Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-26
CIVIC VIEWS VARY
ON SERVICE GROUP
Leaders Opinions of Law
and Order Program Not
in Harmony.

U ttCAi ttIVUys
While civic and trade organizations
Of the National Capital appear gen.
! orally to have adopted a hands off pol
icy with regard to agitation over the
Citizens Service Association for Law
and Order. civic leaders last night
were divided in their opinions as to
propriety of the organiza tons activi-
ties.
Meanwhile, vets and drys alike are
claiming to have public support in
their campaigns for or against the
unique citizens movement to drive
bootleggers and other law violators
from the District of Columbia.
DIR. E. NJ. Ellison, secretary of the
association and himself prominent
figure in Washington's civic and pro-
fessional circles, expressed the belief
that the majority of Washington's
civic interests are Fundamentally be-
hind the association in its intensive
crusade for prohibition. He said that
the association is the crystaliZation of
sentiment that has been developing
for some time among the Capitals
better citizens and that these persons
know the good that can be accom-
plished by such body.
Organizations Keep Silent.
The Association Against the Pro-
hibition Amendment at the same time
is of the opinion that public sentiment
Is opposed to what it terms "snoop-
ing by self.appointed law enforcers,"
and to prove it's contention 1t is pre-
pairing to canvass the leading business
and civic groups to ascertain their
attitude.
Inquiries by The Star last night in
dictate that none of the olcal trade
bodies or citizens associations has
gone on record in this connection. and
it appears that few If any Of them are
inclined to join in the controversy at
all.
= E. c. Graham, president Of the
Washington Board of Trade, declared
he didn't think the matter was one
for discussion by the board and that
il the anti-prohibitionists write for
the opinion of his organization the
letter probably will be ignored.
Personally, however, Mr.. Graham
was willing to be quoted to some ex-
tent. He said he did not approve of
any agitation looking toward enforce.
ment Of one law more rigidly than
another: that he did not belong to the
Citizens Service Association and
wouldn't join if asked; that he could
not see the reason for concentrating
on bootleggers when highway robbers
and other dangerous criminals are to
be reckoned with. and that he is in
favor OF strict enforcement Of all
laws. without favor.
Chamber Has No Stand.
NJ. A. Leese, president Of the Wash.
fngton Chamber Of Commerce. said
the chamber had received no letter
from the Association Against the Pro-
hibition Amendment. but that il one is
received it will be referred to the
board of directors for consideration of
its July meeting. The chamber has
taken no stand in the controversy, he
added.
Speaking as an individual, Mr..
Leese came out strongly against the
law and order group and its pro-
gram.
IL am no Judge Of my neighbors'
morals" he stated. at don't believe
that any man can set himself up in
such capacity. Let those who have
no guilt throw stones at others.
am in favor Of enforcing the
eighteenth amendment and all other
laws on the statute books, but leave
the enforcement work to the properly
constituted authorities-the police
and the courts"
Gen. Anton Stephan, president of
the Merchants and Manufacturers
Association, said that the attitude Of
the merchants toward DR.. Ellison's
organization must be decided by the
members Of the merchants associa-
ton themselves. No consideration
has been given the matter, and he
does not anticipate that any will. If
N 1nk% sa -
will be referred to the board Of gov
ernors for any disposition they may
wish to make Of 1t, he said. Gen.
Stephan said he would rather not be
quoted" as to just what he thinks Of
the Citizens Service Association.
Yaden Lauds Move.
James G. Yaden, president of the
Federation of Citizens Associations
and of the Citizens Advisory Council,
said that so far as he knew the law
and order movement had not come up
for discussion in any citizens associa-
ton. Personally, he said, he heartily
approved Of the law observance cam
paign, and he attended one Of the
meetings at which policies of the
service association were formulated.
az believe a great deal of good can
be done by the Citizens Service Asso-
citation. and see no justification for
criticism that has been leveled at it.
The association is undertaking to
make the Capital a better place in
which to live and in which to bring
up our children, and am for it," Mr..
Yaden declared.
Business Club Approves.
!, DR.. Ellison pointed out that he is
president Of one business mems club
the knights of the Round Table, and
that he believes the entire member
ship Of that club is sympathetic to
the aims of the law and order
crusaders. He said the activities Of
the service association had been dis
i. cussed informally at recent meeting
of the Kiwanis Club lover the lunch
icon table," and that staunch defense
i had been made by some club mem.
> bers to criticism voiced by fellow
2 members.
= None OF the other business mems
clubs has gone on record one way or
the other, so far as could be learned
jiWill Everett, president of the Rotary
Club, is out Of the city, and no spo,es-
men could be reached for other clubs.
= The survey disclosed, in general,
that the newly formed law-observance
body is on the tongues Of most of
4 Washington's citizenry, but few or.
CARNATIONS would be willing to let the
j matter come to a vote, were such
action proposed.