Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-10-20
THAW MAY JOIN
DRY DRIVE HERE
American Flying Ace, After Ex-
citement and Service, Seeks
Prohibition Job
PAY SMALL, MUCH ACTION


Washington. Oct. 20.-A stammering
flivver rolled up in front Of prohibition
enforcement headquarters. 1t gave O
convulsive jerk, suffered. hlccoughed,
sncezcd twice and stopped.
Out Of It stepped a bronzed. broad =
shouldered. deep -chested individual in
we'll tailored worsted. In the left
lapel of his coat was red service
badge. small, round and inconspicuous.
He was the driver and lone passenger.
Leaving his battered car, he entered
the building and went upstairs.
It was Lieutenant Colonel William
Thaw, Jr.. of Pittsburgh and New
York, sometimes known as BILLY"
Thaw, American ace, going up to be
inspected for a Federal job. Half an
hour later he emerged from the pri-
vate sanctum of Prohibition Commits
sioner Haynes and with him came the
announcccnt that the survivor Of the
Lafayette Escadrille and hero of hair
breadth escapes in many clash with
German flyers had been appointed n
general prohibition agent at a salary
of $1,000 n year.
Scion of wealth possessor Of mil
lions. with proud war record to boot,
"Billy" Thaw, who downed fourteen
German planes on the western front
and commanded scores Of other hiers,
has broken into Uncle Sans service.
Expected to Accept
That is, he may if he wishes, for he
hasn't accepted the job. He left the
impression that he will. But he wants
TO think 1t over. If after few days.
consideration, it still looks good ana
there is a prospect for action, he will
take the oath md go on tho job. His
assignment az it happens, will send
him into the Philadelphia and Harris
burg districts and the bootleg iungles
OF the hard coal region. He is seek
ing excitement.
Thaw came to Haynes with the per-
sonal Endorsement and recommendation
of Secretary of the Treasury Mellon and
the late Senator Knox, both of whom
had known him and his family for
many years. His bulk filled the door
way to the commissioner Office when
he called to be looked over. A black
muStache, pointed sharply at the ends
in French fashion, and trife longer
than when he fought for France, gave
him an air of distinction.
What prompted him to do it? What
was his motive? Why any job, and this
Job in particular? What did it mean?
To all questioning upon leaving
Haynes. Colonel Thaw was silent. 4
smile flickered and disappeared. He
would not talk-just yet-for publica-
tion.
Excitement May Lure
The best answer available was that
he isn't doing anything just now, that
civilian life has proved tame after the
war, and that the pursuit of bootleg
gers promises action and excitement,
and-well, why not?
But talk without authority to do so |
Not after five years Of military dis
cipline.
Lighting another cigarette he cranked |
up the tlivver and cantered off down
F street, to lose himself in the traffic.
Thaw's decision will be rendered
within n week. He virtually accented
the appointment on the spot, but left !
a small loophole for escape. lie first
wants to be sure about the action. II
the bootlcggers are going to surrender,
that's one thing. If it looks like war,
with Il chance for fight, that's an
other.
Thaw would be one of the sixty or
seventy general prohibition agents in
the United States. These are the men
from whom the flying squadron" is
picked. They aye subject to assignment
ut a moments notice anywhere in the
country. If he accepts, the "1ying
squadron" will enlist its first genuine
flyer. 1t is general ythought he will.