Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-07
LA GUARD|A TAKES
RAP At BORAH IN
PROHIBITION TALK
New York Representative
Makes Direct Attack on
Senator on House Floor.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
The war of words over prohibition,
raging for days in series of statements
from various vets and drys, was trans
ferred today to the floor of the House
where Representative La Guardia, a
New York Republican, made a direct
attack on Senator Borah of Idaho, a
leader of the prohibition advocates.
La Guardia referred to Senator Borah
as 1.-The most distinguished gentleman
from Idaho and one for whose opinion
ordinarily have a great respect" in
beginning his portrayal of Idaho con-
ditionS
La Guardia's remarks about drinking
in Idaho, the home State of Senator
Borah, and the recent killing of three
rum runners by the Coast Guard off the
New England coast drew Representative
Beedy, Republican, of Maine into the
fray with defense of the Guard as "a
splendid organization of men" which
was Standing like rock"
New Yorker Gives Figures.
The New Yorker said Senator Borah,
who recently has severely denounced
prohibition enforcement, takes it upon
himself to criticize enforcement in
other States" when ''he might as well
begin in Idaho" He then gave figures
to support his assertion that Idaho
compared unfavorably with States and
cities of the East in law observance.
Beedy said the Coast Guard was en-
forcing prohibition mot because it is
particularly interested in prohibition.
but because it is being true to its
splendid tradition, that when it has
a task to perform, it goes at 1t serious
ly and cOnScientiOusly
Rear Admiral Billiard, commandant of
the Coast Guard was an interested
spectator during the exchange.
La Guardia, who has assailed as
blood murder" the killing of the men
aboard the Black Duck, rum runner,
said prohibition would ruin the Depart
ment of Justice just as it had the Coast
Guard If its enforcement was trans
ferred to that branch of the Govern
ment.
National Super Sleuth.
Under such a plan, he declared, "the
Attorney General of the United States,
now the chief law officer of the Govern
ment and legal adviser to the Presi-
dent. will be transformed into a national
super-sleuth.'
I'VE might as well enforce this law"
Beedy said, cor throw up our hands"
He said that the welfare of the
United States depended upon the carry
| ing out Of the duties imposed upon the
Coast Guard.
The Maine Representative said that
La Guardia had not presented the facts
as they were in regard to the shooting
| Of the crew of the Black Duck AS to
the drinking of liquor by guardspen
who boarded a burning British rum
runner, Beedy said that ed-blooded
p0hcp had O0nn ohoorJ fn ,YVoIood Tho
liquor.
They worked in the cold night, and
to relieve themselves from cold they
drank some of the liquor, and two of
them took some Of it ashore with them
and got into trouble" he said.
Says Officers SIandered.
Asserting that it was lamentable that
the charge had been made that Coast
Guard officers had been guilty of mis-
conduct, Beedy said that only ordinary
Seamen and not officers were involved
In court-martial proceedings at New
London. The officers, he said, had been
slandered by news reports.
What do you want the Coast Guard
to oo?" Beedy asked the House. These
boys are going to be sick of being ac-
force these laws"
This, he said. lis the crux of the
enforcement problem" He then said
that the coast guardsmen in patrol
boats could refuse to see liquor SNUG
Cling boats if they did not desire to full
fill their duties
Representative Clifford, Republican,
Massachusetts, in whose district were
the homes of two men shot by the
coast guardsmen, asked Breezy, "Shall
we encourage the Coast Guard to shoot
rum runners?"
They ought not to shoot them down
reckleSsly," Beedy replied, and added
Continued on Page 2, Column g.