The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-04-22
RUM RUNNING NOW
SERIOUS ISSUE IN
HARDING CABINET
Official Family Spends Entire
Day Discussing How To
Meet Problem
WASHINGTON,

WASHINGTON, April 20.-Rum
runners, plying their trade brazenIy
along the American coast line, are
seriously disturbing President Hard
ing and cabinet officials.
The President and his cabinet de-
voted their entire session Friday to
consideration of the growing liquor
menace along the coasts, and heard
suggestions from various members as
to what measures can be taken TO
stop the increasing traffic.
Two possible courses Of action have
been put forward:
l. General request to other nations
for friendly co operation in stamping
out the activity of heavily laden rum
fleets.
2, Use Of sub chasers and other fas
vessels OF the navy to drive the
liquor carriers from the seas.
Rude shock to Cabinet.
The cold and open nature of the
traffic, as observed by Palmer Can
field, New York prohibition director,
on a visit to one of the rum runners,
gave several cabinet members rude
shock. 1t had been the general opin-
ion that the stories of rum runners
had been overstated.
President Harding considers the
rum running. evil a matter of grave
concern II was said at the White
House after the cabinet meeting. lie
does not mean to let the government
stand impotent, it was said. This
statement of the Presidents view was
interpreted as a forecast of vigorous
action of some kind.
Government action will probably
lie along both lines suggested to cope
with the liquor traffic. As some of
the vessels operating along the coasts
are OF foreign registry, it is proposed
TO deal with this phase of the situa-
ton by asking operation from
other governments in stopping their
nationals from participation in the
traffic
TO deal wyh rum ships operated by
citizens of this country. some more
drastic action is considered possible.
and is likely. though its form is as
yet indefinite.
Immunity of Vessels.
The cabinet learned from Secre-
tary of State Hughes the hazy i'm
ternational complications surround
ing any action by this government
involving other governments, as
we'll as the delicacy of still further
pushing upon other countries the
touchy prohibition issue, which has
already caused protest from Can
ada in connection with the sale of
shipping board vessels. 1t was also
recalled that two British vessels
taken some months ago by prohibit
tion agents outside the three lie
limit were returned on protest from
Great Britain. This government has
no power to say what foreign ships
may carry outside the three-m lie
limit.
Whether prohibition agents can
seize American ships outside the
three mile limit is another unde-
cided question. Some time ago a
Florida court upheld the action of
prohibition officers who took a shin
outside the three mile limit, on the
ground that the chase had been be-
gun in territorial waters. This de-
cision at least points to possible
ways Of dealing with the trouble
some rum question
Minimixes- Evil.
Prohibition Commissioner Haynes
has until recently minimized the OPP
erations of 1uI. Anners, claiming
that reports had oeen greatly eX-
aegerated. 1t was but q short time
ago that he swung around to the
belief that the business had reached
srch proportions that it required the
attention of prohibition officials. He
has asked for boats from the navy
To aid in thwarting rum running,
has made no definite ruling. On a
recent trip to New York Haynes
learned the real nature of the rum
running evil. Even after he had
seen reports of Canfield's trip to one
vessel of the rum fleet however, he
reiterated that the evil was not as
great as was claimed.