Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-29

Mrs. Mabel Walker Willebrandt, AS
sistant Attorney General in charge OF
the prohibition division of the Depart
| ment of Justice is at the moment the
storm center of the ructions which have
arisen incident to the spectacular New
York nilht club raids staged immedi-
ately after Gov. Smiths nomination,
and more recently the invocation OF the
paddock provision of the Volstead act
against private homes" in Minneapolis,
II has been inSinuated that Mrs. Willie
brandt was the real instigator Of both
episodes and that political motives
PLAYED some part in these suddenly
strenuous efforts at prohibition enforce
ment. Mrs. Withdrawals active parti~
sanship In behalf of her fellow Call
fornian. Mr.. Hoover, was brought INTO
the picture In refutation ot these m
situations. Mrs Willebrandt points out
that the Department Of Justice Is not
specifically charged with prohibition
enforcement, but that that obligation
rests with the prohibition division III
the Treasury Department The 1on OF
her department Is merely to prosecute
in court after the prohibition agents
have gathered their own evidence ana
staged their own raids AS to the pad
with emphasis that she has had any
hand in the Minneapolis cases and de-
MES that any unnecessary harassment
Of private citizens Is contemplated by
any branch of the Government or any
overstepping of the plain provisions
Of the law.
Secretary Kelloges abrupt cancellation
of his projected courtesy cali to Lon
don before his return home from ms
present rNisslon in Paris has evoked a
first page sensation in the British cap
ital, though as yet 1t has come Ill ior
little notice or comment on this side
of the water. The interpretation" Of
Mr.. Kellogg's suddenly discovered lack
of time, which he says precludes his Visit
to London, as cablcd TO the London
Times by its usually well informed and
experienced correspondent. Wliimott II.
Lewis is to the effect that the Ameri~
can Secretary Of State Cancelled MS Lon
don visit at the behest Of Mr.. Coolidge,
and arises from the supposed dla-
pleasure Of the President and the state
Department with the secret and some
what mysterious Anglo French naval
agreement which has come 10 llgllt III
the last Two weeks, IT IL entlrely mn
possible 10 sub3tantiate this intefpreta~
ton, which Is wholly plausible, ana
which has been readily acceped as the
fact by the British public However.
since the matter has now reached the
stage OF diplomatic incident 1t IS
probable that our own Government VIII
take steps to smooth 1t over and convey
assurances by one channel or another
that no slight to Great Britain was ~
tended. Indeed. it may turn out That
Mr.. Kellogg win find time To go To Lon
don after all.
-
When Joe" Robinson Of Arkansas
accepts his vice presidential nomination
this week, he has a stage setting more
typically American than was the Le~
land Stanford Stadium or the Assembly
Chamber of the State Capitol at Albany.
Hot Springs, personally selected by the
Arkansas Senator as the scene OF his
notification ceremonies, Is unlike any
other town in the United States, yet IL
the composite Of many, There lS the
heat and drawing accent nt the 5outh,
there lis the dust OF the desert The eA"
pansiveness Of the prairie. the energy
and business enterprise OF NORTHERN
capitalists, and the sidebhoW ana cafnl~
val spirit OF Atlantic City and Coney
Island all rolled into one. 1t Ii an odd
town yet with representation of every
element which goes TO make the average
American city. II now holds the spot
| light and has been busy for a month
| preparing to make the most or IL, It's
reception to It's most distinguished ma
| tive Arkansan will be epoch~making, II
| | ! 900 Hot Springs citizens and count
less more thousands from within and
without the borders III the State can
make 1t so. Notification day" has been
made State holiday IN Arkansas by
gllhernatorial decree.
n Il n
| Death has taken hand IN remov~
/ Ing from the present Congress some
/ Of ths most interesting personalities
IN the lower branch, Senatorial ambl-
tlpns have done The rest. with the re-.