Evening journal., 1923-01-26
ANTI-SALOON
Head ON GRILL
w. II. Anderson Quizzed on
Charges of Great Per-
Sonal Profits
SCANDAL" BREWING
LONG IN LEAGUE

NEW YORK. Jan. 26.-Long
smouidering accusations OF misap
propriation and malfeasance, o.
blackmail and extortion YESTERDAY
burst into fame when William II
Anderson, superintendent OF th'
New York Anti-Saloon League and
nationally known dry crusader
was summoned 10 the district attor'
ney's Office for examination.
The district attorneys office re-
fused TO state what prompted the
meeting or what had transpired. Mr.
Anderson tonight revealed that an
investigation of certain financial
transactions within the league. IN
volving funds donated by its sup
porters, had been discussed with
District Attorney Banton.
The specific accusations, alleged
by the Evening Mall 20 have been
made by o. Berstall Phillips, who
until last year was chief financial
field representative OF the league,
were:
First. That the league chief for
many months carried out a private
arrangement. whereby he split fifty-
fifty commissions on donations So
licited by Phillips.
Second. That Anderson falsined
the official accounts of the league.
which IS a corporation. thus COM
mitting a felony
Third. That Anderson, after pub
llcly refusing in 1920 an increase OF
his $4,000 salary, drew "compen-
sation" at $4,000 that year; that
he obtained the board of directors
authority 10 personally draw $4,000
for unauthorized and unitemized
publicity"
Fourth. That although the L que
prOfeesed to pay no commissions or
bonuses 10 solicitors OF contrfbu-
tlons, Phillips received 20 -er cent.
commission up 20 $4,000 collected
annually, and 10 per cent. on coll
lectons exceeding that amount; and
that Anderson sec-etly shared these
commissions. recording Phillips
compensation as salary"
Mr.. Anderson replied that he was
being made the victim OF attempted
extortion and blackmail, which had
already cost the league, under the
yuise OF settlement" s2,5oo paid
Phillips by the board OF directors
last December.
He named Robert @. Davey, al
legged member OF the STAFF OF the
Lords Day Alliance, as a cocoon !
splrator with Phillips, but withheld |
the namo of a third person he de-
clared was involved.
Mr.. Anderson admitted having |
made the "hfty-hfty split" agree
ment with Phillips, concealing the |
transactions on the leagues records. |
He did that; he said, because he |
wished 20 turn his share OF the COM
missions back 10 the league. and he
knew Phillips would not consent. |
The books of the organisation had /
been corrected" but, ne declared,
there had been no deception"
Mr.. Anderson displayed letters
purportlng TO havo been written by
Phillips which. although he re-
Trained from the term "blaekmail,"
Mr.. Anderson said were attempts to
extort money from him.
Colonel Ransom Gillett, counsel
for the association against the pro-
hibition amendment. said today:
This was expected and bound 10
occur. I am proceeding in Albany
10 bring about an accounting OF the
money spent during the last political
campaign by the Anti-saloon
League. The matter will come be-
fore the Supreme Court in the Third
judicial District"
These charges are the Joint
product OF a desire for revenge on
the part Of three discharged en-
ployes and an attempt TO extort
money" Anderson said. THE man
making the charges was discharged
for cause after some unpleasant
financial transactions and demon
strated disloyalty. I had exposed
the shay transactions OF another.
For seven months the threat Of
the charges has been held over me
10 make me pay money 20 this man
that was not owed him.
Il have not done anything i'm
proper, unlawful or unethical."
Anderson's statement included a
detailed denial OF Phillips aIIega-
uons. Everything Ne did. he said
was absolutely legal and had the ap-
proval OF the board of directors.