New-York tribune., 1922-03-13
HardingHoaxed
By Wet Forces,
Says Anderson
Anti-Saloon Head Charges
Constitutional League, of
Which the President Is a
Member, Is Fighting Drys
To Demand Investigation
Myers Admits He Opposes
Prohibition, but Insists
the Organization Is No;

charge that President and Mrs.
Harding, members Of the Cabinet and
other high officials at Washington
have been hoaxed into giving their sup
port TO the Constitutional League of
America was made yesterday by Will
liam H. Anderson, State Superintendent
of the Anti-Ssloon League, in an ad
dress at the Central Methodist Church
OF South Yonkers, n. Y.
Mr. Anderson declared that it was
his intention to ask District Attorney
Banton to begin rigid investigation
Of the Constitutional League. which, he
declares, fails to support the Constitu-
tion in that it is agai ust the Eighteenth
Amendment, to discover whether or not
fraud has been perpetrated.
Mr.. Anderson attacked several Of
hcers Of the Constitutional League for
their activities as members of the As
sociation Opposed to the Prohibition
Amendment.
Jerome A. Myers, national director
of the league, was accused OF being
opposed to the Eighteenth Amend
nent, favoring notification Of it by
repeal or emasculaton of the Volstead
act; conducting wet speakers bu-
reau, and of helping put over a fake
ballot on the prohibition question in
New York recently"
Will Ask Investigation
81 shall ask the District Attorney of
New York County" Mr.. Anderson said.
"to investigate the operations of the
Constitutional League of America and
to find out whether it is true that Mr..
Meyers has two check books. one for
and one against the Constitution. If
the active perpetrators of this league
have collected any money from any
persons who are honestly in favor of
the Eighteenth Amendment and its en-
forcement and used any Of it against
any part of the Constitution they have
unQuestlonably been guilty of punish
able fraud.
"1f, on the other hand. it is true. as
we have been informed, that it is the
liquor interests that are really behind
this organization as contributors, vol
untary or otherwise, and the distin-
guished men and women deceived into
taking place on it's national commit
tee are simply being used for window
dressing and as proof of the polt-
zeal standing of the active promoters
and no money is collected from those
who are in favor of enforcement in
stead of notification of the Constitu-
tlon, then no penal offense has been
ommitted; but the public has right
to the facts and the prominent men and
women, many of them outstanding ad-
vocates of prohibition, or at least of
enforcement, who have been hoaxed arc
entitled to the truth, so they may act
as their better judgment Dictates"
Repeats CHARGES in Pamphiet
Mr.. Anderson repeats the charges
which he made in his address in a
pamphlet headed. president and Mrs
Harding Victims of Hoax Penetrated
by Vets in Fake Constitutional
League"
Mr.. Myers, when Informed of the
charges, frankly admitted that he was
active as member of the Association
Against the Prohibition Amendment
But he said, my views are pure
ly my own personal property; under
the Constitution insist On nv rights
OF freedom of speech, thought and
action.
The Constitutional League is nci-
ther for nor against anything or any
body, and was organized for the pur-
pose of furthering interest in and
knowledge of the Constitution. Its di-
rectors and members are of different
opinions and beliefs on other subjects.
we defy any one to show in any in
stance where the league has not lived
up TO its non-partisan policy in it's
activities. The Constitutional League
WI welcome any investigation of its
activities and stands on its record"
BESIDES President and Mrs. Harding
and various members of the Cabinet
the national committee of the Consti-
tutional League of America includes
the following: Mrs. Calvin Coolidge.
General John J. Pershing, Morgan ].
Obrien, James NJ. Beck, Bishop Will
liam /. Manning and Rabbi Silverman.