New-York tribune., 1920-03-16
Chances for Anti-Saloon
League Probe Seen, Slim,
as Leader Visits Albany
and Defies Investigation
Pail ON $50 Beer Bill
col. Cillett Says Measure,
Also Legalizing Light
Wines. Will Pass House
&C.. q stnr C-o,rssrcnde,tt

Anti-SaiooN Leds uS. N"
a.r,and that the investigation of
.;use,s and the league, which was or
..w.s hv the Assembly two weeks ago,
~..ssd without delay. MIR. Anderson
s..;ded on the visit when he heard that
s..,sr Sweet was for sidetracking the
Investigation.
awa want the conclusive proof that
r;,, be supplied by investigation by a
p.r,hlican Assembly, on motion of a
Tssrosnv member OF the deal between
Tsmmanv and Republican leaders,
's.s Mr.. Anderson. These wet Re-
s.shcan legislative leaders have taken
s.Sysnfarn Of the Cathletic Church S
aaros;,ion 10 Socialists 70 invei gle
Tsmmanv ysr into furnishing votes TO
.k-ow out Socialists.
While Mr.. Anderson was making a
demand that the Assembly proceed with
sAe Investigation, Colonel Ransom ).
E;Nett. Republican. OF Columbia Coun-
" was making poll Of the Assembly
~ determine the strength behind his
light wine and beer bill.
Gillett Polls Assembly
rrm confident" said Colonel Gillet-
a.het ve have more than the necessary
majority IN the Assembly to pass the
Henry Walters, president pro tenn
of .he Senate. also Republican, said
.here we're enough votes in the upper
Honsa to pass a $50 beer bill, but that
Tho Senate would not stand for larger
alcoholic content. When Colonel Gil
lett learned this, he said;
Eve may as we'll go to the bat right
now The Assembly will pass light
vine and beer bill II the Senate
wants 70 amend it by striking out the
provision permitting the making and
sale OF wine containing not more than
70 per cent of alcohol, il can take the
responsibility. Of course, if it should
50 amend the Dill when it reaches there,
We can repass It as amended in the
lover House
The statement Of Senator Walters on
The subject follows: There are
enough votes in the Senate to pass q
$50 beer bill. There are not enough
votes here to authorize the sale, con-
sumption and use of alcoholic bev-
erages OF more than 2.75. This will
take light wines out of the catalogue.
There are not enough votes to pass
act, which is patterned after the Vol
stead act. The Senate is waiting for
decisions by the United States Supreme
Court defining the constitutonality
Of the Eighteenth Amendment and the
Voistead act and construction Of the
concurrent jurisdiction clause OF the
prohibition amendment"
Where there is every indication here
Of the passage Of bill permitting the
manufacture and sale Of $50 beer, il
is doubtful, unless Ny. Anderson i
able 70 force the issue, of there being
an Investigation of the league by the
Assembly.
Prosecutors Duty to Act
st would be both cowardly and dis
honest" said Mr. Anderson, for the
Assembly TO duck the investigation of
the Anti-Sa,oon League by referring
'he matter 10 the District ATTORNEY y
and the Grand Jury OF Albany County
1t would be cowardly because it would
De an effort to allow the Assem-. bly, TO
escape the public condemnation that
Will follow proof that there is no justi-
1cation for its attack upon this agency
OF the churches. 1t is already the
sworn duty of the District Attorney to
u.
Failure to appropriate enough money
the end will be a confession. Of course,
that there is nothing against the
league. Bu. that is not enough. We
want chance to show the things that
are IN the leagues favor We want
chance publicly to riddle the wit
nesses' against US The Anti-S Saloon
League is ready to stand or fall on the
4acls brought out in an honest, thor
ougn investigation BY the Assembly,"
There will be hearing on the two
pfohlblhon enforcement bills to-mor-
row afternoon before the Senate Ju-
alclary and Assembly Excise commit
Iees' wayne &. Wheeler, general coun-
ss Tor the National Anti-Saloon
hague, VIII lead the prohibition forces
william u. Guthrie, who has been as
soclated with Elihu Root in the fight
oelore the United States Supreme
Oourt against the Federal prohibition
Sunendment, will head the opposition
ne VIII be assisted by several other
Prominent lawyers.
NJ others who will speak with Mr.
"neeier for prohibition enforcement
VIII be Mrs. Ella A Booie. state presi-
cent OF the W. c. 7. u. William Burr
s.ste Chairman of the Prohibition
party, and c. H. Huestead, represent
ing the Independent Order of Good
An nti-prohibition delegation com
.osed OF ore hundred labor leaders of
cue cue state will 20 to Albany to-day to
asns Tor liberal prohibition enforce
ilasnt ia, bills. 1t will be headed by the
vsg,slatlve committee of the Central
federated Union.
Inc entire labor element of the
S,ale will be concerned and every
mnoh Is going to be lined up with the
.maovement," said Ernest Bohm, secre,
'a'y OF the union, last night.