The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-06-30
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ton of which he would have to bear
the odium, he had the moral courage
to state his position on this issue
while Senator Pepper did not"
Choice Between Evils
your support of Ware then was
a choice between two evils?" Senator
Golf, Republican, West Virginia,
asked.
Yes, it was"
Reed, known as a wet generally,
declined to interrogate the witness
and permitted Senator King, to con-
duct the examination.
''It has been Slanderously asserted
am wet" said Chairman Reed.
There are certain dry men on this
committee and 1 am going to turn
Captain Stayton over to you. Then
there won't be any charge that I
am trying to cover anything up"
How II Started
In 1918. Stayton said, letters were
written to States where ratification
of the Eighteenth Amendment was
pending. Shortly thereafter the
amendment was ratified and activ-
ity of the organization ceased tempo
rarily.
Later. said Stayton, he wrote
friends and decided on the basis of
their replies to form the incorpora-
ton.
"The purpose of the organization
was stated to be obedience to the
prohibition law as long as 1t was
on the statute books, but to work for
its repeal" said Stayton.
did you decide to dictate nominal
ton and control elections for your
purpose?" asked King.
Active in Politics
mo, but we decided to take as
active a part in politics as was
necessary for our purpose"
There are about 726,000 members
of the association now, the witness
added. The membership is pretty
generally distributed throughout the
States. although 1t is centered in
New York, Ohio, Illinois and Cali
fornia-
Headquarters are maintained here
in Washington where an eight-room
suite is rented, he said. About thirty
employees are on the pay roll. Since
1919 when there was no Office help,
the average personnel has been
about fifteen.
Operate Newspaper
A newspaper Is operated by Will
liam H. Fish in New Jersey for
furtherance OF the association, but
as private venture, Stayton de-
clared.
Gordon Hinckley is secretary apd
treasurer of the national organiza-
ton and joined with Stayton in
founding the association.
King asked how many State or
CARNATIONS were in the association.
81 think there are about 25," the
witness answered.
ITO what extent do you control
primaries?"
ITO any extent we can under our
organization. We publish literature
and pamphlets and advertise in the
newspapers. We help whatever
candidate we indorse in any way we
can"
On an example of what his organ
ization does, Stayton said he made a
mass meeting speech last night in
Delaware, urging that men elected
to the legislature be pledged for re-
peal Of state law, preventing is
suance of liquor prescriptions by
physicians.
do you encourage violation Of the
Eighteenth amendment"
For Observance
"On the contrary, we urge it's OBJ
servance while it is still on the
statute books"
How much has the present or
ganization collected since it's incep.
| tion?"
II couldn't say that without look.
ing at the records"
Stayton explained State organiza,
tons had complete control of their
own funds at first.
AT LndL time the. Ant1-SalOOn
League was spending $4,000, 900 or
100000 year and I had only a
few hundred dollars, so 1 did not
make any public statement of
finances, because I didn't want to
look ridiculous" said Stayton.
"A year and a half ago before the
new amendment to the corrupt prac-
tees act was adopted the State or
CARNATIONS all together spent about
$4,000 a month and the parent or
ganization about $4,000 a month"
Strict Account
Since March, 1925. every dollar
received and expended has been re-
couned in statements filed quarterly
under the corrupt practices act
with the clerk of the House Of Rep
resentatives. he said.
Stayton said that with adoption
of the new system, the parent or
ganization took over the State or
ganization finances.
The average monthly income Of the
parent organization from the begin
ming "at zero in 1919" to $4,000 in
1925. was around $4,000 a year, he
said.