The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-12-16


! matter, 1 am.
J Yours very truly,
WILLIAM h ANDERSON.
Acting Legislative Superintendent.
His Statement.
Enclosed with his letter to The Times.
Mr.. Anderson sent the following state
ment of the affair for publication:
In behalf Of the Anti-SaIoon League
and its official organ, the American
Issue, whose truthtulness has been 50
vigorously challenged by Prof. 9. W. A
NedltZ. OF George Washington Uuiver-
stty, desire to say that L was asked by
the Anti-SalOOn League Of Virginia 10
secure Information concerning Mr.. Ee-
dltz, and Tor that purpose sent 10 Wash
ington one of the keenest, most trust
worthy men in the employ OF the
league, whose character and veractLy
cannot be successfully attacked
To be absolutely fair, ] sent TO Prof
Nedltz copy of the report made by
him, and asked if IL was correct. After
advising the university authorities that
l had sent copy 20. him, but not till
then, I received a reply. Although II
was in his possession. Mr.. Neditz did not
question the accuracy in any material
particular OF any statement in the short
paragraph which is all that the Ameri-
can Issue quotes from him. On this
point the Interview and his own letter
copies attached) are the best evidence.
pure bubble"
Mr.. Veditzs statement that he repre-
scented the business men, but not the
liquor dealers. is a pure bubble. Every
person who knows anything about the
modern methods OF the liquor traffic
knows that even the ayowed liquor deal
ers themselves work under more eu-
phOnioUs names. such as business
mems associations manufacturers
clubs etc. one of the advertisements
in our possession signed by Mr.. Neditz
and published at LynchburS, contains
the same mOldy. dlScredlted statements
which have been sent out by the liquor
press bureaus for years.
MI. FeditZ complains In his letter
that our representative, when asked
whether he was connected with the
Anti Saloon League, made negative
or evasiye reply or course, he made
an evasive reply How else would he
have gotten the infcrm9tiOuI
The American Issue has a right to
make it's own comments on facts. and
to draw its own deductions. III Neditz
has a right 10 entertain and express his
own opinion concerning those comments.
but mere Indignation does not answer
the statements Of fact contained IT, the
Issue article.
TO epit5mize the whole affair. the
American Issue says that Mr. EeditZ
fought the temperance people in Lynch
burg (Which went dry anyhow. and
this he admits. Further, we are advised
that ne has quit lighting the temper
ance peOple-at least so long as he holds
his present Job. With chat our interest
in the case stops
WILLIAM u. ANDERSON"
Veditz Letter.
8Ir. Anderson also incIosed the fol
lowing letter from Prof. VedItz, written
in regard TO the copy Of the interview
sent to him prior 70 its publication and
also a reproduction OF the CODY OF the
interview sent TO the professoF-
The letter follows;
George Washington University.
Washington. y. c., Dec. f. 1888
Mr.. William H. Anderson, 602 American
Rank Building, BalrImore, Nd
Nv dear sir. I have received YOUR
letter of recent date together with d
copy OF what purpOTts TO be an account
Of my interview with a representative
Of the Anti-SaloOn League. I was in
Jerviewed on Wednesday, November =
by a gentleman who stated that he rep
resented the National News Bureau, or
the National News Company, Of New
York, and that he had been sent over
from Baltimore 10 get an interview
with me ! asked him whether he rep
resented the Anti-Saloon League, and 10
this question / recall that he either
made a negative or an evaSive reply.
Certainly his reply was calculated 10
convince me that he did not represent
In any way, shape, or manner the Anti
Saloon League.
That, however, is n matter Of minor
Importance. The interview as your rep
resentative reported IL IS not at all cor
rect in two or three aspects which I
consider important. In the first place,
I neither laughed .mmoderately nor said
anything that could provoke immoder-
ate laughter. In the second place. the
reason for my selection by the business
Mems League to assist them was not
TO play a Joke on the drys." nor did I
so state It in the interview. In tAe