Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-01-21
]. 7. DAVIS SLATED
FORNEW DRY CHIEF
BIairsviIIe Man Believed to Have
Peppers Backing to Sue
ceed Mcconnell
EXPECT SPEEDY ACTION
, BIZ a star .Correspond3t

BIZ std6 Correspondent
Washington. Jan. 2f.-Prohibition
Director McConnell's resignation
brought smiles of satisfaction and
long sighs OF relief at prohibition
Headquarters today. II cccnsoned
slight, surprise, for it had been eS'
pected. ..
Nevertheless Commissioner Haynes
and his ASSISTANTS were plainly pleased
to get McConnelfs case off their
chests" He had hung on like bad
cold, as one OF the "dry" chiefs put
II. it has been no secret around the
prohibition unit that the Pennsyl-
vania and New York situations have
caused officials more grief than all the
other States togt ther,
Commissioner Haynes and Internal
Revenue Commissioner Blair con.
ferred this morning rs soon as Nc
Connells letter Of resignation reached
Mr.. Blair's desk. 1t was expected
last night. but failed to arrive. With
its receipt today Haynes was called
into immediate consultation on sue
ceSsor.
Looks Like Davis
While no final decision has been
roached, according TO Commissioner
blair. every indication points to the
appointment of State Representative
John Thomas Davis, Of Blairsville. to
succeed Mcconnell. Davis Is the first
choice Of Commissioner Haynes. who
has been striving for six weeks TO
have him appointed. Haynes had just
won over the late Senator Penrose TO
this program when Penrose died. He
10 nnlarofnn ~ tn pnnutppaI
Senator Pepper that The Blarsville man
is the best of the available candidates
for the post.
Davis Is an ordained minister. and
at present is engaged in Y. NJ. c. A.
work In Blairsville. He is chairman
Of the Law and Order Comjnittee of
the House Of Representatives in the
State egislature and has been q
regular Republican. He has the back
ing Of the Anti Saloon League for the
DR.. Peter G. Walters. n Pittsburgh
druggist, is also satisfactory to the
dry forces IN the State and in addi-
ton has the backing Of the Retail
Druggists and Pharmaceutical Associa.
tons, Secretary of the Treasury Mel
lon is understood TO have been favOrably
Impressed with Walters qualifications.
II was said today. however. that Davis
probably would get the appointment.
Wants Quick Action
Haynes is pressing for the APPOINT.
mcnt of successor TO Mcconnell with
in day or two.
Officials said today an official in
dorSement of Davis was expected from
Senator Peppers office momentarily. Il
is understood Revenue Commissioner
Blair. who will name McConnells 8 sue
cessor, will accept the PENNSYLVANIA
Senator's recommendation in making
the appointment.
Commissioner Haynes believes few
changes will be necessary in the Penn
sylvania prohibition enforcement or
following the appointment Of
a new director. 1t Is said officially that
Associate Director Rutter and General
Agent Exnicios will remain In charge
of the field forces in the eastern and
western ends Of the State, respectively,
for an indefinite period.
They will at least remain in their
present assignments until the new di-
rector becomes thoroughly familiar with
his duties and feels himself competent
TO assume full charge Of the enforce
mcnt machinery.
Haynes Well Pleased
Commissioner Haynes is we'll pleased
with conditions in PENNSYLVANIA and
the prospect for further improvement in
the matter of enforcement. He re-
CARDS the dry organization under
Rutter and Exnicios as efficient and
and capable of holding
down bootlegging to a minimum. II is
realized here that the entire appropria-
ton available for enforcing the proh-
bition laws throughout the United
States would not be sufficient to insure
100 per cent enforcement in Pennsyl-
vania and number of other wet"
States.
At the same time Commissioner
Haynes is convinced conditions are
steadily improving and will continue
TO improve as the dangers OF imbibing
bootleg ConcOctions now purchasab
through underground channels become
understood by the general public.
The new directors duties will include |
the education of the public to these |
hangers, officials asserted today.
Commissioner Haynes has received !
assurances of confidence and support
from Senator Pepper and has expressed
qualification at the Senator's attitude .
IN prohibition enforcement.