The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1923-03-20
WASHINGTON AGAPE
AT LIQUOR PATRONS
BOOTLEGGERS'S LIST HAS
MEN AND WOMEN HIGH OF
CIALLY AND SOCIALLY.

WASHINGTON, D. C.-Whole-
sale bootlegging activities in the ma
tional capital were exposed here to-
day through a series OF raids made
in the last y hours.
Capture and publication OF lists OF
names, many OF them OF men and
women high in official, diplomatic,
military and private life which were
found in the possession Of persons on
charges of bootlegging have created
a sensation in Washington that is ex-
pected to become OF international as
we'll as national concern.
The list. which called for official
comment from the acting heads OF the
war and navy departments, as well as
other high government officials, con-
tanned titles, initials, names, addresses
and in some cases even the telephone
numbers.
There were 500 names in today's
list, including those of five admiralss
four generals, IS commanders, Is col
onels. one lieutenant colonel, u ma
iors, u captains and 10 lieutenants:
In addition there were the names OF
diplomats and some OF the most prom
inent figures in Washington business
life.
List Almost "Blue Book"
The list might have been compiled
from the Blue Book OF the state de-
partment, the officers in the army,
navy and marine corps and the social
register OF official life in the national
capital.
The fact that one man charged
with bootlegging should have a list
OF 320 names, although there IS
question as to whether it is Just to
consider them patrons OF his, was &C
cepted by many as indicating some
thing OF the extent OF prohibition law
violations in Washington. 1t has been
an open secret for some time that the
capitol building, where the dry laws
for the nation were made, has been a
distributing point for wet goods Tor
many months.
Scandal Aired in Congress.
During the closing days OF the last
congress several representatives COM
planned of the amount OF drinking on
'the hill" and Representative CALI
van, OF Massachusetts, one OF the wet
leaders, made a speech to the house
in which he charged that senator
from a north Pacific coast state, who
invariably voted dry, had been so I'M
ruly a night or two before that sever
al OF his senate colleagues had to sit
on him in a committee room to pre-
vent his appearing on the senate floor
to answer roll call.
The situation has become OF such
widespread importance that Edgar \.
Read, divisional chief OF prohibition
enforcement for the District OF Co
lunbia, Maryland, Virginia and West
Virginia, said that the senate and
house buildings as well as the capitol
would be watched in an effort to
catch the persons who were carrying
intoxicants there. He declared that
senators and representatives would be
prosecuted if they were caught vlolat-
ing the law.
Varying Views Expressed.
Some persons were disposed to re-
gard the publication of the names as
demonstrating the futility of prohibit
ton enforcement for which the gov
eminent of the United States is now
appropriating 100000 annually,
while others believed this course
would go a long way toward stopping
the purchase OF intoxicants.
Early today it was reported that
four departments OF the government
had taken official cOgnizance OF the
situation and would assist in prosecu-
tons.