New-York tribune., 1918-03-08
nepartment of Justice
Heads Lay OFF u. S. Attor-
new and Deputy Marshal
Zone Law Enforced
r.deral Authorities Near Rock
Island Held Responsible
for Liquor Violations
[Staf Coyyespondeucel

WASHINGTON, March THE De-
oortment OF Justice to-day announced
definite policy of holding Federal
,s;csrs to 3 strict enforcement of the
lov with reference to liquor and vice
,ones created by the President adja-
cent to army and navy camps. Dis
r,issal from the service will follow
onv eyidence that officers in the field
,re winking at violations, depart
mont officials asserted.
The new policy was announced in
making public the suspension OF AS
,;stant United StatN; Attorney John
: Dougherty and Deputy United
States Marshal Williams, of Rock ISL
and. H., for failure to enforce the
law against vice near the Rock Island
Arsenal ordnance training camp. De-
partment agents for the last month
nave been conducting q secret investi-
cation OF vice conditions at Rock Isl"
and. where the local authorities were
declared 20 be in sympathy with the
yiolators. Dougherty and Williams
are indirectly accused of failing to
hiring prosecutions of vioators of the
hali-mile dry" and vice zones near the
arsenal
"The suspension of these officials. .
department official asserted, may
be taken as an indication OF what the
Attorney General intends to do in
the future where field officers fail to
initiate proceedings when violations
are as fragrant as those which existed
at Rock Island The United States at
torneys and marshals are to be held
personally responsible for their dis
iricts. and. where local authorities
countenance vice or fail to institute
proceedings, the Federal agents must
act if they desire TO remain in the
service
Attorney General Gregory to-day au-
-horized the following statement:
"As result of an investigation made
under his personal direction into con-
ditions at Rock Island. H.. which ad-
Joins the United States ordnance
trainingcamp. Attorney General Greg
ory has suspended for period of
thirty days Assistant United States
Attorney John t. Dougherty, and di-
rected the United States Marshal to
suspend for similar period Deputy
United States Marshal Williams. Both
Of these men will have a hearing pend
ing consideration of their removal
This action has been taken because
Of what appears to have been a lack
Of sympathy on the part Of these two
officials with the settled policy of the
Department of Justice to enforce the
law strictly with reference to the
liquor and vice zones created by the
President adjacent to army camps. The
deplorable conditions found to exist at
Rock Island have been caused largely
oy the neglect of the municipal author
ties to preserve order and decency,
and this has imposed an added respon-
s5iity upon Federal officials in that
jurisdiction.
For an indefinite period the cities
adjacent TO the camp at Rock Island
Will be held under strict surveillance
BY special officers of the Department G f
Justice
Hundreds of prosecutions of liquor
restrictions have been made by de-
partment agents in the last few
months, and recent reports indicate
mat conditions about most camps are
good. The principal difficulties en-
eountered IT the cleanup movements
we're from city officials, who refused in
such cases 20 assist Federal agents
.a enforcing the Fedora! regulations.
lne Rock Island situation became
@cuic several weeks ago, soon after
iae ordnance training camp there was
paced IN the class Of camps sur
.ounded by liquor and vice-b barred d
-'hes investigation agents Of the De
partment OF Justice visited Rock
isiand On receipt of complaints that
'aoons and immoral houses con-
9hued IN operation, and their reports
qlh not accord with the statement OF
Deputy Marshal Williams that con
al'ions were satisfactory Accordingly
me department took direct action 70
V. p.oer saloons closed and vice CON
di'lons abated
e. uistricI Attorney Knots Of the
southern Illinois District, went to Rock
'S'aha to-day. according 70 Department
justice reports, to re0ucs. Federal
! Juoee humphreys to name a special
Snised state Comm issioncr 20 cxpe-
s'.e 'he tEial Of violators of tnc liquor
IN announcing to-day that the order
ossHng hve-milc zones around the Ma
al Academy and seven naval training
rVs's wonid become effective next Mon
as, March II, unless otherwise or
aeren' Secretary Daniels said he had
aHeh under adviseInent urgent re
asests from LIQUOR interests at several
y Ihe places affected that thcy have
-,.e tlrae = move our Of the zones.
I Danle!s vii confer with the De.
ySninent Of Justice before deciding
~ ~ much time shall be given liquos
alers to adjust their business 20 q.
comply with the order. II is under
200 tnat as much as two weeks prob
&''y Will be granted