New-York tribune., 1920-03-08
League Inquiry
Not Wet Plan,
Says Cuvillier
Insists Only Purpose Is To
Determine Whether Laws
Have Been Violated by
Anti-Saloon Organization
Anderson Courts Fight
Demands Legislature Go On
Record or Submit to
Pillory Before Public

A<CCOTu Or submit To
Pillory Before Public
Assemblyman Louis A. Cuvillier. Of
the goth District, who offered the reso-
luton calling for An investigation Of
the Anti-Saloon League by the Assem-
bly, Judiciary Committee, In a state
| ment issued yesterday said the sole
purpose Of his resolution was to deter
mine whether the league Is guilty Of a
violation Of the law. The statement
Lreads.
| I'm the question Of Anderson and the
Anti-Saloon Leagues guilt, 50 far as
the committee is concerned, prohibition
has no place. The sole question is the
violation of the law. First, did Ander-
son and the league violate the legisla-
tive law as to lobbying7 Second, did
Anderson and the league violate the
corrupt practices act? Third, did An
derson and the league, violate the gen.
eral corporation law?
Coercion of Candidates Charged
"FouEth, did Anderson and the league
violate the constitution in coercing, In
timidating and having candidates for
members Of the Legislature to pledge
themselves in writing to the Anti-Sa-
loon League that If the league would
! give Its support to the candidates they
would pledge themselves to support
sssn. snd vote tor and 1 Il ths
candidates and those who pledged
themselves to the league, did the
league support said candidates with
money, and in the case Of those candi-
dates who refused to sign or give such
pledge to the league, whether the
league expended money to oppose the
candidates. election to the Legislature?
Fifth, did Anderson and the Anti-Sa-
loon League intimidate and coerce
members Of the Legislature to vote for
the confirmation or rejection Of candi-
dates for public Office nominated by the
| Governor of the state or the Legisla-
ture if said candidates favored prohibi-
toni
"sixth, the source and disposition OF
the money collected by the Anti-Saioon
League, II it was used for secret politi-
cal ends, and If the Anti-Saloon League
is amenable under the law for its un-
lawful acts.
~ do not want to prejudice or en-
barrasa the trial of the Ave Socialists,
but can assure Mr.. Anderson and the
Anti-Saloon League that when the So
| cialist trial is over he will have ample
| opportunity to defend himself and the
i, Anti-Saloon League before the Judi
ciary Committee, but there will be such
a revelation as to the unlawful acts
and usurpation- Of authority in VIOLA
| tion Of the law and constitution Of this
state that Mr.. Anderson and the. Anti
Saloon League will never again exer-
else such authority and control over
elective representatives. The time had
| come when the legislative branch OF
this government had to protect itself
and its dignity from such men as An
derson and the Anti-Saloon League"
No Violation, Says Mr.. Anderson
Mr.. Anderson, speaking last night at
the Marcy Avenue Baptist Church,
Brooklyn, said there has been no vio-
lation of the law by the Anti-Saloon
League, and that an investigation of
the Organization will "clear the air and
| explode lot Of vague rumors." He
added:
fact, nothing but an assault upon pro-
hibition and it's enforcement. Tam
many, whose bias and affiliations are
we'll known, is determined, for reasons
which are readily understandable, to
crush, before Tammany's political
power disintegrates through the oper-
alton Of prohibition.
IAN investigation Of the wide-open
work Of this non-sectarian agency
which has the backing Of an over
whelming majority Of the Protestant
churches without first honestly and
effectively Investigating the secret ac-
tivity Of the 'wets,' who stand con-
victed Of having made common cause
with the enemies Of the country, will
be dishonest on the face Of it. The
same is true Of charge Of violation
Of the legislative law against the Anti
Saloon League, when nothing is said of
other agencies which follow the same
policy acquiesced In for years by ali
public officials.
"Those religious influences which
have secretly and falsely charged that
the Anti-Saloon League Is a sectarian
movement, and which secretly and
falsely worked against a prohibition
candidate for Governor in the last
election on the falsely alleged ground
that prohibition would interfere with
the obtaining of wine for sacramental
purposes are now endeavoring to break
the influence Of the Anti-Saloon League
as the agency of the churches that
have honestly faced and fairly dis
charged their responsibility on the
liquor question. But they cannot
silence the league now any more than
they could stop prohibition then.
Wants Legislature ON Record
"The 'wets' are laying a foundation
to let themselves down easy in case
the Investigation fzzles out by charg-
ing that the Anti-Saloon League is try
ing to stop it. This is not true. We
intend to make the Legislature go on
record before tho state that it solemnly
believes there is occasion for wasting
time and the peoples money In this
sort Of an investigation so that moth
ing will soften the recoil. We intend
that there shall be an honest and
thorough investigation. or we will pill
lory before the public those RESPONSE
BILE for suppressing the truth. We In
tend that the Legislature shall get it's
fill Of fake Investigations, 30 that the
league In the state will be spared a
repetition Of that ancient bluff for
many years to come.
"Ths charges Of violation Of law are
outrageously false in general and in
particular. There are no such facts
as arc alleged. The Anti-Saloon League
has not Violated any law. 1t has not
received or spent any money improp-
erly. Its system Of bookkeeping and
aerouu&3nu unu1A Ia rrad;t - 80.