The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1922-10-12
u. S. MODIFIES
LIQUOR RULING
WI Not Apply in Case Of Vessels
Leaving Foreign Ports Be-
fore October l4.

Washington Enforcement Of A.
torne3 General Daugherty's liquor rul-
Ing sIth respect 10 the prohibition 0f
transportation - cargoes Or ship
stores viii not apply % the case Of
foreign vessels leaving their home
ports ar American vessels leaving for
elgn ports before October IL, II vas
announced by the treasury.
The delay !n applying the full force
OF the ruling 10 ships Transporting In
toxicants vas ordered as result Of a
letter from President Harding to Sec
retary Mellon, suggesting that Il would
not be practicable 70 attempt to make
the new policy AZ once effective, No
similar respite was granted with re-
gard TO the sale OF liquor on American
ships. however, which Is 10 be pro-
hlbited Immediately.
Far-reaching complications seem
likely 20 result from Daugherty's deci,
Sion These are unanticipated in
Official quarters. but President Harding
and his advisers are determined 70 go
through with II. nevertheless. and
max. the order "stick" 30 far as II
les within their power to do 50.
Daugherty's ruling came Ike blow
70 the embassies Of Great Britain and
pther powers here. They had been
given no inkllng whatever Of what was
eoming While most American observ-
srs who have followed the admlnistra
hon In It's winding course through the
labyrinth ~ legal opinion on the sub
ject expected ruling similar 10 that
which eventually came, the foreign
diplomats appear 10 have been com
pletely dumbfounded, and the cables
were kept busy today with ambassa-
dorial explanations and interpretations
and with requests for instructions.
First of all, II is expected. there Will
be an immediate test case 20 determine
the eonstitutionallty Of the dry law
as applied TO foreign vessels While
expressions from alien sources were
few and guarded, II was made
plain In diplomatic councils that other |
nations viii fight the ruling TO the last
ditch.
There Is no question, Of course, as TO |
the applicability of the order or as to
It's eonstituuonallty with respect 10 |
American ships Daughertys decision, |
coupled with supreme court statements |
on the subject, must be accepted as
final until the law Is modified or re |
pealed But foreign ships occupy a diff
ferent status, and there was talk in |
embassy circles Of reprisals by other
nations, particularly the British,
against American shipping What
form these are likely 70 take is not yet
apparent, but Il i strongly lntimated
that II the Daugherty ruling Is 10
stand open warfare may result be
tween British and American shipping
interests
There are those who ascrlbe a p0-
lltical motive to the administrators
order. especially In view OF It's release
O month In advance OF the congresslon-
al elections But the general view is
that It's political angles are only Incl
dental 20 the necessity OF taking a final
stand on the sale Of liquor and by for
eign vessels within American waters
IL recalls also the desperate efforts
made by Chairman Lasker Of the
United States shipping Board. 10 post
pone what he plainly regarded as an
evil day for the merchant marine. com
PEELED as II was then. n not now, 10
compete with rum selling British ships.
by having Elmer schlesinger, formerly
general counsel for the shipping
Board. draft decision holding that
the prohibition did not apply 10 YES
sels AZ sea. Schieslnger. al Lasker's
direction, was generally credited with
taking an arbitrary stand In favor OF
open bars on American ships as part
of the shipping Boards policy. and
succeeded In raking up enough prece-
dents and rulings 10 give his opinion
the semblance 0f authority Event AZ
that time however. there was on rec
ord an opinlon written by former Sole
ltor General Frierson, holding that 10
uor could not be sold on American
ships. and this opinion Is sustained