Evening star., 1922-12-31
ILLICIT RUM FLOW
ST|RS CANADIANS
Suggestion Made Dominion
Lend Aid to U. S. Dry En-
forcement Officers.
BORDER NOT-PROTECTED
Montreal Star Points to Enormous
Increase in Liquor Ship
ments to Country.
Special Dispatch TO The Star.

Special Dispatch TO The Star.
OTTAWA. Ont. December ;U.-If
the Canadian government wishes to
play friendly part toward the
United States it will apply to alcohol
the restrictions that it enforces re-
garding noxious drugs, is the con-
tention in various Canadian quarters.
Dominion customs and excise officials
are getting frequent reminders ,ha.
too much Canadian liquor is being
allowed to leave border points for
the American side. The unfairness of
allowing consignments Of Canadian
liquor to be sent to United States
points while the American admins
tration is trying to enforce the Vol
stead act is emphasized.
III there is one direction in which
criticism may be directed with iusti-
nca.lon 1t is in regard to the sale of
iiquor al the border and at s,,ch
places as Valley Field, from which
the conveyance of large stock. NJ
liquor to the border is a conparatiye-
~ easy matter" says the Montreal
Star.
Law Not Obeyed.
There is no intern rational obliea
ION ior cooperation between Canada
ana the United States to enforce an
american law so long as the Cana
dams on this side Of the interna-
tional border are acting strictly win
IN the law. But there is good reason
70 helleve that such is not the case
~ some instances the liquor sales
mere have been far beyond what th,.
actual population justified under The
Jaw, ana even far beyond what any
possible transient business couId ey.
pam. Moreover. the continual dunn
ing OF large stocks of liquor along
.ne oorder near Rouses Point would
seem 70 De a legitimate cause for
complaint. If conditions were re.
Vsrsed. and we found ourselves in tho
place OF the United States. we shouJd
De strongly inclined to lodge a moral
protest. at all events. o.
1T is in the highest derree d.s,,
abfe that Canada and the tinted
states should continue to live in ,,mI
tuai good will. Nothing could he
calculated better to disturb thai GOOD
WI than the feeling in the states
tnat owing to laxity in Canada the
enforcement of the law in America is
oeing severely handicapped L, would
involve no suggestion of collusson
between Quebec and the States, il the
liquor law were more strictly en-
ince.''
Inc toronto star also calls for more
activity on the part of the Canadian
officials in cooperating with those in
the United States. The Star says:
Aid to BootleEger..
The extent to which some parts of
canada lend themselves to the de-
signs of American rum runners and
bootlegsers is scarcely less than a
scandal. 1t is said that the Quebec
government has opened a second dis
persary at Valley Field because of the
demand for liquor with which to sup
ply the Illicit trade across the bor-
der. In British Columbia the condi-
lions are equally discreditable.
Here in Ontario Canadian GUS
toms official opposite Detroit worked
after hours until recently. giving
clearance to rum-running vessels. and
il is understood that his overtime was
paid by the breweries. The Domir ion
employe even moved his bed down to
the river front SO that the efforts of
the smugglers to dodge the United
States temperance law officers in the
dark might be facilitated. And small
boats have been cleared from Belle
willie for Mexico when it was fairly
obvious that the liquor on board was
not going to that country and might
possibly get back to Canada.
Countries should encourage the OBJ
fservance Of one another's laws. III
will is almost sure to develop where
a nation conniYes at the breaking Of
its neighbor's statutes.
Sympathetic action in supper: Of the
temperance laws of other nations
should be taken by Ottawa"