Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-17

a number of New Jersey officials who
had recommended his appointment
Did the Presidents secretary recon
mend you for appointment" said Sen
ator Phelan.
Not at my instigation.'' said Gen.
Smith IF he did SO it would have been
at the instance of the gentlemen whose
names ! have given you: l have not
sought to be reappointed."
Did the secretary to the President
ever request any favors of you?" asked
Senator Phelan.
Gen. Smith Makes Denial.
Never once" answered Gen. Smith.
81 met him only once in the executive
offices, and that was on the occasion
when the members of the board called
to announce that the board was organ
led
Then the limitations of DR.. Mac
Murray were all untrue?" said Senator
Phelan.
yes, so far as the President and his
secretary are concerned, absolutely"
answered Gen. Smith.
Have you ever been connected with
the liquor interests in any way!" asked
NO" answered Gen. Smith.
Gen. Smith then took up the question
of the letter which Andrew Wilson.
president of the Anti-Saloon League.
told the committee Postmaster General
Burleson had sent to the excise board
for a saloon at 1916 LIST street. near the
mail bag shops of the Post Office De-
partment Gen. Smith presented to the
committee the letter OF protest, dated
October IL, 1915.
Not Responsible for Boards Actions.
He then presented a second letter
from the Postmaster General in which
he withdrew the original protest.
Senator Phelan asked if the board
had always acted with unanimity. Cen
Smith replied that four or five times
it's action had not been unanimous.
Senator Phelan asked If Gen. Smith
considered himself responsible for all
the actions of the board.
II consider myself responsible only
for my own acts" replied Gen. Smith.
He told the committee. in reply to a
question, that his attitude toward the
liquor traffic had been one of strict
regulation. and said that he did his
best to maintain order under the law
He said that he believed that the board
was harmonious.
DO you remember any case where a
liquor license was granted by the board
and was opposed by you?" asked Sena-
tor Jones.
tnlHh fcpllcu zen. SUnllH.
Admits He Was Mistaken.
Senator Phelan presented letter
from Andrew Wilson. president of the
Anti-Saloon League. requesting the
committee to strike out of the record
his testimony relating to q locked gate
at St Aloysius Church, admitting that
he had been mistaken. Before the COM
mittee could act on his request, Leo
A. Rover. representing Rev. Father
+. G. Donnelly, asked to be heard.
THE statement OF Mr.. Wilson before
the committee In relation to the gate on
the st. Aloysius Church property was
absolutely false" said Mr.. Rover. 81
have brought affidavits of Ave persons
living in that neighborhood swearing
that this gate had not been opened for
twenty five years. Consequently Mr..
Wilson's statement that 1t had been
for John Allen was untrue. l consider
! that his remarks were a cowardly attack
and particularly because they practically
charged the priest with collusion to vio-
late the law. Mr. Wilson should have
come here this morning like a man and
| made direct statement publicly dis
| avowing the truth Of his statement"
Record Is Let Stand.
The committee finally decided to lie,
the record stand as 1t was. putting in
it the letter of Mr. Wilson.
| Henry l. A. Quinn bore out the state
ment made by Mr.. Rover. as did Mar
tin ]. Mcnamara, president Of the Cen
trail Citizens Association. The latter
criticised especially a statement Of Mr.
Wilson to the effect that the excise
board had issued license in what was
practically slum neighborhood.
| He pointed out that there were six
or seven churches. public schools, a
girls academy and Gonzaga College in
| that neighborhood. He said that the
people there are of very good charac-
ter. some of them worth a million and
half dollars. He said that they re-
scented most strongly the characterize
ton Of the neighborhood by Mr.. Will