The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-05-04
DENLY OPPOSING.
PLAN To EMF ORCE
LAWS WITH NAVY.
Battleship Drive Against Rum
Ships Means Loss Of Dig
nifty, Is Contention
WASHINGTON BUREAU
THE AGE-HERALD
Washington. ID. C.. Mny 3


Does the present disregard of pro-
hibition statutes constitute a national
emergency, and if so, is that emery
ency sufficiently grave to warrant
the government having resort to its
army and navy?
That is the problem put by Presi
dent Harding before his Attorney
General, Harry Nj. Daukherty. The
opinion of the latter probably will
be rendered next week. The idea
holds that Daugherty will conclude
that an emergency exists, and that
the chief executive would be iusti-
fled in patrolling the coasts of the
United States by gunboats or even
superintendent
The secretary of the navy. Edwin
DENLY, openly opposes the project.
He declares that, in his opinion, the
use of the navy for the enforcement
of prohibition would constitute a
complete loss of dignity. 1t is UNI
derstood. also, that he argued to the
cabinet that for the government to
make use of it's army and navy to
enforce a police regulation would be
tantamount to a declaration to the
world that legally constituted en-
forcement authorities with all their
instrumentalities had proved unable
to defend the constitution against
the lawless.
o O O
Drys Encourage idea.
AS If admitting that without the
army and navy prohibition cannot be
enforced in the United States, anti
liquor organizations are quietly en-
couraging and even urging the Pres
ident to make use of the navy Re
garding the report that probably the
President will patrol the coasts with
dreadnoughts, the Board of Temper
ance, Prohibition and Public Morals
of the Methodist Episcopal church,
officially declares: IF these reports
are correct, the American people will
be highly pleased. The country still
has a keen sense of national honor
and any further liberation Of this
piracy would be cause for public
humiliation.
The same organization suggests
that the line of defense" be extended
bevond the three mile limits. And
Wayne b. Wheeler. general counsl
of the antisaloon league, in public
statement today, suggests a disre-
gard of the three-mil limit, and in
dictates the probability that even
"firmer methods" must be inculcated.
Il do not believe that any foreign
nation" he saids, would attempt to
protect it's own vessels acting as
rum fleet on our shores defying the
constitution of our country. If the
United States would notify other ma
lions of the presence of such ships
and that such acts are inconsistent
with friendly relations between ma
lions, IT would furnish starting
point, at least, to determine whether
or not firmer methods are neces-
sary."
President Greatly Perturbed
While. these organizations politi-
,f,,1 l,n. las.tv of on,
the executive, according to indica-
lions, the situation is one which is
said greatly to perturb him. He is
adverse to going to war for the en-
foreement of prohibition, and is said
to realize that restrictions against
foreign ships imposed by American
statutes ultimately will lead to com
plications The Secretary of State,
Charles Z. Hughes, likewise Is wor-
ried because of his desire to see that
all courtesies are extended to repre-
sentatives of foreign nations in the
United States
The recent decision of the supreme
court to the effect that no foreign
vessel may bring liquor within the
three-mile limit, even though 1t be
sealed, or intended for medicinal pur-
poses, or for mess portion in accord
ance with the contract between own
ers of foreign vessels and sailors,
will result in protests by Great Bri-
tain, France and Italy, the secretary
has reason to believe. These nations,
it Is pointed OUT. may maintain
mother ship, well supplied, beyond
the three-mile limit, into which they
may dump their supply when they
approach American shores. and from
which they may receive their supply
when emerging; but how they may
live up to their contract with their
sailors Ca contract calling for wine
at every meaD while within the
three-mile limit is appare atly an in
surmountable difficulty.
O o o
Notification Predicted.
The decision to the effect that
American vessels flying the Ameri-
can flag and owned by the govern
ment the constitution of which de-
clares against the sale or transpor-
the three mile limit. sell liquor des
pite the constitution, will be multi
fed the next session of Congress by
an act expressly prohibiting such
practice, it is predicted by Mr.,
Wheeler.
AS result OF the decision, however
the United States admits that Its ves-
sells, when within the three-mile
shore limit of any other nation, are
subject to the laws of that nation.
and will be compelled, if the laws so
provide, to take on liquor when de-
parting. AS soon az the American
law becomes operative again, Ameri
can vessels will be compelled to
dump their liquors into the sea-
1t is anticipated that If the Attor-
ney General authorizes the employ
ment of the American navy. the
President will likewise employ the