New-York tribune., 1920-09-16
l)rys to Seek
Impeachment
OF Lax .Jud ges
Anti-Saloon League Opens
Campaign to Rid Govern
ment of Officials Who
Evade Prohibition Laws
Vets Not Down, tt Says
Wheeler Calls Upon People
TO Aid by Electing Only
Liquor Foes to Congress.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 15.--A program
designed to "rid" the government of
officials who do not observe or en-
force the spirit as we'll as the letter"
of the Volstead act was put under wav
at the first session to-day of national
conference here of Anti-Saloon League
officials.
AS the first step toward carrying out
the proposed program, the Rev. P. A.
Baker, superintendent of the league.
appointed a committee to draft reso-
luton which, league officials said,
would serve notice Oh Federal Judges
that their Sacred duties must be
sacredly performed" The committee
was instructed to report tomorrow. 81
impeachment proceedings were sug-
gested as means to compel lax judges
to employ in proper manner the
penal provisions of the prohibition en-
forcement act in dealing with persons
convicted of violating the law.
Demand Dry Congress
The conference in its discussions
evinced determination that the next
Congress be "made dry and kept dry"
Speakers expressed the fear that "the
power of the vets is not entirely
downed,," and unless majority is
maintained in Congress favorable to
rigid enforcement the prohibition code
may be changed.
Administrative officers, it was indi-
Gated, also will be brought within the
Lao ,,@Jc
serting that in a great many instances
administrative officers were not func-
tioning TO the satisfaction of the drys.
The proposal was made that the league
build fires under those who betray the
trust" of their appointment.
Ihe opinion was expressed that liquor
interests might seek to defeat the aim
of the law by obtaining the appoint
ment of officials who would wink at
some kinds of violations.
The discussion of league officials
brought half dozen vigorous attacks
on officials of varying grades who have
to do with enforcement Of the Vol
stead act. The Internal Revenue Bu-
reau was criticized for issuing "scads
of wholesalers permits" and Federal
judges were accused of "coddling''
moonshiners and bootleggers.
Many judges were pictured as too
lciliCiC anu HoNS PCAAHiIICu NioAoCOi .
to escape punishment with fines of a
few hundred dollars. Speakers also
told of what they described as "amaz-
ing conditions" in many localities
where SALOONS run almost openly and
even stranger has no difficulty in OBJ
| tanning liquor"
Plea for Public Support
Wayne B. Wheeler, general counsel
for the league, made an address in
which he called upon call persons who
believe in law enforcement" to stand by
the league in electing only dry candi-
! dates to Congress. He said it was a
most "iropportune time" to encourage
lawlessness, saying that the country is
facing "much defiance of law" and he
believed serious danger lay in the stu
alton.
"If the outlawed brewers can defy
the Constitution OF the United States,
| Mr.. Wheeler said, then any other
group of citizens which does not like
law can proceed to nullify it. and the
government itself would be in jeopardy
When law enforcement is gone, then all
order is gone.
| "Now is the time for every 100 per
cent American to insist upon fair and
honest enforcement of the Eighteenth
! Amendment and upon the election Of
| Continued on paae fouy)