Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-10-07
UnseaI That Book

he uDllC LcuSel.)
Some time between April, 1918, and
September, 1920, somewhere between
$4,000 and 100000 worth of confis-
Gated liquor somehow vanished from
the custody of the United States De-
partment of Justice. For weeks
Washington has been whispering
about it. Stories floated about that
the whiskey had gone into the homes
and apartments of Washington's Of
fetal great and nearaereat.
1t was nasty tale, and the FEEDER
al Grand Jury that has investigated
il has made it worse rather than bet
ter. The jury has made remark
able report. Federal officials ques-
toned about the case make most re-
markable answers.
The liquor was in the keeping of
the department and has disappeared.
The Federal Grand Jury SO states.
The jury's report does not name the
thieves, however, or the receivers of
the stolen goods. Certain unnamed
employees are accused. Officials are
criticized for allowing the liquor to
disappear in a manner "most danger
Gus to precedent"
That is all. If the manner of dis
appearance is any more dangerous to
precedent" than the handling of this
case it is most dangerous. indeed.
There seems to be plenty of inform
alton about it, but no action is taken,
not an indictment is voted.
For instance, William J. Burns,
Director of the departments Bureau
Of Investigation, says he knows all
about it. Congratulating himself
that he was wise enough not to re-
ceipt for liquors supposed to be held
when he assumed office, he mentions,
incidentally, that the men who were
involved are no longer on the pay
rolls Evidently, Director Burns
knows who they are. Why, then, was
he not called to testify?
Rush Holland. Assistant Attorney
General, also knows about it, He
made an investigation and says that
the solution to the whisky mystery
exists in the form of report now ~
ing in the departments archives. He
infers that If it be left to him, the
matter will remain as a book that is
sealed. Assistant Attorney General
Holland and that report might have
been of use to the Grand Jury.
To the citizen watching Washing
ton from afar off, who believes in law
and it's enforcement, these maneuver-
ings will have the look Of a most
brazen piece of "buck passing" and
Towering up. Somebody is guilty, and
official Washington knows the guilty,
and the country knows that Wash
ington knows exactly who they are.
Here are all the makings of high
proof, ugly and high smelling pro-
hibition scandal in the high places.
Official Washington had best drag
forth and reassemble the known facts
about the liquor plot and indict every
mothers son who had anything to do
with it. What odds does it make
whether the guilty are Mitchell Palm
er's men or Harry Daugherty's men,
| or whether the crookedness belongs
| to the Wilson Or the Harding Adm
| inistration? Is there to be statute
| OF limitations to apply when an Ad-
ministration goes out of power?
In this Washington is setting a
strange example of how to entOrce
| prohibition before the rest of the Ma
ton. The bottle that has been so
hurriedly and clumsily recorked
should be uncorked. The Depart
ment of Justice book that has been
| sealed hastily had better be unsealed.