Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-22
Seek to Learn Secrets of
Movement and Plan
Counter Drive.
HlNCKLEY CONFIRMS
PRESENCE AT MEETING
Head of Association Against Pro-
hibition Says He Welcomes
Agitation Here.

Bootleggers and their agents have
joined the Citizens Service Associa-
ton 10 gather all information possible
the working machinery Of
the civic group which was organized
as a connecting link between the In
public, the police and dry
forces.
This, it was learned today, was the
first step taken by bootleggers In
counter-offensive against
the citizens auxiliary body.
Seven secret agents attended the
mass meeting Sunday afternoon In
Calvary Baptist Church and actually
made contributions to the Citizens
Service Association for the purpose
of checking and estimating, as far as
possible, the menace to the Illicit
liquor traffic here that the new or
ganization presents. The names used
by them were fictitious.
Information Is Confirmed.
This information was obtained from
local bootleggers and confirmed today
at the office of General Secretary G..
C.. Hinckley of the Association Against
the Prohibition Amendment, who
stated that while the organization had
taken no active part in such a plan
and would not. that nevertheless he
had been appraised of the facts.
The first step, according to boot
leggers, was to gather up what in
formation they could as to the citizens
association and then to discuss the
best ways and means of meeting this
new menace to lucrative local business
in illicit liquor traffic. A secret meet
ing of bootleggers is being planned
for this purpose later this week.
officials of the Citizens Service
Association secuted the idea that any
harm could come to the movement by
having bootleggers' secret agents spy
ing on them, inasmuch as the meeting
Sunday was for the purpose of gather
ing a supporting nucleus to the move
ment, which now numbers upward OF
1000 members, it is estimated.
= The real secret work OF the Citf-
zens' Service Association, it was point
ed out, is spy-proof. Harry n.
Douthitt, the operating official, is
given a Tip" by telephone or other
wise, with the name of the informant
kept secret He and his agents run
down the Tip" turning evidence over
to police and dry agents. Thus there
is no point where spies can harm the
BootIeggers Are Worried.
Some local bootleggers are worried
over the new development, it was as
certained, whereas others are con-
tinuing their ways as placidly and
as though the eighteenth
amendment did not exist. The fact
that they are known, the latter state,
is not distressing to them, for they
point out that police always have
known them. The only thing to
worry about is having the officials get
the evidence against them.
Officials of the Association Against
the Prohibition Amendment, accord
ing to Secretary Hinckley, are over
joyed at the organization and initial
success of the Citizens Service Asso-
citation.
I'VE have no stronger argument for
the support of our cause than TINS
very thing" Mr.. Hinckley declared.
when the Government is compelled
to have one citizen spy upon another
in order to get sufficient evidence to
enforce a statute of the Government
it is patent on the face of 1t that
there is no such public support OF
the dry law as will indicate the slight
est material enforceability."
Country Watches Movement.
Washington's experiment in citizen
assistance to the authorities has be-
come the focal point for all the coun-
try interested in the repeal Of the
amendment, Mr.. Hinckley
said.
'"The eyes of the opponents of pro-
hibition are on this city," he said.
because here lis being demonstrated
the result of an attempt to enforce
4 law lacking public support. To do
so, neighbor is planning to spy on
neighbor; one man on his fellow man;
and thousands of citizens are being
as an auxiliary to the police
force and dry force to attempt en-
forcement of a single police regula-
ton in a Nation with hundreds OF
penal laws on its statute books need
ng no more than the proper police
to secure their enforce
nent. We are deeply thankful for
he existence of such movement"
200 Arrests Reported.
The Citizens Service Association to-
lay reported more than 200 favorable
results in its crusade to dry up Wash
ngton. OF 800 cases of alleged dry
aw violation reported to the police
more than 200 have resulted in ar
tests and seizure of evidence, Field
Marshal Harry n. Douthitt said, and
new arrests are being made daily.
Douthitt's camp at 1920 M street,
rom which he directs the crusade,
with unofficial lieutenants,
iaison officers and secret agents to-
lay. Scores of volunteers have en-
listed in the crusade to help Douthitt
secure evidence and Douthitt has sew
'ral Of them at work today.
With the addition of r. J. Kicker to
he office staff as clerk the first COM
1iiation OF results Of the organiza-
IONS activities was made today. This
shows. In addition to the cases that
laVe been turned over to the police
hat about 125 letters from citizens.
information of alleged
,ootleg activity, have been received.
THESE are signed letters: many anony.
nous communications have been re-
elved and ignored, Douthitt said.
Submitted Without Inquiry.
Most of the cases turned over to
ne police have been submitted with.
'ut investigation by the association,
1outhltt said. Where an investigation
$ necessary to check up on the in
ormation. it is made, he said, but
most Of the communications contained
uch complete information that an In
'estigation was unnecessary.
The figures given out by the asso-
iatton covered the past three months
nd included the work of the Church
service Association, predecessor of
he present organization. Polics te-iay
erified the associations claims by re.
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