Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-28

Amusement Is expressed at the scope
of operations conducted by a bootleg
ging ring on the Eastern coast as dis
closed by a series Of simultaneous raids
by Government dry officers. There is
much comment on the fact that the
methods of big business were employed
In law violation. Action by the Fed
eral forces is hailed as turn for the
better in the prohibition situation.
The magnitude of the proceedings is
emphasized by the Rock Island Argus,
with the statement that mo rum
smuggling organization of this size and
importance has ever before become in
volved with the Federal Government"
the syndicate has been functioning sue
cessfully for a long time" and that
profits are so great that, although this
particular organization will have to
suspend, another will soon take its
place."
at is one Of the stoutest blows the
enforcement authorities have struck
against the bootlegging industry" says
the Charleston Evening Post. THE
smashing Of this organization" in the
opinion of the Evening Post, was a
real achievement, and, while it will not
put an end to rum running, it will I'M
doubtedly give the prohibitionists
something to stand on in an argument
as to the possibilities Of effective en-
forcement. In the war between the
Government and the bootleggers. the
Government has won an important vic
tory. What the cost OF it may have
been and what 1t may show the cost
Of comparatively complete enforcement
to be is another matter"
The results appeal to the Kansas
City Journal-Post as giving support Ito
the contention of George w. Wicker
sham, chairman of the Hoover law
enforcement investigation commission,
that the ideal way to enforce prohibi-
ton is to have the National Govern
ment handle the big bootleggers-th
wholesalers, so to speak-while the
State and local authorities handle the
little ones, who might be called the
retailers" That paper argues: AT any
rate, only the Federal Government can
handle smugglers, and most smuggling
is done on a big scale. BY this raid,
the Federal agents were more effective
than If they had arrested scores of
joint-keepers.
THE extent to which this raid is
blow to the Illicit traffic in liquor" in
the judgment of the Lynchburg Ad-
vance, will be determined when the
cases go to court. If convictions are
secured against the rum runners, If
lawyers and bankers who are charged
with giving assistance to the liquor
syndicate are penaliZed, II officials who
have taken brides at the rate of $4,000
a week can be brought to justice and
the service purged of them, then a
smashing blow will have been dealt by
the prohibition unit. 1t seems unlikely
that so much publicity would have
been given the case unless the officials
believed they would be able to do these
things"
Hope is expressed by the Rochester
Times Union that the principals, the
men who were directing operations and
raking in the lions share of the illegal
gain, have been caught" That paper
holds that they deserve heavier pun
ishment than their tools, though all
engaged were lawbreakers." The Times
Union advises that exposure of such
extensive rum-running and bootlegging
operations ought to stimulate New York
cooperation in hunting down such
bands" The Syracuse Herald, on the
other hand, holds that 1.-The effect will
be to make the many other criminal
organizations of the same kind more
vigilant and cautious" The Herald
says of the previous record that the
Governments measures for combating
the outlawed trade were inadequate to
the point of abSurdity.'
Commenting ON the power of money
which had enabled the organization TO
conduct the operations disclosed by the
Government, the Canton Daily News
remarks: set loose in the community
a thousand per cent profit and the
town will be morally shot up before |
the game Is cooked" The Little Rock |
Arkansas Democrat finds "just another |
instance of American genius for organ |
ization gone wrong an exemplifica- |
ton Of the truth OF the old saw that |
1t Is q poor rule that doesn't work |
both ways" That paper Is impressed |
by the fact that members of the ring |
have been furnished with funds just |
- though thsy. were makers Of steel.