"The Biggest Bootlegger"

Maoriland Worker, Volume 12, Issue 294, 18 October 1922, Page 13

"The Biggest Bootlegger"

THE XJ.S.A. GOYERMIEJST AMERICAN SHIPS INSIST ON SELLING LIQUOR. During the past few months there has been a veritable storm of discussion in America over the fact that the Government of the U.S.A. has been found to be the"the biggest bootlegger of the bunch," and a persistent breaker of the prohibition law. As is well known everywhere, the largest owner of American ships is the United States Shipping Board—a branch of Governmental activity. It is axiomatic that American ships, wherever they float, are • American territory and under the jurisdiction of the laws of the United States. Notwithstanding this, the ships carry wide-open-bars for the sale of alcoholic beverages. Travellers declare that the Shipping Board vessels are the wettest on the ocean. No. wonder that, protests have declared "that- when the Government of the.United States permits one of its departments to violate the prohibition law on the most extensive scale in the world, to-.make money, it seta an example of hypocrisy unparalleled in the history of the Republic. How, may we ask, can the Government expect its citizens to respect tire prohibition i~-::■■'* .v' -■ ■' ■ /- - ' .

law and obey it, when the Government itself is tb-; ohief offender?!' A plain statement concerning the situation is found in a leading article in the Now' Fork "World" for June 16th,, 7922, which declares: "The Government to shut off the sale of ilquor on k-rc?, which it- has not done; thp.n it on Government ships in violation of law, and now is asked i/>y way o-f punishment to outlaw foi eign ship;* that carry liquor for the use of their own passengers at sea. What next will we undertake as the in or', virtuous people in the world for the regulation of everybody's private habits?" Another New York journal remarks: One law for sea and one for shore —is it wise for the prohibitionists to consent to that? What could be a more shameful spectacle than a Government that breaks its own laws?" Is it not plain that prohibition breeds problems, discontent, and bad business. Vote Continuance. 49.