Evening star., 1926-06-17
REED QUESTIONS
WAYNEB, WHEELER
IN FUND PROBE
Anti-SaIoon League Counsel
Is Closely Interrogated on
His Early Career.
REPORTER DESCRIBES
MAYOR KLINE'S SPEECH
Insists Pittsburgh Executive
Threatened City Employees
With Dismissal.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

The spotlight was turned on the
Anti-Saloon League and its activities
at today's session Of the Senate in
vestigation of the recent Pennsylvania
primaries.
With Wayne B. Wheeler, general
counsel of the league and legislative
superintenden on the stand, Senator
Reed. Democrat of Missouri, chair
man of the committee, began investi-
cation Of the dry organization which
Is credited with having put prohib-
ton across in this country. During
the Senate wet and dry hearing Mr..
Wheeler appeared only to make the
final argument for the prohibition
forces and no opportunity was given
Senator Reed to interrogate him at
that time. Senator Reed did not at
tend the session at which Mr.. Wheeler
made his argument.
Antagonism Is Shown.
The antagonism between Senator
Reed, who is a leader of the vets in
Congress. and Mr.. Wheeler cropped
out at several points during the eX.
animation Of Mr.. Wheeler this morn.
ing. Before the dry leader was called
TO the stand an incident took place
which might have astounded the drys
VINO know Of Mr.. Wheeler's wide
acquaintance at the Capitol
Mr.. Wheeler during an interval in
the testimony of an earlier witness.
went forward and spoke to Senator
Reed.
Am | to be called this morning"
asked Mr.. Wheeler.
Who are you, sir?" demanded Sen
ator Reed with a blank look on his
face.
Il am Wheeler" said the dry leader
and is an explanation of his question.
he added that he had an engagement
at 11:3o O'Clock and wanted 10 know
If 1t would be possible for him 10 keep
it.
You had better break the engage
he turned away.
Questioned on Record
When Mr. Wheeler took the stand
Senator Reed carried him back TO the
very earliest days when he had work
ed for the Anti-Saloon League.
Mr.. Wheeler testified that he had
first become associated with the
league in 1898, when the league
came into existence. He said that
when he started work for the league
he received 800 month and that
frequently he didn't get that because
the league always had a deficit at
the end of the year and he and
others interested in 1t voluntarily
gave up their salary. He was
senior in college in Ohio. Mr.. Wheeler
said when he began to work for the
league. He kept up this work for
the league while he was studying
in 1925.
With painstaking detail. Senator
Reed asked Mr.. Wheeler what his pay
had been from year to year UP to
the present. Mr.. Wheeler testified
that his salary increased in 1898 to
between $3.50 and 5000 a
month and that two or three years
later it probably went as high as
50. 400 a year.
Senator Reed wanted to know If
he got it all. Mr.. Wheeler said he
got most of it. Senator Reed asked
how he lived. especially when his
salary was only 500 a month and
he did not collect but about SAG
a month.
Later Got $1,000.
MY expenses on the road in large
part" Mr.. Wheeler replied.
In 1900 or 1901 Mr.. Wheeler became
State superintendent of Ohio, at a sal
ary. he thought. of s4.500. This. he
said, was raised to $1,000. He was
,alled to Washington about nine years
ago, he said. and made general coun-
sell At that time. he said. his sal
ary was from $500 to Sc 900. and five
Or six years ago he was made legisla
i've superintendent. Within the last
our years, he said. his salary had been
raised to $1,000 and year ago it had
been made $4,000 a year.
DO you know approximately the
amount of money gathered in by the
national organization of the Anti.Sa-
oon League during 1882" asked Sen
ator Reed.
Il can't give it off.hand." replied
Mr.. Wheeler, but should say it was
from s150.000 to 100000. That Is
Just my best estimate of 1t, however
How much was collected in 1882"
demanded Senator Reed.
II do not know, but 1 can get the
for you"
Asks Details Of Funds.
Senator Reed wanted to know II Mr..
Wheeler could get 1t by wire from the
national headquarters at Westerville.
Ohio. Mr.. Wheeler said that he would
do so and Senator Reed asked him to
get also the amount of money on
hand at present. what bank or banks
II is deposited in and the amounts OF
money collected during the years from
1921 to 1926, inclusive. and the names
of the banks in which these funds
have been kept from year to year.
Senator Reed said that II these flg-
ures could not be given exactly, he
wanted a close estimate.
"I don't want anybody to say that
they have got to wait until they close
the books before giving this informa-
tion," he said.
The report that the general coun-
sel of the Anti-Saloon League was to
be examined by Senator Reed brought
10 the committee hearing this morning
the greatest number of people who
have yet attended any session Of the
investigation.
Reporter Takes Stand.
The first witness today was A. w.
Brown. a reporter for the Pittsburgh
Press, who reported a meeting of city
employees addressed by Mayor Charles
r. Kline of Pittsburgh the last part
If April. at which Mr.. Kline made his
now famous bread and butter speech"