The Indianapolis times., 1927-06-09


year army record, his ability as head
of the military police in France, and
his success in untangling New York
City traction lines from a hopeless
muddle.
1t was an Augean task that faced
Andrews.
Under Haynes, there had been no
attempt to build up an effective
and far-flung enforcement machine.
Under Haynes lively but futile
methods the bootlegging industry
was born, grew to manhood. and
flourished vigorously. There was
neither local nor federal enforce
ment worthy of the name.
Three Main Points
Andrews program was based on
three specific principles:
To effect a divorce between pro-
hibition and politics.
To place enforcement on busi-
ness like basis.
To enlist local authorities in the
work of prosecuting hip-toters,
while the government concentrated
efforts against large sources Of sup
ply.
Andrews first concrete problem
was to attack Run Row. The rum
fleet of forty ships had been stand
ing off the New York and New
Jersey coasts for months figurative-
ly thumbing its nose at Uncle
Sans dry laws.
In conference with President
Coolidge, he had been instructed to
break up bootlegging among the
coast resorts. 1t was scandal"
the President told him.
Ill-equipped in those days for the
task, the coast guard steamed out
to the fray, discharging few vol
leyS that came dangerously near
pleasure yachts. Senator Edge pro-
tested wrathfully. Andrews retorted
tartly that the coast guard would
do its full duty in carrying out the
letter of the law.
Mellon Intervenes
But it did not last long. Secretary
Mellon intervened and the Opt
spoken General Andrews was forced
to issue orders that transformed the
coast guards attack into tea
party.
Meanwhile, Andrews had perfect
ed reorganization, dividing the ma
ton in twenty-five districts for en-
forcement, each district coinciding
with the federal judicial district. 1t
was based on the belief that such
redistricting would permit the
judges, district attorneys and other
federal officials to give greater aid
to the prohibition personnel.
Moreover, these districts had some
regard for the water and railroad
routes used by the bootlegging gen.
try. The system Of State organiza-
tions and State prohibition directors
inaugurated by Haynes was abol-
ished. Haynes was made field
worker. ut would keep him out of
Washington lot"
Disillusionment soon came to
Andrews. With fury and wailing the
politicians flung themselves into
the breach.
C. Bascom Slemp protested
against placing Virginia in the same
district with Maryland, because it
might deprive Robert A. Fulwiler,
his political aide, of his job as Vir-
ginia dry director. Senator Weller
of Maryland then in office. was ad
vocating one of his political aides,
Edmund Bunditz, for this new po-
sition of administrator.
Watson, New, Disagree
Watson insisted that Indiana be
joined with Michigan, thus keeping
his man in office, while Postmaster
General Harry New of Indiana fav-
ored the original assignment of In
diana to a district including North
ern Illinois and Wisconsin.
Curtis appeared to ask that the
Kansas dry director, George A.
Wark, be retained.
The wishes of Slemp, Weller, Cur
tis, Watson and most of the others
were met The districts were
changed to suit their convenience
and their men retained.
During this period General An
drews insisted that the politicians
we're not interfering, going so far
as TO write a letter to a newspaper
defending them and himself
against criticism. But there came
a day when Andrews was made to
see the light.
Taking cognizance of the situation
Secretary Mellon said quite frankly
that, of course, the suggestions of
members Of Congress and political
leaders must be consulted in ap-
pointing dry officials. He an
nounced it at a press conference, so
the headlines could blazen it to
every job seeker in the land.
The Mellon pronouncement came
on July 16 The great non-political
experiment had lasted 100 days
no more.
Tomorrow: Sausage and buck