Evening star., 1927-05-02
'DRYS FEAR HAYNES
WILL LOSE HIS lob
Mellon Delays Decision on
Retention of Acting Prohi-
bition Chiefs Services.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

For some reason the ''drys" are a
bit anxious about the permanent ap
pointment of Roy Haynes as commits
sioner of the newly created Bureau OF
Prohibition. Mr.. Haynes was appoint
ed acting commissioner when Secre
tary Mellon was away. Now that the
Secretary Of the Treasury Is back the
drys are wondering If he will confirm
the selection.
Senator Willis OF Ohio, one OF the
spokesmen for the dry" organiza
tions, has discussed the Haynes ap
pointment with President Coolidge
and Is insisting that there be no de-
lay about it. Secretary Mellon has
rather indicated that he would like tC
think the matter over.
Mr.. Haynes superior officer, OF
course, will be Gen. Andrews, Assist
ant Secretary of the Treasury. And
there is every reason TO believe that
Gen. Andrews attitude toward pro
hibition enforcement fits in with that
of Secretary Mellon.
Rumors i'm the Air.
But there have been rumors that
Mr.. Andrews would resign. In fact
his retirement was expected on March
4, IL he resigns. Mr.. Mellon will face
the barrage of the Anti-Saloon League
which will insist on a man more or
less of the Haynes type. The latter
Is much more inclined toward the
Anu-Saloon League idea Of enforce
ment than is Gen. Andrews. Maj
Haynes believes in appealing to the
moral instincts of the people in en-
forcing prohibition. whereas some OF
the Treasury officials feel that prog
ffY nj =
Is carried on the practical basis OF
using the time and energies of the
bureau in going at, the largest sources
Of supply.
Mr.. Coolidge is the arbiter of the
dispute. 1t is his political future
which is wrapped up in the question
For If AL Smith is the Democratic
candidate and IL Mr.. Coolidge is the
Republican nominee, the dry strength
will have to be kept in line actively
for the Republican side of the fight,
especially in the States west of the
Alleghanies. Then there is the chance
that Senator Willis may yet become
the candidate Of the Anti-Saloor
League for the presidency.
Prohibition enforcement may be
come a political issue OF much more
practical Importance than prohibition
itself. The expenditure OK large Sums
of money without getting 1esu:ts in
the populous States has been ia
vorite argument of the "Wets.'
Drys Make Reply.
TO this the "drys" answer that the
biggest barrier to enforcement is this
attitude Of the "wets." who while not
admitting that they are discouragine
obedience to the law, are nevertheless
endeavoring to prove that law en-
forcement has thus far been futile.
On the policy pursued by the Prohib
ition Bureau depends great deal foi
President Coolidge. IL the Republican
administration assumes more or less
passive attitude toward the enforce
ment problem, the drys will begin q
steady attack, which might have the
effect of keeping certain Republican
vets in line, for the ware l. 3cf
more interested in that kind of q
policy than in voting the Democratic
ticket The number of States, how
ever, in which the Republican party
is wet" is limited and the chances
are that Mr.. Coolidge win be found
for the next several months working
closer to the ideas of the Anti-Saloor
League than to any other elements in
the situation.