The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1923-07-27
PRESIDENT OF ANTI-SALOON LEAGUE OF n. Y.
ASKS DISTRICT ATTORNEY POINTED QUESTIONS
Wants Know Why This Second Attempt nd
Anderson in Face cf the Fact That No Complaint Has
Been Made of Alleged Mishandling of Funds Ex-
cept by Leagues Enemies
Hon. Joab Fl. Banton.

Hon. Joab H. Banton.
District Attorney, New York County
Dear Sir:
have your courteous letter Of the 9th
inst asking if my health is sdch that
| can come to New York and appear
before the grand jury in the matter oi
the charges against William H. An
derson.
| am compelled to answer that it is
not. | wish that it were.
Why Follow Him?
If it were, after first seeking an inter
view with you and your chief, | would
try to find out, definitely and clearly
why you deem it your duty again tc
proceed against Mr.. Anderson.
Why, one grand jury to which you
presented the evidence having failed to
indict, you seek to secure an indictment
from another;
Why, when every director of the
League which you claim has been de
frauded, protests and protests again that
there has been no defrauding, no larceny
no forgery nor anything in the way OF
crime or looking toward crime, and to a
man stands by Anderson and everything
he has done, you still think crime has
been committed
Why this man, William II. Anderson
recognized as having done more than any
other to get rid of the lawless saloon
and all its unspeakable influences should
apparently be singled out for prosecu
tion by officers of the law;
Why this man. backed as he is not
only by the unanimous and unreserved
approval of his official board, but by the
cordial. unswerving and constantly in
creasing support of the churches as well
as by the law abiding people generally
should be persistently harassed and pur.
sued again and again at the instigation
of certain discredited ex-employes
Why this man should be SO persistent
ly pursued, in a case that meets with
no visible approval save that of the
vets and their lawless conferees
sued through the district attorney Of
flee at time when its docket is no
toriously oyerburdened with other mat
ters of supreme Importance pursued
not only in the face of moral sentiment
but of overwhelming evidence in favor
of the accused;
Why this grim farce should be con
tinued, at the public expense, is bey
my comprehension, and believe me, my
dear Mr.. Pecora, there are good many
other people who feel the same way.
Presumes He's Christian
From all | have learned, had rea
son to believe your chief to be Chris
tian gentleman, yourself also OF Chris
tian affiliations and beliefs. ] credit
you both with good intentions.
This being the case, it passes under.
standing how you should lend yourself
to the prosecution of man who, as you
must know, has repeatedly vindicated
not only the uprightness of his personal
character, under the most trying cir
cumstances and in the grimacing face
of the world and the flesh and the devil
but vindicated also the tremendous
power of his unswerving, indomitable
and successful zeal in the interest OF
law and order.
1t goes without saying that such a
man in the course of years makes many
bitter enemies, but surely not among
the right-minded. No crusader has ever
succeeded by. the polite methods of the
velvet glove. This man has struck and
spared not; but never the innocent and
never below the belt.
In doing so he has inevitably aroused
against himself and his cause powerful
influences, political, social and financial
Undoubtedly he has many adversaries
who would greatly love to see him pill
loried or hung, but can not believe that
the district attorneys office of New