Evening star., 1924-10-23
MRS. W|[LEbRANDT
HITS BACK IN ROW
Tells Pennsylvania Dry Body
Head Alleged Charges
Are False.

The long series of disputes over pro-
hibition enforcement in Pennsylvania
received an added chapter today when
Mrs. Mabel Walker Willebrandt, As
sistant Attorney General, made public
a telegram to Joseph NJ. Steele, for
mer president of the Law Enforce
ment League of Philadelphia, which
she said was not given out when
other correspondence was made pub
lie by the league.
The telegram, sent on July 30, de-
MED that Mrs. Willebrandt mad made
charges in a letter to Steele AGAINST
the Pennsylvania Senators, and as
serted that she had at no time talked
over the work OF United States at
torneys with either President Hard
ing or President Coolidge.
Involved in Dispute.
The letter to which Mrs WilIebrandt
referred dealt with enforcement condi-
tions in the State and was involved in
controversy between Mayor Kendrick
of Philadelphia and his director of
public safety, Brig. Gen. Smedley d.
Butler. Some phases of this contro-
versy. together with the attacks on
prohibition enforcement officers, finally
were called to the attention of Presi-
dent Coolidge, and resulted in Attorney
General Stone inviting officials of the
Law Enforcement League to come here
for conference. Nothing tangible
came from that conference.
Mrs. Willebrandt told Mr. Steele in
her telegram that she regarded her
letter TO him concerning policies in
Pennsylvania prohibition enforcement
as confidential, and that publication of
1t at the time it was written was un-
justifia BILE ION the ground that publica-
tion will at this time be put to unfair
and partisan uses"
i stand squarely on the truth and
sincerity of the statement in nv
letter the telegram added. But if
1T is intended for publication it
should have gone into more detail
L have never personally discussed the
United States attorneys with either
President Harding or President Cool
idge, though in every instance where
facts have developed Indicating dere
LECTION of duty in offices of United
States attorneys l have called the
same to the attention of my superior.
Made No Charges
MY letter made no charges against
your Senators, but it was intended
to suggest that if you believed any
Federal official who is appointed by
Senate ratification is unfaithful in
office your best procedure is to take
the matter up with your Senators
and get them TO appeal to the Presi-
dent in a dignified manner rather
than for You to engage in public
Sniping accusations.
Lax enforcement by county and
municipal authorities in PENNSYLVANIA
cannot be excused on the grounds
that evasion of their duty was iuS-
titled because the Federal Govern
ment is not doing it's duty. If Won
disregard the courtesy of my request
and reasons therefor and publish per-
sonal correspondence, / request in
the interest of fair dealings that you
publish this wire as we'll"
Publication of the telegram came
on top of a renewed assault on the
administrations prohibition enforce
ment activities made last night nv
Samuel Untermyer, New York law
yer, who gave out a lengthy state
ment, including Mrs. WiIIebrandt's
letter to Mr.. Steele
Coincident with Mrs Willehrs
action, Secretary Mellon declared in
discussing general prohibition condi-
lons that the efforts at enforcement
were becoming more and more suc-
cessful Mr.. Mellon said however.
that the enforcement officers were
having great difficulty in checking
smuggling, and expressed the view
that prohibition could be successfully
and thoroughly enforced il the gov
ernment were able to check the il
legal imports.