New-York tribune., 1922-05-17
Day Gets Death
Threat in Bic
Dry Shake.Up
Warming of Plo, Against
Directors Life Received
Over Phone as He DEGREES
Dismissal Of 25 Agents
Others Slated to Go
Prohibition Chief Declarcs
Upstate Men Are To Be
Given Greater City Jobs

Announcement by Prohibition Di
rector Ralph A. Day yesterday that he
would remove twenty-five prohibition
agents in one swing of his official axe
and that other dismisssls are to come
MAS followed almost imm ediately by q
threat against his life, made over the
telephone.
The announcement OF the shakeuf
was made in the form of a written
statement, which was in the possession
OF one newspaper early in the day. II
WAS recalled and edited and revised. It
was hardly off the sccretary's type
writer before Assistant Director James
r. Porshing. nephew OF General Perish
ing, sent in call that he wanted to
talk with Director Day.
Day was in conference with Mr.
Pcrahing about ten minutes and when
ne returned said that he had been in-
formed of threat against his life.
Some one just phoncd Mr.. Perish
ins," said the director. "that they were
going to kill me. They said they had
the numbers of my house and automo-
bile and tina. they would find me.
Law Will Be Enforced
Have you already let the twenty
FIVE agents go!" he was asked.
NO" he replied. "but they will all
he out within week and more Will
follow them
The statement issued by Director
Day announces that upstate men Will
be engaged as agents in New York. 1t
follows in part:
Federal Prohibition Director Ralph
A. Day indicated to-day that he intend
ed TO take drastic measures to increase
the efficiency of his enforcement
agents The first move is the elimina-
ton of twenty-five agents at once, to
be followed by others. Only those who
show proper fidelity to their jobs and
produce results will be retained. The
organization will be asked for better
'aen to fill their places.
"The prohibition law will be en-
forced, sentiment and feeling and
everything else to the contrary.
we are reaching out continually fol
nen who are better equipped by ex-
rcrience for enforcement work. The
agents who serve from now on will be
only those who mako good. We have
beer getting some very excellent
agents from up state, who are men OF
Integrity, trust, intelligence and OF
general experience Many Of the agents
here in the city arc rendering splendid
service and are to be highly COM
mendcd."
S35,co0 in Wine Seized
Agents lzzy Einstein and Noe Smith
disguised as furniture movers and de-
cisring they were thirsty enough tc
drink furniture polish, invaded the
vaults Of the Public Storage Warehous
Company, IS East il5,h Street. yester
day. Flashing a search warrant, they
seized 2Si cases of choice imported
wine, with bootleg value of 900
1t was charged by the agents that the
wines we're owned by the Rev. Jerome
Nrulander. rabbi, OF $50 Legget Ave
nue.. the Bronx.
John Harvey. manager of the ware
house. opened the room containing the
wines on request OF the agents. lie
said he had no knowledge of what the
room contained, as he had rented it e
month ago to Louis and lsidor Klein
owue rs of drug store at 1854 Madison
Ave le. The Klein brothers admitted
sei Tag the vault and eaid the wines