Palatka daily news. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1919-1994, 1922-06-14
|open Violation Of Law
i Charged on Ship
niinq Board Vessels
|I,KER MAKE ANSWER
|ss Law Not Violated
and Sale of Booze Is
Necessary
ny Associates Press)

n Louis, Mo-, June 14.-Chargine
n limited States is "incomparably
M biggest bootlegger in the world,
litter written by August A. Busch
,,,ident of Anheuser Busch, Inc.
hlp en- route to Europe aboard the
apamship George Washington, anc
bicb has been forwarded to Presi
Amt Harding, was made public here
|tday, together with an accompany
m letter by Adolphus Busch III, hi:
On. A third letter by Anheusel
hsch Inc, addressed to members Of
pngess, requests an investigation
Il the enforcement department Of
ae government in relation TO the
pphbition act.
The letter of August A. Busch, ad
dressed to his associates, says il
rt;;
I'VE are now approaching the
ssst of France. As this vessel il
paated by the United States ship
tng board l was amazed to learr
hat the shipping board vessels are
Ne wettest on the ocean,
4 learn that passage on thes'
dips has been sold with a positive
nmey-back guarantee that the bars
ir the sale of intoxicating liquor!
Epd be thrown wide open as soor
\ they passed outside the three
mile coast line.
This makes the United States in
Snparably the biggest bootlegger il
@ world.
There are two reasons which
believe should impel us to bring this
hfOmation to the attention of thu
PRESIDENT; the chief executive j:
Charged with the duty of defending
| constitution and taking care tha
|tAe laws are faithfully executed anc
should be informed of this fact.
AS manufacturers of legal prod
StS We have been forced for more
aan two years to meet unfair ant
Unlawful competition in PRACTICAL!
every town and city in the United
Mates. For the United States to Sc
side its constitution and laws in th'
aperaiCn of its own business enter
lnseS, increases our difficultie:
many fold, because it encourages VIC
ators of the law to renewed anC
reater activity.
I understand tina tthe shippins
aeard has brought to the notice o.
agh officials of the government tht
net that it could not compete on the
|ugn seas with thS ships of other ma
uons and obey the constitution ant
Aae Volstead act. And either by di
set Or indirect means tn eshippine
oard is permitted to do in the darl
hnt
\ la' which it is illegal to do-in or
~ that it may make money. -.
We should submit to the president
'aat the governments toleration Of
4e violation of tn claw by the ship
Tns board is proof that prohibition
avs as now written are either I'M
siacueal and non-enforceable, or are
%lng disregarded deliberately. =.
The fact that citizens of the Unit
y states would not buy passage
,p0n ships of tn eUmted States Sc
!. sAg'as the Volstead act was opera
Ne,apOn these ships gives US rea
Snument of considerable part Of
y american people with respect tt
s'Onloltion, and we believe that 8
!, s,sa' majority desire a modification
! Me Volstead act. !"
!, iae letter of Adolphus Busch Ill
!, ,aeh accompanied the letter of hi:
J, s'aer to the president, written from
I Louis under date of June s, say;
y part:
! am transmitting herewith a let
4, = we have just received from my
!. a'aer, August A. Busch, president
u AnheusersBusch, Inc, written or
J. a'O the United States steamship
~ 'ge Washington. Kindly note
4. ~ ne expresses astonishment thai
Il Prohibition laws of the United
es are violated openly apor