The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1923-02-01
LEADER OF DRYS
IN Craft CHARGE
Former Chief Field Representa-
tive Says Superintendent
Split Commissions.
BANTON QUIZZES ANDERSON
Dry Crusader Says League Knew OF
Charges and EXonerated Him After
Hearing-DecIares Charges Result
From Desire for Revenge.

New Gork-LOng-smOu acCu-
sations of misrepresentation and NAL
feasance, of. blaCllmail and extortion
burst into flame when William H.
Anderson, superintendent of the New
York state branch of the Anti-Saloon
League and a nationally known dry"
crusader, was summoned to the dis
trict attorneys Office for examination.
The district attorneys aids main
tanned sealed lips and sealed records
concerning what took place at the
quizzing. But Mr.. Anderson himself
in statement, revealed that an inves-
tigation of certain financial transac-
tons within the league, and involving
funds donated by its supporters, had
been started by District Attorney
Banton.
The specific accusations, alleged by
the Evening Mail to have been made
by o. Bertsall Phillips, who until last
year was chief financial field repre-
sentative of the league, were:
THAT the league chief for many
months carried OUT private arrange
meat whereby he split, fifty-ffty, COM
missions on donations so-called by
Phillips.
2-That Anderson falsifed the Off
ciaI accounts Of the league, which is
a corporation, thus committing
felony.
3-That Anderson, after publicly re-
fusing, in 1920, an increase of his
$4,000 salary, drew compensation"
at $4,000 that year; that he obtained
the board Of directors authority to
draw from the treasury to himself
$4,000 for unauthorized and unitem-
lied publicity"
THAT, although the league profess
ed to pay no commissions or bonuses
to solicitors of contributions, Phillips
regularly received 20 per cent commits
sion up to $4,000 collected annually,
and 10 per cent on collections exceed
ing that amount; and that Anderson
secretly shared these commissions, re-
cording Phillips compensation as
salary"
To which Anderson replied with
counter-charges that he was being
made the victim of attempted eXtOr-
ton and blackmail which had already
cost the league, under the guise of a
settlement" $500 paid Phillips by
the board of directors, last December.
He named Robert G. pavey, alleged
member Of the staff of the LOSd's Day
Alliance, as a co-conspirator, with
Phillips, but withheld the name of a
third person he declared was involved.
These charges" he said, are the
Joint product of desire for revenge
on the part of three discharged EN-
ployees and an attempt to eXtOrt
money. The man making the charges
was dicharged for cause after some
unpleasant financial transactions and
demonstrated disloyalty. l had eX-
posed the shady transactions Of an
other. The third man helped the one
making the charges wrOngfully to
secure some money, restitution Of
which was made when we discovered
it."
The Rev. DR.. George Caleb Moor,
rector of the Madison Avenue Baptist
Church, and secretary OF the Anti
Saloon League, w; - also invited" and
questioned after Andersons state
ments had been taken down by
stenographer.
The Rev. DR.. David James Burrell,
rector Of the Marble Collegiate Church,
and president of the Anti-Saloon
League, likewise was invited" to the
prosecutors office, but sent word that
he was indisposed and would have to
be excused until later in the proceed
ing. Other league officials and con-
tributors to the Anti-SaloOn cause may
be invited" to the district attorneys
office soon.
Reports were aaoat that a promi-
nent member of the Rockefeller family
had been approached in an attempt to
adjust the controversy that preceded
the district attorneys inquiry.