New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-04-06
Gillette Brief
Asks Anderson
Be Put in Jail
imprisonment for Life of
Legislature To Be Urged
After s'Dry'' Chief Faces
E. h arge in Assembly
Alleges "Wanton Libel''
Case Will Be Submitted
to Judiciary Committee
at Meeting Tomorrow
Erom a Staff Correspondent

ALBANY, April 5.-William H. An
derson, superintendent of the Anti
Saloon League, will be imprisoned in
the Albany County Jail if Colonel Ran
som ri. Glllett's proposal is accepted
by the Assembly Judiciary Committee
The imprisonment will be only for the
life of the Legislature, which is ex-
pected to adjourn on April "a
Colonel Gillett, who represents Co.
lumbia County in the Assembly. and
Assemblyman Louis A. Cuvilier, of New
York, are the principal hackers of tn.
movement TO punish Anderson for his
attacNs on members OF the Assembly.
0nly Pupnishment Is Jail
Il have drawn up a brief which I
Will submit to the Assembly Judiciary
Committee on Wednesday," said Col
onel Gillett tonight. "ln this I set
forth the charges which Anderson has
been called upon by an unanimous
vote of the Assembly to answer.
have attached to the brief proof of
these charges: show that the AS
sembly judiciary Committee has no
choice in the matter after hearing
the charges and seeing the proof that
Anderson has wantonly libeled me and
other members OF the Assembly,
i snail ask that when proof Of the
charges has been established An.
derson be arrested by the Sergeant
at-Arms Of the Assembly, hailed before
the bar of the House and punished for
contempt The only punishment is
Imprisonment in the local jail during
the sitting of the Legislature"
The life of the judiciary Committee
was extended by unanimous vote Of the
Assembly to April 10. as all Assembly
committees die tomorrow when rules
take charge.
Assemblyman Louis M Martin, chair
man of the judiciary committee, was
not here tonight, but it was said by
those IN position to know that Ander-
son would be asked to appear before
the judiciary Committee on Wednesday
AFTERNOON or Thursday morning.
Anderson Will be represented in all
probability by ex-senator Edgar r.
Brackctt. of Saratoga, who was retained
by the Anti-Saloon League when an
other resolution aimed at Anderson and
the league was introduced by Cuvil-
her
Will Urge Beer Bill
This resolution, which was intro
duced more than a month ago, and was
adopted by a majority vote of the
assembly, calls upon the Judiciary
Committee to investigate the league
and Anderson and other officers, with
view TO determining if the "dry" lead
crs violated the corrupt practices act.
mere has been tendency to smother
this investigation, but the Judiciary
Committee cannot sidestep and has no
intentlon of sidestepping the command
OF the entire Assembly, that Anderson
be summoned before it to explain his
attacks on members of the house, espe-
claiiy Glllett and Cuvllier, for their
espousal Of a $50 per cent beer bill.
Colonel Giliott said tonight that he
would try to have the Assc. sly adopt
ms beer bill. He said he would try TO
nave the rules committee report out
the bill, and that if that fails he will
demand that there be a showdown, and
TINS he Will bring about by moving to
discharge the committee.
Glilett had originally intended to
make this motion on Wednesday. To-
night he said he would wait until next
week, or probably the week after as
the United States Supreme Court de-
c'slon is expected on April 16
May Extend Session
There Will be q conference here of
the Republican leaders in the closing
week OF the session to determine
whether the adjournment date should
not be Indefinitely held up and the
hceisiature adjourn on April % until
after the decision is handed down.
The reason for such course ia to
prevent Governor Smith from issuing a
call Tor special session of the Leris-
lature in the event of a liberal de-
cision.
Governor Smith is an avowed "wet"
and the Democratic State Committee at
It's unofficial convention here six weeks
ago adopted a plank in its platform de-
posed to tho Eighteenth Amendment
Legislative leaders believe the Gov
crnor would not fail to take advantage
OF liberal decision in the event of the
Legislature being adjourned to convoke
an extra session.
Mr.. Anderson sent a letter ycstcr-
day to Speaker Sweet. in which he said:
"Through you demand that the
Assembly either proceed forthwith to
undertake to put me in Jail, and thus
disc lose TO inc pnDic what. if anything,
Of Justification it has for its sugges-
ton to that effect, or else that it dis
aVow the action Of the joint committee
IN obedience to the demand Of wet
members Of the Assembly III denying
frcc speech to he representative of a
large majority a those most interested
on one side OF pending legislation.
"li the Assembly does not mmcdi-
ately do its almost to put me in Jail.
then is threat to do so will be under
stood as a higl-handcd attempt to in
tlmldate me INTO silence, and. failing
III this, an outrageous effort to furnish
an excuse for barring me by force at
tho bchest o. mob
81 do not believe that the Assembly
dares or ever intended to imprison me.
charge that the resolution to this
effect was passed to lay foundation
Tor formal dcnuncation of my state
mcnts (whilc lodging an honest. thor
ough investigation Of everything per
tinent IN an effort to avoid public
condemnation and its political consc-
quenccs by trying to discrcdit the Anti
Saloon League in advance of the fail
campaign