The New York herald., 1922-06-15
Points to Ruling That Law
Does Not Apply Over
Three Mile Limit.
WILL CONTINUE SALES
Unless Congress Intervenes
American Ships Will Stay
Wet, He Says.
Special Dispatch to THE New YORK HERALD
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington, d. c., June IA.

Special Dispatch to THE New YORK HEaALp.
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington, ID. c., June IA.
Chairman Lasker of the Shipping
Board to-day not only admitted that
intoxicating liquors are sold on Ship
ping Board steamships outside the
three mile zone but In answer to the
charge of August A. Busch, president
Of the Anheuser- Busch Company that
the Government is the biggest boot
logger in the world" he issued a
spirited defense Of that practice.
The Shipping Boards attitude, as
written by him to Adolphus Busch Sd,
son of the brewer. is based upon a
ruling by the boards general counsel.
Elmer Schlesinger, that the Volstead
law does not apply to any vessel fly
ing the American flag, whether owned
by the Government or by a private
shipping concern, beyond the three
mile limit.
! ruling of Solicitor-General Frierson.
in the Wilson administration. who held
that "the law follows tile flag"
Mr.. Lasker's statement caused SEN
sation among Government officials.
members 'of the House and Senate and
everybody in Washington interested in
wet" and dry" propaganda. 1t may
| result in action by Congress. or a test
case In the courts. that will settle the
question.
Prohibition Commissioner Haynes this
afternoon admitted there was a differ
ence of opinion about the law, but de-
clared that as soon as the matter was
clarified by the Department Of Justice
and the courts he would act vigorously
to enforce 1t.
| Attorney General Daugherty indicated
he would stand by the Frierson opinion
unless the facts led to a different con-
clusion.
Senator Willis (ohio) announced that
unless the practice was stopped by
court action or in some other way Con-
| gress would be asked specifically to pro-
hibit the sale Of liquor on Shipping
Board vessels.
Points to lations.
A letter from Adolphus Busch 80 to
! President Harding. dated Jure 8, de-
clared the sale of intoxicating beverages
| on American ships violated the law In
| three respects: % BY selling the
/ liquors on the ships, CD by transport
ing 1t on American ships. even under
seal within the three mile limit, and
t3) by possession of liquor within the
three mile limit.
August A. Busch. father OF Adolphus
III. who crossed the Atlantic on the
George Washington. sent back the vino
card. Particular attention was called
| 80 cents a drink
Adolphus Busch. in sending his letter
to President Harding. enclosed a letter
from his father, which read in part:
AS this vessel George Washing
ton) is operated by the United
States Shipping Board was
amazed to learn that the Shipping
| Board vessels are the "wettest on
the ocean" Never before have |
crossed the Atlantic and found so
much liquor sold as on this ship.
This statement can be verified by
many of my fellow passengers.
/ learn that passage on these
ships has been sold with a positive
money back guaranty that the bars
fo- the sale of intoxicating liquors
will be thrown wide open as soon
as they pass outside OF the three
mile coast line.
This makes the United States in
comparably the biggest bootlegger
In the world.
The Anheuser- Busch Company then
appeals TO Congress to amend the pro-
hibition laws so that they might be ad-
ministered "in the interest of the gem
! eral welfare Of the nation" adding
Eve suggest that when the Government
| itself violates its own law TO make
money II sets an example OF hypocrisy
unparalleled in the history of the Re-
public"