The Washington times., 1924-07-29
D RY QUESTION
CAMPAIGN
ISSUE
Senatorial Probe Of Revenue
Bureau Graft May AZ
feet Elections
BY GLADSTONE WILLIAMS,
International News Services.

International News Services.
Prohibition doomed today as a
POSSIBLE issue Of the first magnitude
in the Presidential campaign as 4
result Of the action 81 the special
senatorial committee named to IN.
vestigate the Internal Revenue
Bureau In voting to resume the in
quiry.
Senator James Couzens RepD OF
Michigan, who sponsored the origi-
nal resolution calling for the inves-
tigatioh and who made q resump-
ton Of the inquiry possible by vot-
ing with Democratic members o.
the committee, plans to reopen
hearings the latter part Of next
month or the first Of September.
Couzens was made new Chairman
OF the body after Senator James
=. Watson Rep.) Of Indiana, former
chairman, resigned as protest
against the action.
with hearings to start around
tne first OF September, when the
neat OF the campaign Is on, the
committees decision paves the way
Tor the wet and dry question 70
take Its place along with major is
sues OF the day, since 1t is under.
STOOD to be the purpose Of Senator
Couzens. to extend the scope Of the
investigation to cover all phases Of
prohibition enforcement as admin.
istered under the internal Revenue
Bureau, Of which the prohibition
enforcement unit il a part.
Graft Expose Forecast.
An inquiry of such scope, It il
admitted, would result in much
sensational testimony OF graft and
CORRUPTION among enforcement Of
ficials throughout the country, in
way rivaling the Daugherty In
vestigation. Even ardent dry lead
ers haYe conceded that consider
able amount Of testimony might
be secured Of that character, bur
have opposed the investigation on
the ground that 1t would do more
harm than good. They contend
that few cases Of corruption are
to be expected in the enforcement
OF q law which has not become
firmly established and which offers
peculiar temptation for violations
They add, however, that on the
whole the administration Of the law
has been satisfactory.
One phase OF the inquiry touches
the independent candidacy Of Sena.
| tor Robert M. La Toilette for
President. AS the only one OF the
three leading Presidential candi-
dates on record in favor OF modi-
fication Of the Volstead act, he
might be expected to prove the
beneficiary of any solicited senti-
ment against prohibition.
The Dominant Issue.
In taking this view political lead.
ers proceed on the assumption that
enough disclosures will be made,
in the event the investigation ID
given wide scope, to greatly agi-
tate the question, and coming on
the eve Of national election would
be sufficient to make prohibition
the dominant issue with a large
number of voters. La Follette's
vote would be swelled as he would
be in position to command the full
support Of the vets, whereas the
drysN might divide their strength
between President Coolidge and
John w. Davis.
Senator Couzens and other mem.
DerS OF the committee today are
giving consideration to the matter
OF appointing q prosecutor for the
inquiry. Francis j. Heney, noted
crtninal lawyer of San Francisco.
whose former appointment by the
committee evoked a pointed protest
from President Coolidge, has been
dropped from further consideration
out Of Difference to the opposition
OF Watson. Directing to Heney's
employment, the Indiana Senator
declared the noted criminal lawyer
would develop an orgy Of muck.
raking, which he opposed on the
grounds that the country has had
enough of Investigations.
Decision of the COMMITTEES to
resume the hearings, which came
as a complete surprise, followed a
meeting in Watson's office at the
Capitol, participated in by Senators
Kink Of Utah and Jones Of New
Mexico. both Democrats, az wen as
Watson and Couzens. Senator
Ernst Repl Of Kentucky, the fifth
member TO the body, was out OF
THE city.
Hearings Of the committee were
brought to an end during the last
session by the illness of Couzens.
and had not reached the point
where prohibition enforcement was
taken up,