Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-05-09

, Journey was both interesting and
instructive.
ave took an American steamer,
sailed to the West Indies, through
the Panama canal, down the west
coast of South America to Valparaiso,
Chile, and thence across the Andes
by rail to Buenos Aires. Our voyage
northward on the east coast took us
to Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil,
and to Trinidad and Barbados. West
Indies.
We stopped at all the principal
ports along our route and took sew
eral inland trips, including ones TO
Cusco, Peru, La Paz, Bolivia, ana
Lake Titicaca, 1880 feet above sea
level. The great nitrate and copper
fields of Chile were visited ana
studied. We also crossed the vast
Argentine pampas and later visited
the coffee growing districts OF San
tos and San Paulo, Brazil.
Comparatively few Americans
visit these South American lands.
The voyages are long and hot and
there is not as much of interest to
the casual tourist as there is IN Eu-
rope and Asia.
Americans Abroad
ut must be q rare occurrence Tor
prohibitionists and total abstainers
to visit South America. OF all the
Americans we met and with whom
we discussed the question. not one,
except one woman, was found who
both believed in and observed the U.
S. prohibition laws. These same
Americans drank alcoholic beverages
freely and many of them admitted
that they patronized boot-leggers.
Some even boosted of doing so. In
their discussions with us they used
the time-worn and shallow argu-
ments Of Personal Liberty and
preached about the blessings of
Tight wines and beer Those who
took this position seemed to have
little or no conception of their duties
as citizens to observe and respect
the liquor laws of their country.
Liquor Under the American Flag
cit was instructive, but not pleasant,
to see how ships flying the American
| flag handled this question. I had
I thought that ships sailing under our
| flag were dry territory, whereas. in
| fact, the three American vessels we
| Travelled on were decidedly wet This
included the U. S. Shipping Board
| steamer as well as American steam
/ 0AS p13NdiSiy OWucus LlQuOT Was SOlu
from open bars on all these three
ships, the passengers paying for their
| drinks either in cash or by signing
!. bar checks, or 'chits', on official steam
| er cards, Just as was done before pro-
!. hibition, and just as is done today on
British ships in the South American
trade. On the afternoon we sailed
1 from New York on an American
steamer the ships bar was opened for
the voyage. Liquor was abundant.
| Il had reason to believe that the
| ping Board ships would be dry, but
instead of that she was wet. Not
only was the bar open on her and Ii
| Quor sold and purchased in regular
fashion, but passengers also brought
their own liquor stores on board, these
being cared for by the stewards and
served by them in the smoking room
and at the table in the dining saloon.
! Whatever mans personal view of
| prohibition may be, there can be little
or no difference of opinion as to the
improperly of the way liquor Is han
died aboard that line Of U. S. govern
ment ships. This is an affront to law
abiding citizens.
"Of the four captains we sailed
with. three American and one British
/ there was but one, he an American
j who drank while his vessel was at sea.
\ Any man who thus will jeopardize his
ship and passengers is unfit to COM
mand.
L