against drugs in this
country has reached such dimensions
that even the Chinese among us are
cooperating to stamp out the evil
among their race. Delegations of
Chinese from New YORK and San
Francisco came TO Washington to
urge the passage of the JonesMiller
anti.drug bill which passed the
House yesterday. The Chinese have
been cursed by the drug evil for gen.
erations. and the American Chinese
are doing good work TO preserve their
race in this country.
Young Criminals Addicts.
THE drug addcts are mental
derelicts. Unfortunately. must
edd that many of our soldiers came
by the habit while confined in the
army hospitals whom drugs were
used to ease their wounds.
To-day most Of our young Grim.
finals are drug addcts committing
their crimes with a holiness and
brazenry induced by the use of
drugs Our asylums and peniten.
tiaries are filled by persons whom
drugs sent there.
Prior to 1900, the average age
OF inmates of these Institutions
was twentv.eight to thirty years.
Today the average is twenty years.
disclosing Enthusiastically that drugs
have been playing leading role not
only in crime but in breaking down
the phvsica. and mental stamina
OF many OF our young people.
We hear much talk of opium
dens ana drug resorts wherein the
lower stratum Of society prepon-
derates. But tho use OF drugs Is
not confined solely TO the lower
social levels. II Is much In evi.
dence in the upper strata Of So