Evening star., 1924-05-09
By BEN McKELwAY.

This has to do with the problem.
Measured on a chart, it is about zoo
miles from Marthas Vineyard to the
entrance of New York harbor. Along
this stretch OF coast. with scores of
easy and obscure landing places ac-
cessible by fine automobile roads to
the most populous section of the
United States, are the rum fleets.
mastering an average of fifty vessels.
or ono for every two miles of coast,
they are divided into three groups,
one Off Block Island, about twenty
two miles to sea; another off Mon
tauk Point, about twelve miles from
the coast, and the third off the en-
trance to New York harbor, nine to
twelve miles out. They succeed in
putting ashore an average of 20O, 900
cases or liquor every month. Their
profits range from 500 to 1000 per
cent on each cargo Early last win
ter there were about 16o vessels en-
gagged in the trade. Now there are
more than $50. The increase is ac-
counted for in the high profits and
the comparative ease in smuggling
liquor ashore in violation of United
States customs and prohibition laws
Smuggiers Have side Lines
The ships in the trade sail under
the flags of Great Britain, Norway,
France, Italy, Cuba and smaller ma
tions. They bring rum from British
Guiana and liquors and alcohol from
the majority of the western ports of
Europe. The spirits from Europe are
taken to the Bahamas and Bermuda,
the cargoes unloaded and diluted. re-
hnN ln6 4v.6 hf ~
the United States via the ships in Rum
Row and the speed boats which ply be-
tween Rum Row and the coast One ship
on Ruin Row had small cargo of
liquor aboard, but most of the space
in her hold was occupied by cheap
is known to have been sending mar
ceticS ashore with her shipments of
rum. Another ship disposed of dta-
monds, which, like the dope and the
ashore ore" and d. sold Millions Of dollars
gained in this Illicit trade are SWELL
ing the Golfers of the underworld,
customs regulations are flouted, the
prohibition law joked about, the
United States Navy refuses to soil its
passed to the United States coast
guard, 4 ''seagoing outfit" which has
never failed at anything.
Problem Tor Coast Guard.
Created to guard the coast of the
nation in fair weather and in foul,
TO succor those in distress and to
enforce the nations maritime laws
the coast guard was handed a bigger
pill than it could swallow. Four cut
terS, two of them on duty at time,
have been unable adequately to pa
troll Rum Row. When they are not
chasing rum-runnerS they must be
available for the usual routine work
of the service. They may be sum-
the day or night to answer calls of
distress. The same situation exists
along other sections of the Atlantic
coast where mrunning is being
practiced.
Unable to catch more than a small
percentage OF the rum runners, the
coast guard has found it's task doubly
hard because OF lack Of cooperation
ashore. This is due to three causes:
First, crooked men in government
service who are bought of by the
bootleggers; second, lack OF interest
on the part of the public and those
intrusted with the duty of enforcing
the laws; third. the weakness of the
laws themselves and the inability to
obtain quick and positive action in
the courts.
Crooks In Enforcement Service.
Crook edness on the part of those
supposed to enforce the prohi bition
laws ashore is largely hearsay but
there is evidence which speaks for
itself. With 100000 cases of liquor
going ashore every month and find
ing their way into the bootleg trade
through ports commonly known to
he landing places, and with trucks
which are loaded openly on the docks
and driven over the main roads to
the cities without interference there's
bound to be something very rotten
In Denmark.
The lack of interest on the part of
United States attorneys is another
handicap which not only demoralizes
the spirit but seriously hampers the
work of the coast guard Not long
ago, a coast guard vessel brought a
load of seized liquor into port There
were 500 cases of evidence, and it
was duly turned over to the customs
authorities, who placed it in a ware
house. When the case was called in