Evening star., 1927-04-25

Disclosing copies of documents and
letters of the Saloon League,
which show that the league had been
able to block four attempts to re-
move Roy A. Haynes as prohibition
commissioner, William II. Stayton,
national chairman of the Association
Against the Prohibition Amendment,
last night charged that Wayne 3.
Wheeler, general counsel of the Anti
Saloon League was running through
out the Nation "high-powered propa-
ganda" to force Secretary of the
Treasury Mellon to keep Haynes still
in power against his own deliberate
decision"
The charges were contained in let
ter to Secretary Mellon, copies Of
which were sent to President Coolidge,
Assistant Secretary of the Treasury
Andrews, Acting Prohibition Com
nissioners Haynes and Wheeler.
With his letter Mr.. Stayton inclosed
a long list of documents showing the
fight Wheeler and the league had
always made for Haynes since his
first appointment.
Temporarily I'm Position.
HAYNES now holds the temporary
annointment of acting prohibition
commissioner" and Secretary Mellon
has under consideration the problem
Of whether to make Haynes the per-
nnanent commissioner or to appoint
another in his place. Although Sec
retarv Mellon has admitted there has
been considerable opposition to Haynes
and IT ia known this opposition has
come from both wet and dry sources,
the broadside which Stayton has de-
1ivered is the most extensive yet 1Ilaue
nublic. The statement made publlc py
Mr.. Stayton with his letter to Mellon
and the documents comprise hlLe
typewriter pages. -, ..,
Wheeler is charged with writing
ro++ars to state superintendents of the
Anti-SaIoon League since the tempo
rarv appointment of Haynes urging
them to have Secretary Mellon and
president Coolidge flooded with letters
requesting that the Haynes appoint
ment be made permanent.
Cony of a similar letter to the super
intendents was disclosed IN Whlch
wheeler asked to have letters written
eto influence the Civil Service COM
mission to make a regulation that
none but drys could be appointed as
prohibition agents.
Stayton's Statement Outlined.
Tn his letter to the secretary Mr.
Stavton said he was bringing certain
documentary evidence" to the official
attention of the Treasury, mot IN
criticism, but that the people may
have knowledge as to whether thelr
Government is being administered as
the Constitution directs, by the uuly
elected and appointed officials, un-
hampered by self-seeking, needing
husvbodies, or whether this has De-
come a government of professional
propagandists, by professional propa-
gandists and for professional propa'
gandists ,;4
ting" said Mr.. Stayton, snow that
Wayne B. Wheeler, general counsel
and legislative superintendent of the
Anti.Saloon League, reported to the
executive committee of the Anti
Saloon League in November, l9Z4,
that on four occasions the superior
officers of Mr.. Haynes in the Treas
ury Department had slated him for
removal from office, and that on each
occasion he CWheeler) has been able
to learn Of it in advance, and by APP
peal to the President, prevented the
Treasury officials from discharging
what they evidently conceived to be
their duty"
Wheeler Justifies Course.
Later. Mr.. Wheeler, saying he had
learned of Stayton's letter, said the
Anti-Saloon League has mo apology
to make for asking the people to ap'
peal to the President and the Secre-
tary of the Treasury to appoint Maj.
Haynes"
''His record justified It." Wheeler
said, "and the tactics of his opponents
furnish additional reasons for his ap-
pointment. 1t is obvious that this
smoke screen attack is timed for the
purpose Of attempting to influence
Secretary Mellon in the appointment
of the commissioner of prohibition.
He added that the Stayton state
by indefensible and unethical means"
not apologize for its efforts in Haynes
behalf.
Wheeler's report to the league COM
mittee that he had been able to block
the Treasury in four different at
tempts to dismiss Haynes was dis
closed by Mr.. Stayton In quotations
from Whaeler's own reports.
Citing that the report was made to
the executive committee of the league
November 25, 1924, Mr.. Stayton point
edly told the Secretary "as you are
the head of the Treasury Department
it appears from his reports that, al
though he has no responsibility to the
Government, he as an outsider was
able to overthrow the deliberate deci.
sions of the Treasury Department in
this matter.
Quotation From Statement,
Within the last three years four
attempts have been made to oust Com
missioner Haynes from his office. In
each instance we have been able to
learn of it in advance and offset the
drive. Another effort will be made in