The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1922-06-23
Big Row Over Sale of Liquor on
Vessels Controlled by the
Shipping Board.
DRYS and VETS BOTH ANGRY
Controversy May Hamper Ship Sub
sidy slation-European Experts
Meet at The Hague-Russia Is
RecaIcitrapt-American Fedora
ton Of Labor In Convention.
BY EDWARD W. PIckARD

BY EDWARD w. PlCkARD
.SsQ IGGEST bootlegger in the world"
- is what they are calling Uncle
Sam these days-and just because al
coholic beverages are sold on passen-
ger vessels owned and controlled by
the government, outside the three-mile
limit. ~
The storm of controversy, which has
its center in Washington, is amusing
to the people generally, but it is
mighty serious affair for Chairman
Lasker and the other members Of the
Cnited States shipping board, who are
trying to compete with the passenger
liners Of other nations. And it is
likely to be equally serious for those
who favor and are trying to pass ship
subsidy legislation.
Prohibition, like politics, makes
strange bedfellows. United in the at
tack on Chairman Lasker's policy are
the Anti-Saloon league, the dry leaders
In congress, the Association Against
Prohibition and such eminent vets as
the men of the Busch family, brewers
of st. Louis. The Busch men, indeed,
started the row by letters written
while on shipping board vessel
on which drinks were sold, openly and
at moderate prices. Their wall, of
course. is directed against policy
that prevents their brewing and selling
beer while it permits the selling of
German and English beer on govern
ment-owned ships. The Association
Against Prohibition insists that the
volstead act be enforced to the limit,
in the hope and expectation that it
will thus be proved so unpopular that
1t will be rescinded. Wayne B.
Wheeler, counsel for the Anti-Saloon
league, reiterateS the leagues position
concerning the three-mile limit, hold
ing that liquor cannot legally be sold
on American vessels anywhere; but
he says the Busch attack is simply
an effort to discredit prohibition and
create sentiment for the sale of beer"
and he thinks the shipping board can
take care of itself. Prohibition Com
missioner Haynes admits there has
been a difference of opinion as to
whether the yolstead act applies to
vessels outside the three-mile limit.
That is does not SO apply is held by
counsel for the shipping board, accord
ing to Mr.. Lasker, and he adds:
Both from the standpoint Of legal
right and from the standpoint of the
life and security of our national mer-
chant marine the shipping board has
permitted, and viii continue to permit,
the serving of liquor on its ships, so
long as foreign ships are allowed to
enter and depart from our shores ex-
ercising that privilege"
TN CONGRESS the results of the con-
4 troversy> may be more serious be-
cause, as has been said already, the
ship subsidy legislation is likely to get
mixed up in the tangle. Senator Willis
of Ohio. Republican, and one of the
most ardent dry leaders, said 1t was
about time for the prohibition navy"
to turn its guns on the American mer-
chant marine, and that the ship sub
sidy bill about to come up offered an
excellent and timely legislative vehicle
for action to end the sale of liquor on
ships operated by the government.
Senator Jones of Washington, who
is just as. arid as Senator Willis, but
who is also chairman of the commerce
committee, made energetic protest
against the Ohioan's proposal. He de-
clared that the prohibition issue would
complicate seriously the ship subsidy
legislation and imperil its success.
This is also the opinion Of leading
Democrats in the lower house. where
fore they are gleefully getting ready TO
offer amendments to the subsidy