The New York herald., 1922-10-07
VIII Dry ,Em at once.

VIII Dry 'Em at Once.
Chairman Lasker of the Shipping
Board said tonight that orders would be
sent out at once in conformity with
President Harding's order Ito make all
Shipping Board vessels dry in line with
the opinion of Attorney General Daugh-
erty. Messages will be telegraphed to
all vessels in foreign ports or on the
high seas to stop selling at once. When
the vessels arrive in their home ports
their stocks of liquoc will be transferred
to the prohibition enforcement service
for disposition in accordance with the
law.
This Is 4 severe blow to the Ameri-
can merchant marine Chairman Lasker
declared. "The effect of it is far reach
ng-more, in fact than might be sup
posed.
THE order, Of course, goes in effect at
once, so far as American ships are con-
cerned When it comes to the foreign
ships it will not apply until the Treas
ury Department IS able to get out rui-
ings and have them applied. This may
be several weeks.
Then, beyond any shadow of doubt,
test cases will be brought, accompanied
by applications for injunctions prevent
ing the order from going into effect on
foreign ships. 1t is reasonable to sup
pose-at least, as a layman, / do not
doubt it--that these injunctions Will be
allowed. and that they will be in force
until the case finally Is settled by the
United States Supre me Court.
IF the court then upholds the opin-
ion Of the Attorney General there are
ways in which the law can be evaded. /
would not be surprised If ships starting
out from Europe will take on only
enough liquor to last them until they
reach the three mile limit. and then
throw overheard anything that may be
4 left over. Or they could maintain ships
there to receive and bring back, on out
ward voyages, the stores OF llquor'
VIII Hif Pacific Ports.
"Wbere this will be felt the most
will be i'm Seattle and Portland. which
are in a. race with Vancouver for ship
| ming business from the Far East. 1t
/ will mean simply that ships will go into
/ Vancouver instead of Seattle and Port
land. The whole thing is a severe blow
| to American shipping in the Pacific.
Some ships of course VIII 80 into
/ Montreal instead of New York. 1t is
| impossible to tell at this time how eX-
| tensve this will be, but 1t is well worth
| considering.
The truth of the matter is that the
! sale of liquor on Shipping Board ves-
| sells has not been large. What the
| persons who travelled by Shipping
! Board vessels wanted was the knowl-
edge that they could have drink if
| they wanted one. Our stocks are not
large. but they will be turned over to
the prohibition officers for disposal in
| accordance With the law.
"The American merchant marine is
Immediately put at a tremendous dis
! advantage by the opinion and the Or
der Foreign ships will be able to con-
tinue selling intoXicants and will be
preferred. If they cannot touch Ameri-
| can ports with liquor stores aboard
! they will find a way to dodge the pro-
visions by one of the ways outlined.
These are facts, not opinions. I
want 1t understood that I am neutral
on the question OF liquor. ! am not,
as has been charged, an agent of tho
! liquor interests. / am simply outlining
! the resulting economic conditions"