The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-10-25
DAUGHERTY
/ HELPS Fl SHIP
...' SUBSIDY
Prohibition R u in 6
Strengthens Hands
of Ship Owners Who
Seek Subsidy

Washington. Oct. p. = Queer
thing that prohibition should be
the deciding factor in. the fate of
the pending ship subsidy lesisla-
ton.
But that seems TO be the status
OF the case: and it is even queerer
that the same factor should with
in 4 few weeks or months exert
both an adverse and favorable ef-
feet.
To understand the situation, it
should be borne in mind that there
has been a certain presumption in
favor OF the enactment OF subsidy
legislation eveI since it became
clear that President Harding would
put all the influence Of his admin
istration behind it. This meant
that without the interposition Of
some unusual or extraordinary force
in opposition. the opposition bas-
ed on partisan grounds or on sim
cere conviction against the sub
sidy principle would be overcome.
This condition in all probabili-
ty would have resulted in the
passage of the ship subsidy bill, at
least by the house of representa-
tives. before. the recent adjourn
ment if it had not developed that
liquor was being sold freely on the
high seas on American vessels on-
Grated by the shipping board. This
information. which was easily YER
fled, exploded like a bombsheH in
the subsidy camp. a hundred Re
publicans who were for subsidy,
other things being equal, We're TOO
sincerely prohibitionists or too
much afraid Of the prohibition vote
to take any chances in helping to
grant a bounty TO shipping which
included the sale OF liquor. SO the
administration was afraid TO bring
the measure to a test as long as
this disturbing condition existed.
In the interim between congres-
s;onal sessions, the attorney gen
eral has rendered his sweeping
opinion that no ships, American or
foreign. can legally carry liquor
within the three-mile limit OF
American territory, continental or
!, insular. and that no liquor can le-
gally be carried anywhere under
! the American flag except for ,nedi-
/! cal purposes, under strict resula-
tions. Thus American shipping e
made as dry as the American main
land, and probably drier.
The decision goes, even further
than most Of the. prohibitionists
had dared 20 hope, and certainly a
! good deal farther than they ex-
Ipected. Whatever may be the :ua-
ttinlate conclusion of the courts as
Ito the legality of applying the same
lconfiscatory terms TO foreign ships
! as we are applying to our own
shipping, the ADMINISTRATION will
,unques1ionably be able. to enforce
! the Daugherty ruling as Tar as
ships under the American flag ar:
concerned.
Therefore. when the next session
! of congress is at hand. the sub
sidists will expect their ranks IL
ibe augmented by an important con-
i1ingent of dyed-in-the-wool Repub-
iliean .prohibitionists who viii. wish
To reward the administration. for
! throwing John Barleyeors over
/ board. Aside from the merits o:
| dement's OF the subsidy bill, which
! is bound to encounter determined
! an1agonisna in ho1h branches ef
1 congress. and TO > suffer consider
able amendment in, the senate
! there is no doubt that John Bar
.leycorn hitherto has been the rea
Jonah. Of the measure. AS long a,
! he. was on board, the bill was
doomed II any whale has sWal'