The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-11
ANT|-SALO LOO N IS I $ APPROVE MELLON
Believed In So Doing, It Is Getting On Coolidge's
 Wagon
WASHINGTON BUREAU I
 THE AGE-HERALD VNTa.H,t,,~Aa- n ~ Mo- "A

Washington, D. C.. Nov. 10
 "I congratulate you, MT. Secretary on the record you have made in the enforcement of the prohibition laws of the land"
 When Wayne B. Wheeler, general
 counsel of the Anti-Saloon League,
 thus addressed Andrew W. Mellon,
 a big card was played in the great American game, politics.
 And Clifford Pinchot Is alleged to
 have addressed Wayne B. Wheeler, "Et tu, Brute."
 The Anti-Saloon League has
 never admired MT. Mellon. Mir Mellon was never a prohibitionist He was at one time part owner in at least one distillery. When he was
 first mentioned as a possible ap- pointee to the cabinet, the Anti-Sa- loon League raised an awful howl l Since his induction into office, the Saloon League has more than whispered that lack of sympathy on
 the part of treasury officials was re- sponsible for non-enforcement of the 1 eighteenth amendment,
 Likewise, the Anti-Saloon League
 was not enamored of former Presi-
 dent Harding because he was not a
 dry" And the Anti-Saloon League
 has been skeptical of President Cool dge because, in the old days, he was supported by what was termed
 the "wet" element and opposed by l the dry"
 When Wheeler congratulated Mel lon, he prepared to make history. It
 was the announcement, in other words, that the Anti-Saloon League had climbed on the Coolidge band
 wagon. It was the announcement further, that the Anti-Saloon League would have nothing to with the furtherance of the near-boom for Pinchot.
 There is no question but that the executive of Pennsylvania regarded himself as the man next to occupy the White House. He declared him
 self a progressive of the Roosevelt variety, and realized that conditions at present do not demand a reac- tionary of the Coolidge type. He se- cured prominence by an attempted settlement of the anthracite coal 1 strike. His next move was to make an issue which would present the sharp differences between Coolidge
 and himself.
 He came to Washington for the
 purpose of attending prohibition conference. He had carefully pre- pared his speech. He started with a denunciation of the President and the administration for a condition
 which he declared to be deplorable, for what he termed the failure of prohibition. He charged the Presi- dent with sole responsibility for the enforcement of the dry" laws, and l intimated that he, himself, if he had chance, could make the statutes effective.
 He went to the governors confer
 ence in Indiana, and on stage and
 off stage criticised the administra-
 ton, He returned to Washington, and here issued statement in bit ter criticism of Secretary Mellon. There Is no question but that he aroused the attention of the country. He excited the suspicion of many
 prohibitiohists, and planted germ
 which might have grown into a
 popular conviction that the dry cause was being sacrificed because of the indifference of a number of
 "wets" temporarily in charge of the government.
 Pinchot has always been dry" He
 starter of personal booms. He na-
 turally expected the support of the Anti-Saloon League, especially as he knew that there was cause, at least tEat there were conditions, which could not make treasury officials worthy of congratulations. MT. Mel
 lon. it Is admitted, has done the best he could under the circumstances But certain sections of the country are flooded with liquor, and, in all sections, liquor may be obtained with | comparative ease.
 The Anti-Saloon League, while re. publican. Is not enthralled by Cool | idge, Mellon, Blair & Co. It would
 select other republicans If 1t could
 It Is satisfied. however, that ire. | spective of their former records
 present officials would sustain the
 majesty of the law.
 Having reached that conclusion, fl l proceeded to the destruction of 1t. ] friend, adherent, supporter and com | forter without compunction of con.
 scieence.
 T congratulate you. MT. Score.
 tary," said Wayne B. Wheeler. law.
 yer and "dry" politician, after he had | indulged in reconciliation.
 Thank you, MT. Wheeler" re. | turned MT. Mellon.
 What then became of the criti.
 cism of Pinchot? And the boom which
 Pinchot, after reconciliation on hi.
 own part, started for Pinchot? The big card had been played, ana the President relieved of rival who, while not dangerous, promised | 10 be a source of trouble. | S240o 1t was not @ question of whai