New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-15
Anti-Saloon Head Refuses
to Give Basis for 'Slush
Fund Charge
Honor Attacked
Legislators Say
w. H. Anderson Barred
from Speaking in Be-
half of Measure

Albany. March IA bitter quarre.
over the refusal of the head of the
State Anti-Saloon League to tell joint
legislative committee the basis for his
charge that a "slush fund" is being
used against the local option bill re-
suited this afternoon in the commit
tees refusing to let him speak on be-
half of the bill.
The demand for the information was
made of Superintendent W. II. Ander-
son by Senator ogden l.. Mills. Mr.
Anderson refused TO talk except before
committee specifically appointed 20
investigate the "slush fund" Kisses
and shouts of derison punctuated the
colloauy. and many of the committee
men threatened to leave the Assembly
chamber if Anderson were allowed TO
speak.
The incident occurred Immediately
after a delegation of four hundred rep
, resentatives of hotels, restaurants, re-
tail liquor dealers, breweries. labor or
PLANTATIONS. banks, real estate ana
other interests. mostly from New YORK
! CITY. had offered their arguments
| against the anti-saloon measures. On
the other side of the chamber ranged
the temperance forces. equally strong
in numbers. headed by Mrs. Ella A.
Boole. president Of the State W. {. /. L..
Mrs. Boole presented Anderson as the
first prohibition speaker.
Questioned About "Slush Fund"
Before you begin. Mr.. Anderson
said Senator Mills. 81 desire to ask you
Z three questions. On Monday morning
in the rress of the state you charged, IN
substance, that there existed in Albany
, or outside the state a fund TO be usec
! 10 bride the public servants OF TINS
state so as TO beat these measures
This charge not only reflects seriously
upon the integrity and honor OF the
Legislature and on every one OF us
members. but. if true, dscloses the
character Of the opposition IN such
| light that it must necessarily influence
! the position which we take IN dealing
with these measures.
"Bv intimation. without cleaning up
/ this matter before these bills come TO
vote. you cast doubt on the integrity
/ of every man who votes against them
| consider it absolutely pertinent 10
| these bills that you present the 1acls
on which you based that statement.
would like TO ask you whether you nave
/ in your possession facts or intorma-
/ ton which lead you to believe directly
or indirectly that such fund exists
/ and il so what these facts are =?
"When either body OF this Legs
/ lature by formal action. decides 10 take
IN this particular question, and calls
me in proper form for that purpose
/ rcplied Anderson. 81 will answer the
/ question. but not until then
"Do | understand" insisted Senator
Mills. that you have made charge
| that corruption exists in Albany, ana
/ before a legislative committee wnen
| questioned By an officer OF this body
You declined 10 disclose these facts .!
Calls it Fishing Expedition
81 do not admit the substantial cor
RICHNESS OF the insinuatlon that you
Z have nut into your question retorted
/ Anderson. and ! do not intend TO be
detected from the purpose Of TINS
hearing by any such fishing eNpedl-
/ ton I'LL.
/ The crowd By this time was mostly
on its feet. Senator Mills demanded
/ the facts. but Anderson refused TO com
( Div. lie wanted to be hailed before the
I bar of either house. senator Mllla
asked if he would give the alleged tacts
I TO the Governor, but without avail
/ Shouts rose from the outskirts OF me
throng. answer! Make MIN answer
'If he does not want 10 make some
/ decent explanation SAID Assembly,
; man Martin McCue. Il Tor one VIII
refuse TO sit on this committee WINE
sir. Anderson speaks. ,
Assemblyman Murphy, chairman OF
the Assembly Excise Committee; Sena-
/ tor Mills and other legislators mad'
similar statements.
Anderson asked why, if II was such
a question Of hair trigger honor the
/ Legislature did not take action. since
I the statement appeared on Monday.
Barred from Speaking
B After the committee conferred with
F their heads together, Senator Mills
and Mr. McCue moved to silence An
/ derson unless he disclosed his intorma-
/ ton. and Senator James A. Emerson.
/ chairman Of the committee, requested
"the Superintendent to retire 10 mas
/ chair.
Some of the most influential busi-
ness men of New York City participat-
cd in the debate against the anti-sa-
/ loon bills. In the delegation were
i Copeland Townsend, OF the Majestic
Hotel: william II. Tlirsch, attorney for
the state Brewers Association; George
{ &. Boidt and Oscar Tschirky, of the
/ Waldorf-Astoria: T. u. Greene. OF the
Hotel Mems Association; John Mex.
+ bowman. of the Bltmore, Manhattan
and Commodore hotels; Walter Lind
/ ncr. Of the Title Guarantee and Trust
+ Company; +. y. Sullivan, of the Fed
Grafton % Labor; !. W. Buckner, Of
/ PARK & Tilford; f. J. Beinecke. of the
/ United Realty and Improvement Com