The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1923-06-15

are barred from the territorial waters
of the United States, the order going
into effect at midnight of June 8. The
department officials could find no way
of avoiding conflict with foreign laws
and so determined that the courts
construction of the prohibition law
should be rigidly applied.
As regards the exemptions accorded,
the regulations have set down restric-
lions that require permits and reports
of character and quantity sufficient
to give the government complete
check on all liquor thus brought into
the barred zone or landed on American
soil. No limitation is prescribed for
the amount Of medicinal liquor which
any craft may possess in American
waters, the regulations stating only
that reasonable" quantity may be re-
tanned for such nonbeverage purposes
until the master of the vessel has had
"a fair opportunity to obtain either a
permit or certificate Of medicinal need"
( Many foreign governments already
have made formal protests against this
application of the Eighteenth amend
ment to their vessels. but it is not clear
what they can do further in the matter.
OF course there has been lot of talk
of retaliatory measures, but it isn't
likely any such will be adopted. French
shipowners are obliged to give their
crews daily allowance of wine or to
pay them the value Of the wine in
money. The general secretary Of the
French Marine Workers union says
the members will be satisfied to take
the cash and let the wine CO. Prime
Minister Baldwin told the British
did not contend that vessel entering
the territorial waters Of country was
not subject to the Jurisdiction of that
country, but that as q matter OF in
ternational comfy such Jurisdiction
was not generally exercised except to
restrain acts likely to lead to a dis
turbance Of public order. He added
that public order could not be endan-
gered by the presence Of liquor under
seal in American territorial waters.
ID ECAUSE Gov. AL Smith signed the
ID act repeating the New York prohi-
bition enforcement law the Canadian
rum runners are reported to be food
ing the Empire state with booze. The
federal dry officials there, however.
have increased their activities and,
after they had conferred with the state
officials, it was announced that the
police would aid in the enforcement of
the Volstead act just as they did be
fore the state law was enacted.
In Connecticut and Illinois efforts to
repeal or modify the state enforcement
laws were foiled by the drys.
Whether Governor Smith by signing
the repeater improved or ruined his
chances for the Democratic presiden-
tial nomination depends wholly on the
point of view. At any rate he is now
the first choice Of the wet faction of
his party. Many believe that McAdoo
will be compelled to moisten his
hitherto bone dry attitude. Underwood
had been the leading candidate Of the
vets. Now they are also being offered
Governor Silzer of New Jersey and
Governor Richie of Maryland.
A FsTER long and acrimonious de-
L A bates Congressman Porter of
Pennsylvania and his American col
leagues in the League of Nations opium
conference forced the adoption Of the
American governments plan to smash
the opium and cocaine traffic by limit
ing production to medical require
ments. For many days the opposition
was violent, and finally Mr., Porter de-
manded that the members of the COM
mission place themselves on record.
Thereupon India, Germany, Portugal,
and Great Britain declared opium eat
ing Is legitimate. Siam, Japan, France,
Germany, Portugal. Holland, and
Great Britain declared opium smoking
is legitimate sin accordance with the
provisions Of the Hague opium con-
vention."
The Americans threatened to quit
the sessions if their proposals were de-
feated, and then all the countries rep
resented except China gave in. The
victory of the Americans perhaps will
not be complete for their plan must
still be accepted by the council of the
League of Nations.
"A CCORDING to decisions rendered
IA last week by the Supreme court of
the United States. the laws passed by
various states prohibiting instruction
in schools in other languages than Eng
lish are unconstitutional. Justices
Holmes and Sutherland dissented. The
question was decided on constitutional