San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-02-20

Obviously the government doesn't
ave any statistics on "bootlegging."
4 it did, there would be more arrests
ind prosecutions. EMISSIONS of the
lw are conceded.
Opinions differ as to the signifi-
ances of 'bootlegging." Men like
Prohibition Commissioner Roy Haynes
Ind Wayne Wheeler of the Anti-Sa-
bon League are optimists. They
ave been in the prohibition move
bent all their lives. They reckon
Everything in relative terms. They see
irogress on every side. They are by
o means satisfied. They feel that
he states must be awakened to their
responsibilities and that professional
nd business men. must be reached by
ppeals to conscience and patriotism.
n the Department Of Justice sits one
{ the clearest thinking individuals in
america, Mrs. Mary Walker Willie
,randt. She has the title of assistant
ttorney general. The United States
district attorneys in the IS districts
& America are under her direct sup
rvision. She is prosecuting cases
Without fear or favor. She knows
vhat's going on. And she tells me
here's no use cOncealing the truth
bootlegging in the border states is
thriving.
Smuggling Is Big Problem.
BY border" states is meant the
tates nearest the coast lines and the
Mexican and Canadian boundaries.
That means smuggling. It's the most
difficult and perplexing phase of the
whole problem--the central weakness
n enforcement of the law. Mr.. Wheel
fr and Mr.. Haynes admitted that their
hardest job was in combating the
Bmuggler. President Harding himself
recognizes the practical difficulties
put hopes the United States coast
guard and customs services will be
brought to a higher state of efficiency
within a relatively short time.
There are men in these services
who do not believe in the prohibition
aw. They have long been in the
service. Their records are excellent.
They do not actually conspire to vio-
ate the law but they look the other
kwev, when violations develop. These
Bf5if will be weeded out in time. But
That will not cure the difficulty for
the coast lines are long and almost
Impossible to guard.
Members of the crew of nearly every
ship that touches a foreign port are
tempted to take on board a case or
1.-TWO for resale at high prices on
America. Can every dock
be watched? Can every small fishing
|craft be inspected day and night, can
|casks of liquor lowered over the side
Ibe detected with the present coast
GUARD and customs agents?
Can IL Be Stopped?
Mr.. Wheeler of the Anti-Saloon
League thinks that the entire power
|of the army and navy should be mar
STALLED if necessary to uphold the
majesty of the law. Canada and
Mexico are being constantly besought
Ito help stop smuggling on the inter-
national boundary. UnQuestionably
those sources will eventually be re-
|stricted. What can be done on the
coast line remains an open question.
The investigating branch of the gov
eminent hopes to perfect its machin-
cry to the point where distribution
will be difficult. if not impossible,
and violations reduced to the same
proportion as other crimes. No one
has yet said to me that all bootlegging
and, illicit distribution of liquor can
be stopped. It's entirely n matter of
degree.
Good Whiskey Is Scarce.
Whatever impression the public
may have that the Harding admins
tration itself will wink at law viola
tons, can be emphatically denied.
There never was greater misconcep-
tion of what is going on in Washing
ton. The President is heart and soul
for law enforcement. Prohibition
Commissioner Haynes is an energetic
and capable individual whose fervor-
on the prohibition question is unsur:
passed by Wayne Wheeler himself.
And he is gradually eliminating the
corruption in the prohibition forces.
}}-@Save me some interesting statistics.
For example, there were 133,000.-
600 gallons of red liquor consumed
annually before the federal amend
ment was adopted. This was the
AMOUNT on which taxes were paid so
it was possible to compile the data
The exports from Great Britain and
other European countries since 1920
show a marked falling off in liquor
trade. While much is being snug
,gled. Il isn't anywhere near the
amount that used to be imported from
abroad.
The impression of all officials is
that very little good whiskey is being
brought into America. Nearly all Of
what is seized shows the effects Of
dilntion. The "bootleggers" want to
make as much money as possible SO
they dilute the good with the bad and
have more cases to sell. When the
federal amendment was adopted, ap-
proximately 6S.000,000 gallons were
stored in government warehouses TO
he Withdrawn only on permits for