Evening star., 1924-09-27
AW ENFORCEMENT
Y
LEAGUE HEAD QUITS
Steele Resigns From Phila.
: deIphia Body Following
z Report to Coolidge.
1y the Associated Press.

b. the Associated Press.
PHILADELPHIA, September 81
Joseph NJ. Steele, president of the
Law Enforcement League of Phila-
delphia, today resigned as head of
that organization as result of the
telegram sent to President Coolidge
by the secretary of the league. in
which he said he possessed evidence
of corruption among Federal office
holders in Pennsylvania.
1t was said here that the basis of
Nicholson's telegram to the President
was letter written to the league
by Mrs. Mabel Walker Willebrandt.
United States Deputy Attorney Cen
erai. regarding prohibition enforce
ment. Mrs. Willebrandt was in
philadelphia today on her way to
Doylestown, Pa, to attend Repub-
llcan gathering. She said she re-
called letter written to the league,
IN which she made no specific ref
erence To corruption or to any per-
son She added that she had often
stated that the trouble with prohi-
bltlon enforcement was political
strangulation and she may have said
something to that effect in the letter.
she had no apologies to make, she
SAID. and would not engage in any
general ''sniping."
Claims Error In Words
Nicholson said that through some
error the word corruption" was used
IN ms telegram instead of 'strangu-
Iatlon If summoned to Washington
ne AIDED, the league would lay before
the Attorney General the record of
three years in prohibition enforce
ment in Philadelphia
was amazed that you should have
sent Such an unwise communication
involving not only yourself but those
associated with you in very unfavor-
ahle notoriety and controversy"
steele said in his letter of resigna-
ton to William r. Nicholson, jr the
secretary.
am convinced" he added that
hothlng can be gained by the use of
tnredts and particularly upon the
fhlef Executive of the United States.
IN whose integrity | have the utmost
confidence.
Out Of sympathy
have not been in full sympa thy
ana accord for some time past with
some OF the methods used by the
league IN the promotion of its plans
lor securing law enforcement and
have so expressed myself to you"
NlchoISons S telegram threatened to
make public the alleged evidence he
mad IT Gen. Butler were removed bv
MAYOR hendrick as director of public
Safety The telegram said the Presi-
neht alone can save PHILADELPHIA
from further disgrace and humilia-
ton. and asked him if he would "a o,
TO avert this calamity
"heh Steele's resignation became
known Nicholson said that an effort
"ouIu be made to have Gen Butler
take the presidency of the league in
tne event he is dismissed from the
poIlce department.
Charges Corruption.
Those directly interested in tho cit
uation growing out of the contro-
NeTSy between Mayor kendricl< and
Brig. Gen. Smedley D. Butler marked
time today pending the investigation
ordered by President Coolidge of no
ltIcai corruption by Federal Office
holoerS IN Pennsylvania and the re-
coFery OF Gen. Butler who is copya-
ieSclng from severe cold
Allegations of political corruntion
all down the line in Pennsylvania
ny Federal officeholders" were con-
tanned in telegram sent to Mr.. Cool
ldse Thursday by William r. Nichol-
SON IT. secretary of the Law En-
Iof"emeht League of Philadelphia
The telegram also sought the Presj
dismissal of Gen. Butler as director
of public safety
president Coolidge directed Attor-
ney General Stone to investigate the
statements contained in the telegram
and MIR. Stone invited officers of the
enforcement league to confer with
MN regarding the matter Three
responsible members of the organi-
zatlon, appointed a a meeting of the
20 7" Washington next Wednesday
for that purpose.
Gen. Butler is expected to return
10 ms ofhce Monday. when it is be-
Heved his status definitely will he
publicly made known. Mayor Ken
drlck having stated that a letter
written him early in the week and
withheld because of his illness wouId
ne delivered when he returned to his
desk. The letter is generally report
ed I" contain request for the direc-
tors resignation.