The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1923-05-04
INVITES PASTOR To GIVE
EVIDENCE OF VOTE BRIDE
Wheeler Insists that Bclford
Shall Aid in Bringing Alleged
Criminal to Bar
POINTS OUT CIVIC DUTY
Clergyman Tells of Corruption
But Refuses to Name Accus-
ed or Give Information


Rev John L. Bclford pastor of the
Church OF the Nativity, Brooklyn, ac-
cording TO New York newspapers, as
serted that various officials had ac-
cepted brides for allowing rum TO en-
ter Brooklyn from the Long Island
fleet and that certain United States
Senator had boosted of receiving $780,
600 for his favorable vote on the Vol
stead act. Wayne B. Wheeler, gem
eral counsel OF the Anti Saloon League
OF America, in statement challenges
Rev Father Bedford to disclose the
names OF tho Senator's and other Of
ficials Parker Garfield. prohibition
commissioner of New York. has an
nounced that he will seek to place the
matter before the Brooklyn federal
grand jury for investigation. Mr..
Whoeler's statement is as follows:
I'VE challenge the Rev. John L.
Belford who says he had heard of
national legislator who boosted oil hav-
ing received $150,000 for his vote on
the Nolstead act to name the legis-
lator in question or the person who
gave him the information. Any per-
son who makes such statement and
refuses to give any information to the
government concerning it not only
fails to do his duty as law abiding
citizen but is circulating propaganda
that creates disrespect for law and the
government itself.
Calls for Evidence.
III Father Belford or anyone else
can furnish any evidence that any
member OF Congress has received
Sl50.000 or any other amount for his
vote either for or against prohibition
legislation we will help prosecute him.
If Father Belford will furnish the evil
dence that any official connected with
the Brooklyn force OF the internal
revenue department has accepted $780,
600 to permit liquor to enter the
borough we will join him TO have such
official prosecuted"
When told of Mr.. Wheelers state
ment Father Belford replied, Tell
Mr. Wayne p. Wheeler that my opin-
ion OF him is not fit to print and |
care nothing for his opinion nor his
suggestion. They are as worthless AZ
the cause he represents
He then went on to say that the in
ternal revenue official connected with
the $4,000 bride was not a man con-
nected with the Brooklyn Office but
on the general staff of men who were
in charge of watching Long Island.
He was operating in Brooklyn, how
ever. at the time he accepted the al
legged bride, according to Father Bel
ford. The Brooklyn pastor declared
he will not owe any information to
the authorize.
Prohibit * Commissioner Garfield
after reading Father Belford's state
ment said that he was very much in
tcrested and intended to take up the
matter with United States Attorney
Ralph {. Green in Brooklyn with a
view to placing the matter before the
Brooklyn federal grand jury for in
vestigation. Mr.. Green said that un-
til he was officially approached on the
subject he would not act.
Wouldn't do 1t Anyhow.
Father Bedford clearly stated that
only unusual measures would cause
him to testify before federal grand
jury an the first place" he said, "I
don't know OF my personal knowledge
that this piece OF graft was paid.
did not see it done but was told about
it by reliable persons. l wouldn't say
that don't know who the official is
but it would not be hard to lay my
hands on him although he is not
Brooklyn man. But if knew the man
personally and all about the transact
ton | would not take a step to bring
about his conviction because he is
merely one of the hundreds who are
getting away with the same thing and
not being prosecuted for it. have
also had experience with giving Att
thoritics information, particularly fed
eral authorities anybody who once
gets himself in the claws OF the gov
eminent as witness is treated more
like criminal than a citizen trying
to give assistance for the enforcement
of the law"
Mrs Emma pnudcr sheriff Of -ninn