The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-17
By RAYMOND CHAPTER (Leased Wire 4to The Ase-HeraId. ]

WASHINGTON, Jan. 16.-By de mandinx congressional investigation of liquor scandals which he declares to be worse than anything in the na. tion's history, Governor Pinchot of Pennsylvania has rudely interrupted the love feast which the drys have been holding, here in observance of federal prohibitions fourth birthday
 For a week the drys of the nation, represented in the Anti-SaloOn League, have been in session here, outdoins each other in glowing tribute to the success of the V0lstead act. They ad- nit difficulties, but they nevertheless look back over the last four years as highly successful ones.
 Pinchot is one of the few drys who takes the attitude that the surest way to injure prohibition is to try to hide its failures He fears that some morn- ing the drys will wake. up to find that general feeling of revulsion has swept the country as a result of scandals in prohibition enforcement.
 His appeal comes with even more force in view of the preparations of vets to wage a fight for modification of the Volstead act at the democratic national convention in New York, where local sentiment favOrs q wet declaration.
 T Officials Indorsed
 Pinchot laid down his views in a speech at the closing session of the drys. who had previously adopted reso- lutiOns indorsing President Coolidge, the department of justice and Prohibi- ton Commissioner Haynes for faithful work in enforcement of prohibition. While admitting imperfectiOns in en- fOrcement, the drys laid this to a cam- paign of lawlessness by the vets. They included a summary of encouraging results" of prohibition.
 The Pennsylvania governor was bru- tSl in his condemnation of the opera tiOn of the law in the last four years.
 The greatest breeder of crime and criminals in America is the failure to enfOrce the eighteenth amendment" PinchOt said Out of the knowledge of criminals that the bars are down grows murder, brigandase, piracy, poisoning, and a multitude of other crimes of violence or cunning, in addi- tion to the violation of the Amendment itself. NF
 Says Crime Encouraged.
 The failure of the United States government to do its pla-n and simple duty under the law is the main cause of lawleSsness today. Immunity for crimes against the eighteenth amend ment has encouraged other crimes un- til today we face a situation in which not only the criminal classes but the great bulk of honest citizeRs through out the country are fsrsaly convinced that the government does not really in tend fo enforce the laW.s ------..
 PinehOt said he personally knew of honest men who left the enforcement service in despair because they had be- come convinced that their superioFs did not intend to enforce the law. Boot les liquor prices are falling in Wash ingtOn, which is convincing proof to Pinchot that illicit liquor dealing in the capital Is cheaper and easier than previously.
 II know of no scandal in our na- tional history to compare with it." he continued, returning to the national situation "A scandal of half these proportions in any other, branch of the gevernmentis work would lead at once to congressional Investigation <
 Demands Probe.
 '.In the name of the citizens of this country who believe m its constitution and laws, and who propose to support and enforce them, I voice a general de mard for such an investigation"
 The Anti-SalO0n League is opposed to such an investigation, and the admin istratiOn is likewise hostile, fearing that it would provide too much ammn- milton for use in the coming campaign. PinchOt intends to carry his fight to the republican national convention, where he will demand more than the usual law enforcement plank. Pinehot wants a promise to wipe out the li- Qdcr scandals written into the repub- Iiean platform so that the. party can fight on a clear cut booze issue if th<