Evening star., 1926-06-17

oI cdlIlHE dtteHtloH VI tHc 'oNS'H
ment officials to the facts in cases
where it felt that prohibition agents
had been framed.
You assume to pass on whether
man ought to be prosecuted or not
them" said Senator Reed.
MIR. Wheeler replied that IL the
league believed that man was guilty
| 1t helped to prosecute.
Your organization poses as body
| to pass on these cases, them said
Senator Reed.
Holds Policy Proper.
I'VE rive information to The Gov
ernment officers and asked them TO
see that they get fair trial.
How many cases have YOU inter.
ferred in under this policy" asked
Senator Reed.
Mr.. Wheeler said he didn't know.
"A thousand?' asked Senator Reed'
No
"A hundred"
II don't think so"
FIFTY"
Maybe So" said Mr.. Wheeler.
Mr.. Wheeler said that the state
orga nization sometimes wrote to him
about these cases.
You get the facts and make up
YOUR mind on them and then turn
them over to an officer of the Govern.
ment who makes the defense? said
Senator Reed.
Mr.. Wheeler insisted that the policy
was perfectly proper, that all he did
was to present the facts to the officer
who was, to defend this man.
Denies Furnishing Funds.
when you make up your mind that
a man has been framed. that is the
course that YOU follow?
| Yes"
At this point there was spat be-
tween Senator Reed and the witness
| over whether he could answer yes or
no to the questions which were asked
, him.
| Have YOU ever furnished any
| money for the defense of these peo-
| tle?" asked Senator Reed.
No" said Mr. Wheeler.
What are the duties of tho legis-
| lative superintendent of the Anti
Saloon League" asked Senator Reed.
| Mr.. Wheeler said that he attended
the hearings before congressional com
mttees, kept the State organizations
! informed as to how members or Con
gress voted on various bills and that
he was active in efforts to defeat bills
which would interfere with prohibi-
| ton
"You spend most Of your time talk
| ing to members of Congress? sug-
gested Senator Reed.
mo. | usually write to them" said
the witness.
Sometimes Aids Prosecution.
He said he spent about one-half
his time seeing members of Congress
and one half at work on cases in the
courts involving the constitutionality
of the dry laws.
Senator Reed asked Mr.. Wheeler
whether the Anti-Saloon League had
ever appeared in cases where a pro
| hihition officer was being prosecuted
Yes In eases where we think
an officer has been crooked we call
attention and ask his prosecution.
Give me the names of some OF
these cases"
II think in some Of the Ohio cases
q nd some of the Eastern Coast cases.
Mr.. Wheeler said that he couldn't
give the names and added that he
had not prepared himself on those
matters and that he didn't think
that had anything to do with the
Pennsylvania primaries.
You have taken part in elections
and primaries, haven't YOU" asked
Senator Reed.
Works in Some Elections.
"In some districts and in primaries
involving both parties" said Mr.,
Wheeler.
Your organiZat ton collects money
Yes. for the purposes of the
league"
At this point Senator Reed had Mr..
Wheeler put in the record the names
of the present national officers. includ
ing the president. Bishop Thomas
Nicholson of Detroit: the secretary
S. f. Nicholson of New York: the
treasurer, Foster Copeland of Ohio;
F.. Scott Mcbride. general superintend
ent: associate superintendent. Howard
II. Russell of Ohio. founder of the
league, and the general manager of
publishing interests, Ernest Fl. Car
rinCton.
1t was brought out that most Of
these officers had served for the last
Is or 90 years.
Mr.. Wheeler said that the organiza
ton. of the Anti-Saloon League began
at 6berlin Ohio. in 1898. where it
finally developed into State organiZa
ton. Other States. he said. were or
ganized. and finally the national or
ganization was effected. Not all of
the States were orga nized. however.
before the national orga nization was
formed The national officers of the
league. he said. are elected by the
national board of directors. between
one and two hundred in number. The
national board. he said, meets every
two years at the time of the national
convention. Sometimes it meets every
year for special matters.
Receives from Churches.
Mr.. Wheeler testified that the State
orga nizations have separate treasurers
and that they raise their own funds
and disburse them.
Senator Reed and the witness got
into colloquy over whether the Anti.
Saloon contributes to the churches or
the churches contribute to the Anti
49, Hotol Inn