Evening star., 1924-12-21
Mecca for the Bootleggers.

one Of the Maryland roads leading to
Washington. in which, according to
the evidence, a bootlegger was killed,
indicates that the traffic in contraband
liquor to supply the christmas
trade in this city is now in full
swing. The smugglers are racing
| over the roads at breakneck speed to
dodge the enforcement officers and the
police, to make the large profits that
await them If they can land their IL
legal cargoes here.
The other day a representative of
the enforcement bureau of the Treas
ury told a committee Of Congress that
the traffic in liquor in Washin gton is
SO great as to make this city one of
the "wettest" in the United States.
There Is no suggestion whatever that
the local police are negligent or that
the Federal enforcement squads are
slack in their work. Wherefore this
excess Of liquor in Washington?
The law, it would seem, is being
more f1agrantly violated at the seat of
Government than elsewhere. Is this
because of tolerance in law-breaking
on the part Of authorities? Or is it be-
cause of heavier demand here? Hard
ly the latter, surely. Washington is
not peculiarly Incorporate. And
hardly the former, indeed. 1t cannot
be admitted, and is not charged. that
there is a special dispensation here on
the part Of officials for the liquor run
ners and their patrons.
The commissioner of internal rev.
enue, in his appearance before a
House committee, advocated the prep
aration of posters urging the people
TO obey and respect the law. He
thought that if they were spDead
broadly about the country they would
have a good effect in enlisting the CO.
operation OF citizens generally in the
enforcement of the prohibition amend
ment and statute. Perhaps this would
be the result. But surely it is not the
part of the Government to secure law
enforcement BY advertising.
Most of the people are law-abiding.
The lawbreaker is an exception. The
patrons Of the bootleggers are in the
minority. Those who advocate repeal
Der that they cannot secure hear
ing. Advocates of modification Of the
enforcement law are not numerous
enough to obtain the adoption of
planks in the party platforms.
Yet the spectacle continues of law
breaking at the seat Of Government,
Of liquor cars racing hither to sell
their cargoes at enormous profits, Of
men risking their lives in the prose
cution Of this shameful traffic for the
sake of the gains they may make; Of
Federal officials avowing before COM
mittees Of Congress that the Capital
is one of the worst of all offenders in
the matter of breaking the prohibition
law.
Remedy: More intensive enforce
ment, more speedy court procedure,
fewer bail bonds, sitter penalties upon
conviction. At present an arrest for
bootlegging is usually followed by
weeks and even months Of court de-
lays, with perhaps acquittal for lack
of testimony when finally the case is
brought to trial. Meanwhile the traffic
is proceeding, the same offender going
straight back to his route of patrons
and cleaning up in large profits, big
enough to pay for his bond and to
pay his fine when he is convicted.
The vender Of liquor Is not the main
offender. His customer is the real vio-
lator, for IL the customer did not offer
a. high premium for illicit liquor the
vender would not run the risk of pen
atty or death. Prosecutions on that
side Of the case would perhaps reduce
this local market to such low terms
that the bootleggers would not be rae.
| ing here at deadly speed.