The Washington times., 1922-08-01
j. :. To Be ARID
As COBB DESERT,
SAYS DRY CHIEF
Ralph A. Day. Head OF New
York State Forces. ex-
poets Cleanup.
By RALPH A. DAY,
Federal Prohibition Director for the
State Of New York.
Copyright, 1922. by Cosmopolitan New


NEW YORK, Aug. 1.-The "wets"
throughout the country are trying
to make themselves believe there
is a national drift in public senti-
ment in favor of Congressional
modification of the Eighteenth
amendment making possible the sale
OF light wines and beer.
Never were people more greatly
deluding themselves. 1t is a case OF
the wish being father to the thought,
and that Is all. In the language Of
the street, they are simply kidding
themselves, and II they don't know
it, they ought to.
1t is quite true that a large
quantity OF contraband liquor Is
being brought into the United states,
some from Canada, but by far the
greater amount from the British
West Indies. Perhaps two-thirds of
this English liquor comes TO or near
the port Of New York. where cn'
forcement of the prohibition law IS
the toughest in the entire country.
But those who are bringing II In
must hurry II they expect to smugsl le
a great deal more, for steps are being
taken to stop this through treaty
between the United States and Great
Britain which will very effectuaIiy
prevent this flood Of liquor into TINS
country. have reason to oeheve
Congress will take early acton IN
this direction. III,
The smuggler and bootlegger WIN
then find, not their occupation en-,
tirely gone, for 1t may be lmpossip,e
TO ever completely and absolutely
ston the importataion Of liquor from
points outside the United States, but
their scope of operation so reduced
as 10 make II extra hazardous to at
tempt to bring in contraband liquor.
In addition to the expected treaty
there is going to be such an increase
in the size and efficiency Of the pro-
hibition navy, so-called, as to make
II vastly more difficult than ever for
smueglers successfully TO land hq-
uor within the borders Of this coun.
try, and more particularly at ana
about New York. Such a nautical
net IL soon to be drawn about this
port that any craft that succeeds In
putting its Illicit cargo ashore can
only do so through almost superhu'
man effort-and perhaps not then.
But the greatly needed increase in
the size of the prohibition navy op.
Grating in New York waters can only
come through Congressional action
that will enable us to enlarge our
fleet. This, think, will soon be
done. Then. let the smugglers look
out!
A very decided crimp has just been
put into the operations Of the boot
logging rings that have managed,
through the connivance Of unworthy
employees OF Government bonded
warehouses, to substitute water for
liquor held In these warehouses,
through an order issued by Commits
sioner Of Internal Revenue Blair,
placing an embargo on the importa-
ton OF liquor, which has heretofore
been placed In warehouses.
And 30 II is, that the smuggler
and bootlegger are going to find
things decidedly more difficult for
them in the future. We have al.
ready reduced the amount of liquor
smuggling across the Canadian Dor.
der into New York State by 75 per
cent, and this percentage will soon
be increased.
Hence, equally with the violators
Of the law who bring liquors into this
country, those who have been sue.
cessful in obtaining II from them for
the purpose of sale or personal con.
sumption, are going to find their
available supply almost entirely cut
off. although II is only to be expect.
ed that there will be a few leaks"
that II may be difficult for US to
stop entirely.
Yes, the "wets" who have been
wet" on occasions, are going to find
themselves a whole lot ''drier" in
the near future.