Evening star., 1922-07-31
Plea Against Dry Ban Expected
To Saue Trade in Virgin Islands
President Hasn't Time to Considedr Facts Brought BY
Delegation, Now on Way Back, Until
Strikes Are Ouer.

After asking President Harding to
intercede in behalf of the fast-dwin-
ding prosperity Of the harbor of st.
Thomas. Virgin Islands, delegation
of three is returning via New York,
: hoping that liquor and maritime laws
may be "extenuated" for while.
The harbor Of st. Thomas, which
has a romantic past. extending into
the days Of pirates. buccaneers and
the black flag of the Spanish main,
Il the finest in tropical America and
one of the most strategic. Its busi-
ness life has been claimed to be on
A steep down grade because OF COM
petition with open ports in the West
indies.
A memorandum. containing the en-
tire complaint on behalf ,,,s, OF tne
Harding. but 1t was thought at the
white House that, owing to the
pressure Of the twin strikes. the ex-
ecutive would not have time to give
It the careful consideration at TINS
time which it deserved. While here
the delegation called at the Depart
rnent of Justice. Department of Agri-
culture and White House. The three
SPECIFIC restrictions alleged to be
hurting the port worst We're pToniDi- ,iOa
IL.
The chairman of the delegation was
Conrad Corneiro.
Prohibition Commissioner Haynes
when asked by the delegation to re-
move the restriction prohibiting ships
Dor, replied that he was only an ad-
ministrative officer OF the govern
ment. and that laws would have to
be changed by Congress before any
such action could be taken, II at all.
Under Flag Protection.
1t was said In official circles that
the Virgin islanders. although having
no status as American citizens, were,
nevertheless, under the protection OF
the nag and the direction of gov
ernor who Is naval officer. There
Is a local council, which takes legis-
Iative authority in the making OF
laws. which must be approved by the
governor and may be revoked by the
President. It was an act of the coun-
Gil. signed by the governor. which
providing expenses Of 5000 francs.
Decrease in the commerce and In
dustry Of the harbor and the towI
of Charlotte Amalie has really dated
since the world war. when German
ships and others which made the har.
Dor q port Of call at that important
crossroads, were withdrawn from
those waters. Before American oc-
cupation the war nearly robbed st
Thomas Of her one lone industry. but
now that shipping again begins te
flood the seas. hopes revive, in spite
From the days of TIE buccaneers
st. Thomas strategic advantage has
been realized, for. when the Spanish
main was the happy hunting grount
Of the gentlemen Of the black flag
this harbor was their headquarters
Behind it's outer hills the pirate craft
foynd shelter from the open sea and
were we'll screened from the sigh
Of passing ships until the moment
came to pounce down upon them. II
Of safe harbor for the thousands OF
vessels bound from Europe to Panams
and surrounding territory, or vict
versa. With free port, where re-
pairs. ships stores and coal might bs
had. upon which there had been ne
levy OF tariff duties. the shippine
world found the harbor Of Charlotte
Amalie an attractive waystation OF
most Of It's Caribbean routes.
Agriculture In Decay.
The result was that agriculture II
n. Thomas fell into decay. and neaf
" all Of the activities Of the island
population were devoted to the In
tefests Of its harbor. and one OF thu
hnsst coaling stations In the tropica
.dition to the coaling station there Il
\ Aoating dry-dock and . marine slip
where splendid repair facilities ar
% ~ ionx a. these fseil,ties were 1,
demand. ot. Thomas was Q fairly
pr0Spofous island. Men and wolnez
alike. found y easy TO Get employ
1T what was to them . living wage