PROHIBITION ENFORCEMENT.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 January 1925, Page 1

PROHIBITION ENFORCEMENT.

CONGRESSMEN GREATEST VIOLATORSROLLING DRUNK. [Reuters Telegrams.! WASHINGTON, January 7. It is announced that Judge Ebert Gary (President of the United States Steel Corportion) is heading a special committee of prominent, men who will breakfast with President Coolidgc tomorrow morning, and discuss the question of law enforcement especially that of prohihiton, which lias brought to a head a situation involving the Volstead Law. which during the past fortnight has reached special prominence, due to two incidents: Namely a suit brought by Congressman Scott- against his wife for divorce and scandal involving Hie Government officials of New Jersey in bootlegging arrests, leading to the removal of the l liited States District Attorney and to prosecute for the removal of another. Witnesses testifying at the Scott trial alleged that Congressmen in Washington were the greatest violators of the liquor laws, many of them bringing automobiles full of liquor to parties where gambling and licentious practices were rife. Senators and Congressmen, commenting on this testimony, averred the truth thereof and stressed the fact that officials were the greatest offenders against the laws. Representative Upshaw declared that although it was too late to have Congressional investigations this session which ends on March 4th., such an inquiry should he held. Miss Robertson, the second woman elected to Congress declared that she saw Congressmen intoxicated, rolling on the floor. OT those charges, the newspaper correspondents say the representatives have been arrested on intoxication charges but matters have been hushed up.

Judge Gary, commenting on the status of prohibitnon enforcement-, declared the disobedience of laws was so l-ife. that lie fears for the country’s institutions.

Senator Wheeler, of the Anti-Saloon League has called for a strenuous campaign against the liquor law offondois. The Now Jersey scandal reached peculiar proportions, when half of the Police Fore? Hi one city were indicted hut kept on duty and during the election the Police Commissioner was reelected, despite the indictment charges which were that the nun runners had landed liquor under police protection. Senator Rorali telegraphed to the Judge Gary Committee that the 18th Amendment gave notice to all the world that- tlio United States would undertake the stupendous task of putting an end to the liquor traffic: “Wo arc entitled to have all other Government's respect this policy and to have llicni compel their nationals to respect it.. Tt i.s quite within the power of the British Government to instantly put. an end to tile activities ol such moral pirates as would co-operate with criminals in this country to violate the law and to undermine and destroy the great national policy. It- could at least, drive them to cover, which would practically destroy the business as it is being carried oil. Me are entitled lo ask the British Government to not permit tlieir nationals L> join in an open conspiracy against our conslitutinii and the maiiitename of the law. Senator Borah, pointed out that Britain herself took up just such an altitude when she protested against the subsorvico influence of Soviet propaganda, as typified in the Ziimvicff letter.