Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-08-22

Il Washington. Aug. 22.--Wncther, M
soune claim there has been a recent
marked Increase in the Illicit con-
sumption OF opium and other habit
| forming drugs, the fact remains that
| not since tho middle sos has there
been so much agitation against the
contra5and trafric In narcotics as
there is at present. Tho American
newspapers are' continually printing
stories dealing with the owl in this
country. Tho opponents OF prohibition
avor that the alarming growth in the
number OF drug fiends is but the in
evitablo result OF the dry amend
mcnt and the Volstead Inv. But the
corn1notion is by no means confined TO
the United States. The League OF Ma
tons has undertaken worldwide
crusade agains, the drug traffic; and
Il is said that the recent note OF the
League, which the State Department
fcit IL polite not 70 answer, asked foe
tho statistics Of drug consumption IN
! this country.
In the work Of suppression the
United States nevertheless is doing rs
share; and this share consists prin-
cipally in making Il difficult 70 bring
narcotics into tho United States ex-
cept for their legitimate uses. The Gus
,oms service at the ports and along
The borders is only the final battle
mont which the dope smugg1er has
TO ecale Many and devious are his
rnethdOs OF escaping the vigilance OF
tho customs officers. Not long ago a
q nigh official Of the Government, re
turning from the Orient, was tho in
o nocent accomplice OF an opium run
I ner. The officials baggage was b.
d courtesy exempt from customs inspec-
j. tion. His trusted serysnt was aware
r Of this fact and loaded the immune
r. baggage with opium. Not until thi.
d man began TO peddle the dope was h
II caught and his clever schens discov
o cred
Yet long before the opium runne
u reaches the edge of the United States
- he has had 70 run another gauntle
q and one which often entraps him. Thi
?. barrier is that laid by the American
e consuls in thoee parts OF the cart
n where opium and other drugs ar
n produced. The consul is Uncle Sam
man Of all work In foreign lands. Fl
"a Is not 20 decorative as an ambsssa
dor or minister; but, taking him 36
m days in tho year. he Is much more Use
le ful. He vises the passports OF alien
~ seeking 20 enter the United State
Mt keeps his eyes open for opportunitie
IN for American trade. looks after Amer
lean shipping, and every now an
TO then dige down into his pocket for IN
relief of como stranded America
e tourist
q Besides these. one Of the chief dutir
q Of our cOnsuls in China Is 70 aid In n
ct prevention OF the contraband drl
Id traffic across the Pacific Since lSl
iy It has been n crime 20 emuggle opiu
ID. either Into China or into the Unit,
~ States; and since 1887, but never mo-
so than at present. the opium rum
n has been a cross for every Anercs
ty consul along the Chinese coast 20 bea
Recently the attention OF the consul
al service has been directed 20 the sl
cess OF Vice Consul Walter A. Adam
es In China in breaking up TWO wholesa
In attempts to traffic in opium on g. lar,
he scale.
nE consul AdauA6 attention WIS fr
Ire directed to the fact that IN the Chine
of section of Changsa. where ne u
ls; stationed. there was a. native no
displaying a sign IN Chinese that
was an American institution and u
. der the protection OF the American IA
China Is peculiar in that by treaty W
that country all American-owned
AmerIcan-occupied property there
no matter where located. Is subject !
: TO the Jurisdiction Of the goveruua.
A.vN
states. Our government maintains
Federal court IN Shanghai which
jurisdiction over all Americans q
their property in China. Conseouen-
any establishment which the Chin
authorizes had reason 20 think =
owned by Americans would not
iiu' molested by them.
It was news TO Consul Ada,
lee' however, that any hotel in Chan,
was owned by Americans. He mad
surprise visit 10 the place and b
oo|' away the sign. together with evIdel
-'e4 taat opium was being sold on
premises under the alleged protect
-oS' or the American flag. Then. in
operation with the native police.
broke up several similar establi
ments. all of them claiming Am,
can ownership. One of the raj,
places was an opium den IN which
drug was being smoked by addI
This place actually few the Ameri,
49, tag on its flagstaff.
Adams followed this with anot
v,~ coup which just about broke .up
opium traffic on Changsa. Learn
ny that certain American agency tn,
then in charge of Chinese suner
tendent, had received a large GUAM
urt OF opium. he enlisted the support
sav the native police and raided the
adjustment. discovering a secret 70
IN which was stored nearly a ton
the drug, worth at retail sale a +
est. tastic amount Of money. The cor
seized this and stored it at the con
late. 1t was then his duty to tur,
over to the Chinese government.
attic ciVil war was in progress. and
stle could not determine which fac,
13 should be regarded as the governn,
ries lie soon received anonymous thrf
OF death, and appealed to the g,
mander Of the American gunboat
Ing the haroor. who sent a guard OF nj
70. Jackets TO the consulate to protect
opium and Consul Adams too. 6