The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1923-03-23
Laxity of Law Makes Smuggling
2. Along Pacific Coast An
Easy Project.
AGREEMENT is VIOLATED
Canadians and Their Confederates
in America Are in Great
Liquor Conspiracy.


Peerless in the Golden Gate after a
.wo-mile chase and pistol battle
brings to a sensational climax the
long continued charges by American
Prohibition agents that Canadian liq-
uor importers are taking advantage
of the laxity of the provincial law
and are flooding the Pacific coast
with contraband.
The significant fact i'll the present
/ seizure is that 2O7 cases of the SIS
captured bear the marks and brands
of whisky made in Louisville, KY,
shipped into Canada last November un-
der an ironclad agreement that it
should not be reimported. The seizure
which indicates that this agreement
has been flagrantly violated and that
the open channel for struggled goods
from Canada has been made use OF,
will bring important changes in the
American Prohibition laws and is like
~ to cause all shipments into Canada
from the United States to be banned,
according to Samuel F. Rutter, federal
Prohibition director, speaking to a
representative OF the Christian Science
Monitor.
The seizure is the final evidence
wanted OF the completely OF Canadian
liquor dealers in the American snug
CLING trade and offers irrefutable proof
that the Canadian policy of pacivity
TO the export of liquor whose sale is
forbidden by American law, has re-
suited in lawlessness and Prohibition
violation on the Pacific scaboard
The coast guards capture provides
the connecting link in chain OF evil
dence duplicating Canadian importers
in a series OF gigantic frauds in
volving the yearly handling OF
struggled liquor into the United States
valued at $32,000,000. The Kentucky
liquor left the United States by way
of Portal, n. Oak, as registered, where
it was a legitimate export. 1t was
consigned to the Sterling Liquor Com
pany of Vancouver, B. c., under bond
by Vancouver. The provincial gov
eminent has no law against the ex-
portation of liquor and although pro-
tests have been made by officials
against smuggling into the United
States the practice flourishes openly
at the Pacific ports where the wharvcs
are filled with motorboats carrying
liquor ostensibly to Mexican ports but
actually to American ports for trans
fcrral
There is no Canadian statute by
which these confederates OF American
law-breakers may be reached their
reward is lucrative; the liquor supply
is inexhaustible; as long as the sys-
tenn continues, American agents feel
that their task will be largely him
dered if not made impossible.
asIhc boldness and lawlessness of these
smugglers is serious enough to engage
the attention OF two governments"
said Mr.. Rutter. MANY cases OF
genuine Canadian and Scotch liquors
bore the shipping mark y. NJ. En-
senada, N. Mex, in bond by Van
couver,' He added
Note the words "in bond" to cs-
cape Canadian duties. The fact is
that Canada's own laxity in en-
forcing smuggling laws has helped
to build up unique organization
OF lawless men who arc now dis
regarding all revenue laws of both
the United States and Canada.
Thirty liquor houses in Van
couver have combined their re-
sources and ingenuity in this de-
liberately planned conspiracy.
Canada has placed herself in the
same category with Mexico. 1t
was just such sensational cap
ture of liquor as the coast guard
have made that closed the doors OF
the south in 1921
In 1920 enough liquor was be-
ing shipped into TiaJuania, Mex,
to supply that entire Nation with
non-beverage liquor The fact that
law-breakers in this country con-
slider it less dangerous to ship their
goods is this country and smuggle
them back rather than peddle di
rect, is fine compliment TO the
efficient law-enforcing agencies in
in this country. 1t is also tragic
commentary on the inadequacy of
present smuggling laws and strict
observances OF existing statutes
by the fragrant violation of the
last five federal laws, those con-
cerned with smuggling, the Eight
zenith Amendment, resisting fed
eral officer, assault, and conspiracy
to defraud the United States Gov
eminent.
The three prisoners captured
face federal penitcntiary sentences