Evening star., 1926-03-12
BUTLER JUST|F|ES
ACCUSING COLONEL
Tells D. A. R. Dry Law Is
"Class Legislation and
Must Be Cured by Force"
2y the Associated Press.

1y the Associated Press.
LOS ANGELES, March 12.-Brig
Gen. Smedley d. Butler sticks to MS
guns" stoutly defending his action
in placing a charge of tntoxlcauoh
against Col. Alexander Williams snort
ly after that officer had acted as nos'
at a dinner party at which Gen. ou'-
ler had been the guest OF honor.
Altering a previous announcement
that he would have nothing to say.
Gen. Butler, who Is commandant OF
the United States marine base at san
Diego. took occasion twice yesterday
TO Justify the act which has prompted
nationwide comment in ofnclal anu
social circles.
Efforts were being made today 10
find Gen. Butler to learn just wnat
he meant when 1t was reported IN
newspapers he declared before the
DAUGHTERS of the American HeVoiu-
tion last night that the nquor law
is the biggest piece of class legisid'lvll
ever passed ana IL can pe eoio" o''
by rough stuff"
Attitude In DOubt.
Curious minded persons wondered II
the general meant by this declaration
that he was opposed to prohihitlcn.
His address was an attack on law
yiolators and embodied series OF
snhorisms on law enforcement. prlncl-
pal among them being the tollowihs' y
Men of money and influence nave
come to regard laws as JOKE ana
the only way they can be cured Is
for people like you and l to see tnat
these laws are enforced. ~,
Laws won't work, but ciub WILL
When we get gentle we perish.
.tyr>t-- hi I10PaESQrN
clean up a town-get the thugs or the
streets and close up the dens of vice.
So long as you have vice, you snail
have crime"
Hospitality Not Considered.
In an interview late in the after
noon he said that the matter OF nos
pitality and it's possible breach had
never entered the arrest OF Col. VIII
liams.
1T is according to naval regula-
tions. / simply followed naval regu-
lations," he asserted. The case Is
similar to hundreds that have occur
red in the past"
Earlier in the day Gen. Butler is
sued a written statement denying that
Col. Williams had been arrested while
he was a guest in the ceionel's home
Whatever happened in his home had
nothing to do with the case, the state
ment said, and explained that the un-
fortunate incidents which caused my
action took place in public hotel
when l was not a guest of this ofi-
GER"
Witnesses Differ.
At San Diego, where Gen. Butler
filed his charges of intoXicatlon
against Col. Williams. efforts were
made by the accused Officer's friends
to assemble evidence to combat the
charges. Some officers who were with
Col. Williams at the Coronado Hotel,
where Gen. Butler alleges he was in
toxicated, declared the officer was not
intoxicated, while others asserted he
was.
A Boston woman, whose name was
withheld, was quoted as having de.
clared that she had danced with Col.
Williams at the hotel and that she had
not noticed any indicatiensSof intoxi-
cation.
It was brought out yesterday that
the arrest" of the colonel. ordered
by Gen. Butler consisted only of his
removal from command of the 4th
Regiment of Marines. He is not re-
strained In any way.
Should the colonel be court -martialed
the maximum sentence that could be
imposed, 1t was stated. would be ex-
pulsion from the service.