The Muskogee cimeter. [volume] (Muskogee, Indian Territory, Okla.) 1901-19??, 1917-03-31
HIS FALSE CHARGES
William Anderson, Superin.
tendent Of New York Anti.
Saloon League Intimated
Liquor Interests Raised Fund
to Corrupt Lawmakers and
When His Bluff Was called"
He Failed TO Prove II

MAMIE NHhi b'o thut 'hNJ
prove is penchant of AntiSaloon
League officials. Read this, from the
New York Morning Telegraph
william II. Anderson, head of the
Anti.Saloon League, has been barred
from hearings before the committee
considered liquor bills at Albany. The
reason given Is that Mr.. Anderson
failed to make good his charges OF
bribery or attempted bribery. Recent.
iy Mr.. Anderson, as head OF the anti.
liquor forces, sent out an adroitly-
worded circular, Offering $4,000 re-
ward for evidences OF bribery. II
made no specific charge against any
particular person interested In the in.
dustry, or against any member OF the
state legislature, by name. At tho
same time, the implication was strong
that any member opposing the re.
forms" advocated by the Anti'Saloon
League would be under suspicion.
When the committee met he was
asked to divulge facts justifying him
in drawing blanket indictment
against the representatives of the
people, and he either could not or
would not do so.
Senator Mills and Assemblyman Nc.
Cue threatened to withdraw from the
committee II Anderson were permitted
to testify, and he was excluded.
II is n remarkable fact that re
formers OF certain type consider
themselves privileged to draw fan
tastic conclusions based upon nothing
more than super.heated imagination.
and TO present these conclusions in
such way as TO discredit those who
differ from them. and who may be ar
rayed against them at election time,
Professional politicians do not do this,
They play the game In the open and in
every way show themselves to be bet.
ter sportsmen and better men than
some crusaders. Why is Il? Is 1t i'm
possible for the professional moralist
TO lay his cards on the top OF the
table?
0 Going Too Far.
Under the caption, "Besmirching by
Insinuation," the New York Evening
Sun remarks:
BY going a trine too far, for once,
the AntiSaloon League has caughh q
well-deserved reprimand. In connec'
tion with the proceedings over the
Optional Prohibition bill at Albany,
Mr.. William ii. Anderson. superin'
tendent OF the league, intimated that
liquor interests" had raised a roll OF
money to be applied to the work OF
corrupting the legislature. II is upon
such bitter insinuations no doubt that
the hatred OF thousands OF sincere bu,
misinformed people has to be fed.
In this case, however, the words
that should have opened the pocket
books Of righteous wrath had an un
expected effect. Senator Mills, a mar
OF unassailed standing, thought prop
or to perform the necessary task o,
dealing with Mr.. Anderson, who on ap
pearing yesterday at the committee
hearing on the bill, was asked to pro
duce facts in support OF the charge
that there existed fund to bribe tn,
servants OF the state or to defeat tn,
measure In question.
This, as II happened, Mr.. Anderson
was unprepared to do. He had prob
ably not reckoned on the possibilit.
that some one would read his asser
ton as a bluff He fell back on blus
ter, which, however, would not worl
when applied to respectable an,
vigorous castigator such as Mr.. Mill
by smarting and squirming cast
gatee. II resulted in the abject ant
forced refusal of Anderson to suppl!
facts I'm the face OF a characterize
tion which was about everything tina
an attempt to influence votes through
groundless defamation OF legislator
would deserve.
The earnest and virtuous supporter
OF the Anti-Saloon League sheult
open their eyes TO this affair Ever
werc the drinking of alcoholic stimu
lants the evil they think Il, which W,
firmly believe II Is not. there are still
worse things. One of them is the per
sscution and running Of ones neigh
Dor by III founded stories. Another
10 the corruption of legislators
whether by appeal to their cupidit,
with money or to their timidity with
threats TO their good repute. WheI
an institution supported by the dol
lars as we'll as the approval of tn,
church element goes too far Il 10 run
ning great risks Of tam.