The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-06-14
CHARGE US.
BOOTLEGCER
IS ANSWERED
Busch, President of Anheuser-
Busch, Charges Shipping
Board Vessels Are Floating
Bars-Lasker Replies.
INQUIRY is DEMANDED
fRv Assoclated Pressl

the biggest bootlegger in the world,
a letter written by August A. Busch.
president of Anheuser Busch, Inc
while enroute TO Europe aboard the
steamship George Washington, and
which has been forwarded to Presi
dent Harding, was made public here
today together with an accompanying
letter by Adolphus Busch III, his sor,
third letter by Anheauser Busch, Inc.
addressed to members of congress, re-
quests an investigation of the enforce
ment department of the government in
relation to the prohibition Act
The letter of August A. Busch, ad-
dressed to his associates, says in part:
I'VE are now approaching the coast
of France. AS this vessel is operated
by the United States shipping board.
l was amazed to learn that the ship
ping board vessels are the 'wettest on
the ocean
Il learn that passage on these ships
has been sold with a positive money-
back guarantee that the bars for the
sale of intoxicating liquors will be
thrown wide open as soon as they pass
outside the three mile coast line
This makes the United States In
comparably the biggest bootlegger in
the world.
Points Out Reasons
There are two reasons which ! be-
lieve should impel US to bring this in
formation to the attention of the pres
ident; the chief executive is charged
with the duty of defending the consti-
tuition and taking care that the laws
are faithfully executed, and should be
Informed of this fact.
"As manufacture of legal products.
we have been forced for more than
two years to meet unfair and unlawful
competition in practically every town
and city in the United States. For the
| United States to set aside its consti-
tuition and laws in the operation of its
own business enterprises, increases our
difficulties many fold, because it en-
courages violators of the law to re-
| newed and greater activity
Il understand that the shipping
board has brought to the notice of high
/ officials of the government the fact
! that it could not compete on the high
! seas with the ships of other nations
and obey the constitution and the Vol
sted act And either by direct or in
direct means the shipping board is
permitted to do in the dafk that which
| il is illegal to do, in order that il may
make money
We should submit to the President
that the governments toleration of the
violation of the law by the shipping
| board is proof that prohibition laws as
now written are either impractical and
non-enforceable or are being disregard
ed deliberately
The fact that citizens of the United
| States would not buy passage upon
ships of the United States so long as
the Volstead act was operative upon
| these ships gives us up a real senti-
ment of a considerable part of the
American people with respect to prohi-
bition and we believe that a great ma
jority desire a modification of the Vol
stead act"
i Sons Letter
The letter of Adolphus Busch III,
which accompanied the letter Of his
father to the President, written from
st. Louis under the date of June s.
says In part:
i Il am transmitting herewith letter
we have just received from my father,
August A. Busch, president of Anhaus-
er-Busch, Inc, written on board the
United States ship George Washington
Kindly note that he expresses aston
ishment that the prohibition laws OF
the United States are violated openly
upon steamships owned by the United
States and flying the United States
flag. A copy of the wine list enumerat.
ing intoxicating liquors of every char
acter is enclosed for your information
Because it is automatic that Ameri
can ships wherever they float are
American territory and under the jur
isdiction of the laws of the United
States, the government liquor policy
with respect to the ships of the ship
ping board constitute a violation O.
the constitution and the Volstead acr
in at least three important respects:
Claims Violation.
"As American sovereignty follow!
the flag it is violation of the consti
tuition and the enforcement act for the
government to sell Intoxicating liquor:
; or permit its sale on board any shiI
, of the United States anywhere in tn,
world
"It is a violation of the constitution
and the law for the government ship
to transport intoxicating liquor within
the three-mile coast line.
1T is a violation of the law for
government ship to possess intoxicai
ing liquor within the three-mile coas
line
! I'VE are reliably infoImed that tn
t advertisement of the United State
: lines, published in European newsps
: pers announced choice wines an
I. liquors. on ships of the United States
: I'VE are also reliably informed tha
S during all the time that the govern
: ment has been violating the prohib
!, ton laws it has had public figure
touring the country for the especia
f purpose of preaching respect for tn
!. prohibition laws to the American pee
pie.
I'VE are enclosing what appears I
d be government inspired newspape
/ editorial making a plea for the cor
Il tinued violation of the prohibitio
n laws on board United States ships
. We had authoritative information Ii
day before this editorial was publish
a ed that it was to appear the followin
. day
; "The governments disregard Of tn
- prohibition law and its policy Of Il