The Washington times., 1922-06-14
..U.. U.S.L|(N)0R
IS.
GIVEN 0. K.
Lasker Denies Dry Act Is vio-
lated by Traffic on Boards
Ships.
by II. X. REYNOLDS
international News Service.

The United States Government
today stands accused Of violating
the Volstead act by selling in
toxicating liquor on vessels oper-
ated by the Shipping Board.
Called Brewers Attack. q.
The charge was made in a letter
to President Harding from Adolphus
Busch III. of ST. Louis. who trans.
mitted a letter from his father.
Augustus A. Busch. telling of the
sale Of liquors on the U. s. s.
George Washington. -. -. ..a-
At 'he same time the Busch let.
ter was made public. Wayne b.
Wheeler. general counsel for the
Ant-Saloon League, issued a state
ment describing II as an attack
by the brewers upon the Govern
ment" and as an effort to dis
credit prohibition"
E U. 8. Ships Exempt.
President Harding referred Adol.
phus Busch's letter to Chairman Las
ker, of the Shipping Board, who de-
a lou"J thhS@S
American ships were exempt from
three.mile limit.
eBoth from the standpoint Of legal
right and from the standpoint Of the
life and security of our national
merchant marine, the Shipping Board
has permitted and will continue to
permit the serving of liquor on its
oh lNn0 fnrafurn ahfn0
allowed to enter and depart from our
shores exercising that privilege"
Lasker's denial that the Govern.
ment or the Shipping Board was v!o-
lating the Volstead act was made in
letter to Busch.
,-Decisions in Conflict.
The general counsel of the Ship.
ping Board had held. Lasker said,
that liquor could legally be sold On
American ships, although holding
such sales illegal.
IT understand that ther" was
vital difference of opinion in the
Department of Justice during tho
Palmer Administration on the sound'
ness Of the opinion" Lasker said
"I believe firmly that the opinion
given by our general counsel, who
has had large experience in consti
tutional questions, is a sound one.
Lasker told Busch he believed him
to be acting in the hope of Great.
ing a public revolt against prohibi'
ton" to again revive the sale OF
liquor in this country.
II personally believe that you are
not animated by any law abiding
motives in your letter to the Presi'
dent" Lasker declared.
Wine List Shown.
The wine list OF the George Wash
ington, as sent back by August
Busch, is also listed in the Anheuser.
Busch. charges. The list advertised
champagnes at from $3.50 to S5 a
quart: wines at 81 and $3.50 bottle;
miscellaneous drinks Of all kinds OF
wines, whiskey, gin, cognac, bene'
dictine, rum. etc.
After declaring it to lie "axio
Nmatjc" that American ships are
American territory and under the
laws of the United States wherever
they may be, Adolphus Busch in his
letter to the President, said:
1--WE are reliably informed that the
advertisements Of the United States
lines. published I'm European news
papers. announce choice wines and
Iiqueurs' on ships of the United
States, The Government, however
appears to have thought II unneces
sary or inadvisable to take the Amer
ican public into its confidence by an
nouncing that II had found; II necss
sary. for business reasons and for the
defense of the country, to exempt one
OF its own great business enterprises
from the operation Of the Constitu
ton ard the enforcement act.
May we not suggest. with all due
respect, that II the Government
wishes the American people to re
spect the Eighteenth amendment and
the enforcement act, II should prove
its sincerity by setting the example
Of obetiience TO the amendment and
the enforcement act itself, or change
the law"
In adding his bit to the discussion
CONTINUED on Page .. Column %