Evening star., 1922-06-14

Charging the Cnlteu SldleS SoNci IL
ment with being .'the biggest boot
logger in the world" letter accusing
the United States Shipping Board of
willfully breaking the Constitution of
the United States and the Volstead act
by openly permitting the sale of intoXl-
eating liquors on United States Ship
ping Board vessels was sent yesterday
to President Harding by Adolphus
Busch. Sd, vice president of the An
heuser-Busch Brewery Company of St.
Louis. one of the larger breweries in
prs-prohibition days.
Mr. Busch in his letter points out
that while the government is spending
millions to enforce prohibition and
sending public speakers throughout
the land to create a sentiment for pro-
hibition it winks it's eye while one of
its great industries is setting an ex-
ample of disregard for the laws by
breaking the prohibition amendment
and enforcement act in three ways:
Selling Intoxicating liquors on Amer
lean ships where there is American
sovereignty, possessing liquor on
board ships within the three-mile
limit and transporting intoxicating
liquor into the United States.'
Together with Mr.. Busch's letter to
the President, copies of which were
sent members of Congress and the cab
met, was another letter from his
father, August 4. Busch. in which he
speaks of the Shipping Board vessels
as "the wettest on the ocean," and says
that the Shipping Board is breaking
the laws for the same reason that
every other bootlegger iS-for financial
gain.
several Exhibits InclOsed
lnclosed with the two letters were
copies of advertisements for Shipping
Board vessels announcing Choice
wines and liqueurs." IA letter from r.
W. Wolf, passenger traffic manager of
the Munson Steamship line, operating
Shipping Board vessels. in which he
says 'all forms of liquid refreshments
are served after leaving the three-mile
limit together with a copy of a wine
list OF the S. S. George Washington
on her May voyage, Offering a large
variety of wines, spirits and liaueurs,
included among which were cham
pagnes at $3.50 to $500 per quart
Scotch whisky at 20 cents per drink
and cocktails at % cents. Particular
ly noted on the wine card was "Old
American Rye Moonshine-3O cents
per drink
In answer to these accusations
which President Harding sent Idi,
rectly to the Shipping Board. Chair
man Lasker. in letter addressed
to AdolphuS Busch, made public to-
day, admits that intoxicating liquors
are sold on American vessels be
cause without it there would be no
hope of competing for the American
tourist trade with foreign lines" and
int iTG h.It IL
will continue to supply liquor to
passengers, showing that it is within
their legal rights so to do.
Lasker Pleads Precedent,
. Mr.. Laskcr points out that. all
though Department of Justice
ruling during the time of the Wilson
administration held that liquor could
not be sold on American ships, this
ruling was not observed then, and
that when the new administration
came III the sale of liquor on gov
crnmcnt ships was in practice, and
that after his legal advisers had up
held this policy, maintaining that
"mer chant ships beyond the three
mile limit were not. within the mean
ing of the eighteenth amendment,
territory subject to the jurisdiction
Of the United States"
Mr.. I.asker's letter is written in
an extremely caustic manner He
scouts the idea that the letter from
MIR. Busch was prompted by any
claw -biding motives" but rather to
..create Il situation to benefit the
busch brewery. After referring to
The fact that Adolphus Busch, who
founded the brewery. was possibly
The kaiscr's closest friend in Amer
lea. Mr. I.aSker says:
Your action will not displease
your German friends, whose greatest
hope of restored German merchant
marine is in hurt to Americas
new born merchant marine. I be-
lieve you to be thoroughly selfish
and that you hope to create a public
revolt against prohibition SO that
YOU may again revive the sale of
your liquors..
Letter From busch.
Adolphus Buschs letter to the
president was as follows:
"afy Dear Mr.. President:
ii am transmitting herewith letter
,ye have just received from my father,
August A. Busch, president of Anheu-
,cr- Busch, Inc, written on board the
United States S. S. George Washing
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