The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1922-06-14
(By the Associated Press)

(By the Associated Press)
St. Louis, Mo-. June A letter
charging the United States is "in-
comparably the biggest bootlegger in
the world" written by August A.
Busch, president of AnheuserB
Inc, while enroute to Europe aboard
the steamship George Washington,
and which has been forwarded to
President Harding was made public
here today, together with an accom-
panying letter by Adolpus Busch III
his son. A third letter by Anheuscr
Inc. addressed to members Of congress
requests an investigation into the en-
forcement department of the govern
ment in relation to the prohibition act.
Says Harding Approved
The announcement amplified that
"if the government decides to make
an investigation of this matter, we
will establish, by reliable witness
that Mr.. Lasker has said that he
went to President Harding with this
whole matter, and told him that the
sale Of liquor on the shipping board
ships would help to solve the boards
financial problems, and that he said
that President Harding replied to
him: Mr.. Lasker, you are chairman
Of the shipping board; you know what
to do"
The letter of August Busch says
in part:
1--WE are now approaching the coast
of France. As this vessel is operated
by the United States shipping board
| was amazed to learn that the ship
ping board vessels are the 'wettest
on the ocean,
II 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.
Unlawful Competition
"As manufacturers of legal pro-
ducts 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 it's constitution and laws in the
operation of its own business enter
prises, increases our difficulties
many fold, because it encourages vi
olators of the law to renewed and
greater activity.
II understand that the shipping
board has brought to the notice of
high officials of the government the
fact it could not compete on the high
seas with the ships Of other nations
and obey the constitution and the
Volstead act. And either by direct or
indirect means the shipping board is
permitted to do in the dark that
| which it is illegal to do-in order that
it may make money *****+++**
] eve should submit to the president
that the governments federation of
the violation of the law by the
shipping board is proof that prohi-
bition laws as now written are either
impractical and non-enforceable, or
are being disregarded deliberately.
| Demand Liquor
The fact that citizens Of the Unit
ed States would not buy passage upon
ships of the United States so long as
the Volstead act was operative up
on these ships gives us real senti-
ment of considerable part of the
American people with respect to pro.
hibition and we believe that a great
majority desire a modification Of the
Volstead act"
u The letter of Adolphus Busch III
which accompanied the letter of his
father to the president written from
! this city under date Of June 8, 1922
, says in part:
II am transmitting herewith let
: ter we have just received from m,
, father, August A. Busch. Kindly not
that he expresses establishment tina
the prohibition laws of the Unitet
States are violated openly upol
steamships owned by the Unite,
States and flying the United State
flag. A copy of the wine list enum
Grating intoxicating liquors of ever,
character is enclosed for your infor
nation.
t because it is automatic that Am
erican ships wherever they float ar
e American territory and under tn
= jurisdiction of the laws of the Unit
: ed States, the governments liquo
c policy with respect to the ships of tn