Evening star., 1924-10-26
RUM RUNNERS SEEK
T0ENL|ST RADIO AID.
Government Watches Closely
to Prevent Use of Air for
Illegal Traffic.
BY CARL ii. BUTMAN.

BY CARL IL. BUTMAN.
The unlawful, although perhaps
somewhat abetted, rum-running ana
"bootlegeing industry" is striving TO
obtain the aid of radio as an ally
in opposing the activities of the pro-
hibition officers against these opera
tions 1t is believed, however, these
efforts will prove unsuccessful In all
quarters of the country. the raolo
inspection service of the Department
of Commerce is cooperating. as II
always does with the other Federal
agencies to that end, although
directly it is not concerned with mat
ter transmitted by radio.
Reports from several radio super
vision districts indicate that, in one
way or another, Illicit liquor opera
tors are receiving or seeking aid from
commercial and amateur radio sta
tions and operators. In some in
stances the radio police of the Gov
ernment cannot take action, at least,
not yet. But, in others, where actual
evidence OF law breaking is in hand,
the radio supervisors and inspectors
can and have taken a hand in bring
ing to justice licensed operators who
have broken radio or other Federal
laws.
Licenses Are Revoked.
If an amateur is known to have
co-operated with rum runners OH
the coast he loses his license. The
license of coastal station found
guilty may be recalled, and 1T is
doubtful il it's owner or opera tor
would dare draw the fire of the in
spectors after the ban was removed.
He would be watched II he tried
to communicate again with rum
vessel owners off shore. The owner
of a radio operating license, either
commercial or amateur, who is con-
victed of breaking Federal law,
although he may keep well within
the radio laws and regulations, ceases
to become a citizen, for the time be-
ing at least, and loses his right to
hold a Government license, some
authorities hold.
Some instances are known where
apparently innocent messages relat-
ing to the shipment of Illegally trans
ported liquor were sent without the
knowledge of the transmitting radio
company the operator. and in such
cases no punishment was imposed,
warning sufficing. Complaints have
been received from Florida and also
Washington. of illegal coastwise ra-
dio traffic suspected and, it is under
stood, that all radio supervisors have
been advised to aid the prohibition
agents when possible, although their
regular duties do not require actual
radio regulations. and furthermore
they haven't the time.
1t is understood that a high-pow-
cred radio station in the vicinity OF
New York is supervising traffic in
liquor with the ships on "rum-row,
and the North Atlantic coast But it
has not been proven yet. Other sta
tions in coastal and border districts
are under surveillance by Federal au-
thorities, being suspected of cooper
ating through radio with rum agents
and traffickers.
BOOtIegEer Owns Station.
Probably the most unique case is
that of a broadcasting station near
the Great Lakes. which is said to be
owned and controlled by bootlegger.
This aStute operator, however, does
not go on the air with anything out
of the way in radio, telephone or
telegraphic messages to his kinfolk
in the trade. He does not advise radio
listeners that he sells booze and has
fine shipload of it due, Nor does he
call his agents over the air to tell
them to land goods or lay offshore
until the police and prohibition agents
have withdrawn. He does nothing for
which he can be investigated or even
be called down. He simply broadcasts
regular programs of radio entertain
ment as do 500 other broadcaSting
stations. Butt is believed certain
that some Of his acts or parts of his
programs are actually code messages
to his agents regarding incoming and
outgoing wet goods.
The simple rendition OF n bonnie
Scotch song by a sweet-voiced soprano
may indicate to the initiated that STA
tiOn "KORN' is in the market for
Scotch, while the harmless refrain.
Comm Through the Rye. may be an
actual order for rye. Another song may
indicate that the coast is clear.
OF course, all his cargo carriers, prob
ably small lake craft, and probably his
motor trucks, are equipped with radio
apparatus. Mobile radio sets are. of
course, not against the law, and in quite
common use today. AS regular broad
caster, this station listens in for code,
especially ship calls, and frequently gets
them
Any one who can work out this unique
code, it is understood, is entitled to ap-
ply for a permanent job with the Gov
ernment in the prohibition unit or the
Secret Service, or even both. The De-
partment of Commerce field representa-
tiveS have nothing to do with matter
put on the air, as censorship is taboo,
so no complaint can be filed in that re-
spect- Like publishers, broadcasters can
put what they please on the air, with
certain restrictions as to obscene Ian
guage only.
Speaking of radio codes available in
connection with the liquor traffic, an old
operator told the writer Of n good one
recently He once heard an expert oper-
ator, who was also an artist at the
piano, send regulation code message
by playing we'll known piece on the
piano. The selection was Comm
Through the Rye" and the message was,
DO you want drink? To be sure the
timing Of the measures was bit err
ratio, but both the music and the code
message were readily recognized by the
operators present BY accenting or hold
ing certain notes for dashes, and cutting
others short for dots. with due regard
for spaces, this expert made his query
clear, and, it is said, received affirmative
replies from all present. This means of
code communication could be used very
easily by a radio broadcaster, provided
his representatives were trained opera
tors and practiced up a bit on piano
transmitting and reception.
Traffic officers maintain that Paris
has the most intense traffic problem
of any city in the world. Accord
ing to tally kept from 8 pm. to
pm. more than 104 900 vehicles passed
the crossroads at the Place de la
Concorde, an increase of 20 per cent
over last year.