New-York tribune., 1922-09-14
Harding Asked
To Stop Haynes
Persecutin;gN.Y.
Rep. Ryan in Resolution in
House Says Dry Chief
Has Flooded City With
Sleuths TO Show Off

Fromt The Tribnaes Wdshtr0toa Bs@edR
WASHINGTON, Sept. 13.-President
Harding was called upon to-day in a
resolution introduced in the House by
Representative Thomas j. Ryan, of
New York City, to restrain Prohibition
Commissioner Haynes from "a most
drastic and unfair" enforcement in
New York. The dry chief is charged
by Representative Ryan with trying
for personal publicity by IAN attempted
persecution upon the people of the
most moral metropolis in the world"
The citizens of New York are being
oppressed and harassed, declared the
Ryan measure, which was referred to
the Judiciary Committee, whose chair
man is Representative Andrew Vol
stead, by agents from rural districts
who know nothing Of conditions there
and "are more of menace to the citi-
zens they are endeavoring to protect"
The an.Resolution
The resolution read:
Whereas, The City of New York is
overrun with prohibition enforcement
agents who have been appointed with
out regard 60 their qualifications, edu-
cation, experience, intelligence or abil-
ity; and,
deavor of the prohibition director to
oppress and harass the citizens of the
greatest city in the world in attempt
ing most drastic and unfair enforce
ment upon the inhabitants Of the City
Of New York; and,
"Whereas, 1t is common knowledge
that this effort is made nowhere else
in the United States Of America; and,
"Whercas, The average enforcement
agent is lacking in discretion as we'll
as ability, and in reality is more of
menace to the citizens he is endeavor-
knows little, if anything, about the
prohibition situation, and this same
situation applies, TO great extent,
among his superiors; and,
Would Keep Them at Home
"Whereas, 1t would be better pro-
cedure to have agents from rural dis
tricts kept in their respective COM
munities where their knowledge OF
conditions would prove of greater
value to the service and the public
in general; and,
whereas, 1t is the duty Of the pro-
hibition director to enforce the law
in all sections Of the country, and with
equal effect, even in his own COM
nhnity, and not try for publicity by
an attempted persecution upon the
people of the most moral metropolis
in the world; and,
Whereas, 1t has been the custom
of the prohibition director to lay par
ticular stress upon his efforts in the
city of New York, not in endeavoring
to enforce the statute, but merely for
the publicity received for the purpose
of advertising himself; and,
Whereas, 1t is common knowledge
that the statute has never really been
enforced, and it is impossible under
present circumstances to do the same,
even less than the chances Of properly
enforcing the Fourteenth and Fifteenth
amendments to the Constitution in the
South,
aTherefore, Be it resolved that the
Prohibition Director be directed by the
President Of the United States to en-
force the statutes equally throughout
the United States, its possessions and
territories and not to direct his sole
energies against any particular conmu-
nifty, both varying rules and regula-
tions for the different sections, and Il
the director cannot comply. then let
him resign in order that q fair, equita-
| bic and natioaial enforcement of the
statutes may be had