The New York herald., 1922-03-13
HARDING HOAXED,
ANDERSON CHARGES
Will Ask Banton to Investi.
gate Activities of the Con-
stitutiOnal League.

William II. Anderson State Superin-
tendent of the Anti-Saloon League. will
ask District Attorney Banton to-day to
investigate the activities of the Consti-
tutional League of America. with head
quarters at 1912 Broadway. an organ
ization which. he charges, has hoaxed
President and Mrs. Harding and other
persons Of national prominence into CIV
ing 1t the support of their names with
out knowledge that It has for an ul-
terror motive an attack upon the dry
laws.
Mr. Anderson has sent broadcast to
the papers or the country statement
which he heads President and Mrs
Harding victims OF hoax. perpetrated by
vets in fake Constitutional League"
The league Mr. Anderson refers to has
Meyers William De Forest Manice is
its treasurer.
According to the Anti-Saloon League
leader. Mr.. Meyers ''is opposed to the
cation Of it by repeal or emasculation
of the volstead act conducted wet
speakers bureau and helped put over
the fake balloting recently conducted for
the purpose of showing sentiment
against the prohibition amendment and
is now actively engaged in promoting
the organization OF New York branch
Of the Association Opposed to the Pro-
hihition Amendment, to be launched at
Carnegie Hall on the evening Of
March 15."
The "Window Dressing"
Mr.. Manice according TO Mr.. Ander-
|, son. also Is active In promoting the AS
sociation Opposed to the Prohibition
Amendment.
II shall ask the District Attorney OF
New York county" says Mr.. Anderson.
TO investigate the operations OF the
Constitutional League of America and 70
And out whether 1t is true that Mr..
Myers has two check books. one for and
one against the Constitution. II the ac-
tive perpetrators of this league have col
Iec.ed any money from any persons who
are honestly in favor of the Eighteenth
Amendment and it's enforcement and
used any Of IL against any part OF the
Constitution they have unquestionably
been guilty OF punishable fraud.
"If. on the other hand, It Is true. as
we have been informed. that 1t Is the
liuuor interests that are really behind
this organization as contributors. volun-
tary or otherwise. and the distinguished
men and women deceived into taking a
al or .tf
ply being used for window dressing and
MS a proof of the political standing OF
the active promoters, and no money is
collected from those who are in favor
Of enforcement instead OF notification Of
the Constitution, then no penal offense
has been committed, but the public has
right to the facts. and the prominent men
and women. many of them outstanding
advocates OF prohibition, or at least or
enforcement, who have been hoaxed. are
entitled to the truth so they may act
MS their judgment dictates"
Drys I'm Committee.
Mr. Anderson says he has found listed
on the national committee OF the Con-
stitutionai League the names Of the Presi-
dent and Mrs. Harding Mrs. Calvin Coo
Iidre. Secretary Hughes, Secretary Wal
N
tor Arthur Capper. Senator Carter Glass,
franklin p. Roosevelt. former Gov. Whit
man. All OF whom, he says, are either adj
vocates of prohibition or strongly COM
mitted to the enforcement OF the Vol
stead act
"Others." Mr.. Anderson continues,
"are Andrew J. Mellon Herbert O.
Hoover. Gen. Pershing. Gen. Wood,
Bishop Manning. Guy Emerson and Mrs.
John r. Platt. who, whatever their Views
on prohibition. are for law and order.
The above arc listed with vets like James
VI. Beck former Gov. Smith and Morgan
]. O'Brien.
"On the board OF directors are found
Tho names OF Theodore Roosevelt. who
does not take as high ground on this
question as his illustrlous father Charles
y. Hughes, Jr., who we are advised,
does stand with his father. and Cor
nelius Wickersham. son OF the former
Attorney-C General, who may or may not
hold the same views as his father, what
ever they may be ; and among the Demo-
Gratis are II. RI. McAdoo, son of the for
mer Secretary OF the Treasury, and Her
bert c. Pell. Jr.. Democratic state chair
man.
Mr.. Meyers said last night that he
was aiding in the plans for the rally
In behalf OF the association against the
nrohibition amendment in Carnegie Hall.
\ He declared that the Constitutional
1 League is neither for nor against any
thing or anybody, but was organized to
I further interest In and knowledge or the
/ Constitution.
THE Constitutional League willawel-
\ conc any investigation Of It's activities"
nc said. "and stands on It's record"