Evening star., 1923-02-24

Willebrandt.1 Wayne B. Wheeler Of the
Of the National Association Opposed to
Prohibition, and other leaders submitted to
hep h tine ,W
ment and the outlook.)
From one end OF the country to the
other there comes often the whis-
pered inquiry, do they-the high
officials in Washington-obey the
Volstead law themselves?'
Contrasting the situation which ex-
lists today with that which prevailed
shortly after the eighteenth amend
ment was adopted, it is no exaggera-
ton to say there has been a marked
change. 1t took official Washington
some time to realize what had hap
pened. Now, as the law enforcement
agencies reach out to all classes Of
citizens to deprive them of intoxicat-
ing liquors, the demand that the law
having its effect in the National Capt.
tai itself.
The only liquor which can be legally
possessed today is that which was
made prior to January, 1920. Any
since then is guilty Of a violation Of
the Volstead act. Have members of
Congress and officials of the govern
men had any liquors in their possess
sion which We're manufactured since
the amendment was adopted? Per-
sons engaging in Illicit sale of liquor
have their bottles labeled with dates
of Dre-Volsteadian days. Even old
issues Of internal revenue stamps are
reproduced to make bottles look gen.
Inn atn -< kall
whether the liquor in any ones pos
session is old or new except by trac-
ing 1t to the person who made the
sale.
Privilege in Congress.
Read the debates in Congress and
you will every now and then note
| that wet" member boasts of hav-
ing supplied some of the dry-voting
mem bership with a Stimulant. Some
members of Congress have always
kept supply of liquor handy in case
any of their callers felt distressed and
needed first aid. The theory of these
| members has been that their own pri-
vate offices were no different from
their dwellings, and that it was no
violation of the Folstead law actually
| to drink an Intoxicating liquor.
Members of Congress are immune
from arrest and presumably their
offices will never be raided. The Anti
ed from urging any such search. The
pr ohibition vote in Congress might
| be imperiled if any attempt was
| made to bear down heavily on those
members who vote dry, but continue
, their use of alcoholic beverages. This
group is not numerically large. but its
support is nevertheless valuable
AS for the prohibition officers Of the
executive branch of the government
| they have no jurisdiction over the
members Of Congress-. in fact, they
other officers of the government are
| not obeying the volstead act.
| President Harding has endeavored
| to correct this situation by his ex-
hortations to officials to set an exam
knowledge that the President officially
| frownS upon violations of the Vol
stead act by officers of the govern
ment is beginning to percolate
effect on the situation before long.
Indeed, things are far different today
from what they were two years ago.
There is less drinking in public places
! or at semi-offlcial functions by officials
1 OF the government.
Fake Liquor Disclosure.
! An important influence on the local
situation has been the disclosure of
fake liquor. So much poisoned stun
has been seized that many who do not
like the VolStead act are beginning
to obey 1t through fear Of the boot
sleggers" wares
| No Intoxicating beverages of any
Kind today are served at the White
House table. Members of the cabinet
have scrupulously refrained from pat
roninzing "bootleggers." The lesser
officials connected with law enforce
/ ment also know they are being OBJ
served and they, too, are beginning to
practice what they preach.
! This doesn't mean that Washington
lis bone dry" There are bootleg
where. The embassies and Legations
are by diplomatic precedent regarded
, as foreign territory and hence not
subject to the Constitution or laws
of the United States. Much of the
talk Of embassy liquor running freely
is exaggerated. Some attaches have
slent themselves to schemes Of the
ter have used servants and employees
Ito aid in getting empty bottles and
| the use Of diplomatic trucks and vehi-
cles, but in the main the amount OF
embassy liquor finding its way into
the hands of "bootleggers" for resale
is very small indeed.
No account of what is happening IN
Washington would be complete with.
out mention of the custom Of present.
giving which some of the embassies
and legations quietly observe. The
! foreign diplomats and their secreta.
| ries sympathize with the thirst OF
| their American friends.
sador here of one of the great powers
who said he believed this was a bac
custom and he had issued strict or.
| derS to the members of his staff sew.