Omaha daily bee., 1920-03-11
the independence Of the country at large? Was
there ever more humlating display of par
tisan bondage and national betrayal1
The Anti-saloon League Investigation.

The New York legislature may be starting
something it will be unable to stop, in its reso-
luton for an investigation of Anti-Saloon
league methods, sources OF income, expendi-
lures, and other business details. If the COM
mittee is able to ferret out these matters, which
we doubt, it will be unable to avoid disclosures
of another sort and of a most disagreeable ma
ture to political organizations.
The league, in every state in which it has
been concerned with Legislative action against
liquor interests, has been most thorough in
delving into the personal and political records
of all its opponents IN public Office. Its swar
chests in practically all these states are filled
with dynamite of this character. Presumably
New York state is no exception to the general
rule, and has contributed its full proportion Of
evidence of official weakness. folly, dishonesty
and crime in efforts to circumvent the steady
increase of dry sentiment and its fruition in
Legislative enactments. Information of this
character has been a potent weapon of the
league, not in public exposures and explosions,
but rather in the way of admonition and put
ting the fear of God and the public into the
hearts of legislators and politicians in posi-
ton to injure the dry cause.
The books of the league, we doubt not, con-
tain evidence which the leaders of the political
parties would never willingly have made pub
lic-and which never will be revealed except as
a necessary retaliatory measure.
On the other hand, there is a widely
prevalent and natural curiosity on the part Of
the general public to see the wheels Of the
league machinery taken apart for public iuspec-
ton. 1t has been, to all intents and purposes a
secret organization the country over, so far as
its business affairs are concerned. Its books
have never been opened to the gaze OF the
curious. No reports are made to anybody but
its own officials Because of this, honest guesses
and malicious ISLANDERS have gained currency,
but no exact authentic information has reached
the public except the achievements of the Or
ganization. r.
Possibly the New York legislature may find
the key to the leagues chest of mysteries, and
open it only to wish it had never tampered
with it. One fact is beyond dispute. The Anti,
Saloon league has been the most extraordinarily
successful organization in bringing about ma
tional reform through the votes of the people,
that ever worked along nonpartisan lines.
On the other hand, we doubt the possibility
of any organization however high the character
OF its leaders or noble its purpose, achieving
such results as have followed the quarter CEN
tury drive to prohibition through the highways
and byways Of politics without the use of black
sheep and occasional affronts to the proprieties.
The league had to feel its way along many dark
paths which even angels might fear to tread. If in
so doing it transgressed the law the facts should
be made public, However we may admire its cons
summate skill in keeping its secrets hermetically
sealed, if facts to which the public is entitled
have been suppressed, they should be revealed,
regardless of their consequences to crooks in
or out of the league ..