The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-06-16
BY RAY T. TUCKER

Brig. Gen. Lincoln G. Andrews
resignation as Federal prohibition
chief in July. 1926, was received
quietly enough by Secretary Mellon,
and accepted. Being business man
first and a politician as an after
thought, Mellon Immediately did not
sense the unfavorable effect such
abrupt action might have on the ap-
preaching congressional elections or
other political events.
But when he related the INCIDENT
at the White House the same day,
Mellon was made to see that such
on untoward happening could not
be permitted. General Andrews
was summoned into Melons office
for a heart to-heart talk. He was
persuaded to stay on, and he with
drew his resignation, though it is
understood the letter originally pre-
Sented to Mellon was kept at the
White House.
Like a good soldier, General An
dreWs then denied that he had re-
signed, although at least two news
paper correspondents had read the
letter.
Begs in Vain for Help
The incident serves to. reveal Gen
eral Andrews state of mind after
one year in office, as we'll as the
attitude assumed toward him and
his work by the Administration.
Not until it seemed his actions
might have an unfavorable political
effect did they command much at
tention from his superiors.
Andrews continued his reorgani-
cations and enforcement work dur
ing his last year, but it was con-
cerned mostly with departmental
affairs and regulations. Again, he
begged Congress to enact the addi-
tional enforcement bills which
failed of passage at the previous
session, but again ne begged in vain.
Congress, as we'll as the Admin
istration, seemed to sense a change
in public sentiment toward extreme
methods of prohibition enforcement.
A spirit of laissez-faire and toler-
ance had displayed itself in cleo
tons, press, pulpit and platform.
Haynes Comes Back
But the Anti-Saloon League never
left its post. With the passage of
the reorganization bill, its leaders
demanded that Roy A. Haynes be
made prohibition commissioner.
Both General Andrews and Secretly
Mellon opposed such step, but the
leaguers presented their demand to
the White House.
The compromise measure designed
to placate the league led to the
downfall of Andrews. Haynes was
made acting commissioner" AS
soon as he got back into high place,
there was started campaign to
undermine Andrews.
Haynes made clear that, if made
permanent commissioner, he would
consider himself superior to An
drews under the terms of the reor-
ganization bill.
DiSsension Immediately spread
through the prohibition establish
ment. The situation became intol-
cradle. Mellon was slow to act, but
circumstances compelled him to in
terVene.
League Gets Andrews
Andrews was permitted to resign
and was succeeded by Seymour w.
LoWman, former Lieutenant Cover
nor of New York. The post sought
for Haynes was given to twenty
year Government employee, DR..
James H. Doran.
Though personalities and records
Of the two men warrant the belief
that neither will measure up to An
drews, the Anti-Saloon League ap-
pears satisfied with the change. 1t
succeeded in forcing out Andrews.
Past experience indicates that the
professional drys will be content
with less enforcement and more
glorification of prohibition.
BY the same token it appears that
the Administration will welcome
less fuss over prohibition, even if it
means less enforcement.
For a national election is only a
year off!