New Britain herald., 1929-07-03

Of every SpedkeaSy. what Soilliis- sioner Whalen needs is not more po- licemen, but a greater determlna- non to use the persons and powers already in his possession. The Ne" York court of appeals has decided that the state laws makes speak casies a public nuisance which can be enjoined by the state courts, II the police will present the evidence. If the district attorney of any coGn- ty, fails to prosecute any policeman guilty of graft, upon evidence SUD- mitted by the commissioner Of po- lice, the state law requires the gov crnor to remove him from office. AS soon as Commissioner Whalen shows that he intends to close all the speakeasies especially those when pay graft, they will all close within AS hours But his party leaders Will Eot permit him to. enforce the law. This condition, where party leaders prevent for corrupt reasons the en- forcement of the laws, can no longer be permitted to continue without the speedy destruction Of our repub- lican government.
 The senate investigation Of the Overman committee in the fall Of 1918 into the relations of the liquor business with German propaganda and with federal and state officials and legislatures was a large factor Tn enacting the eighteenth amendment.
 It revealed how the liquor busl- nesses controlled the press, how they bovcotted great commercial firms which crossed their intrigues, how they obliged men in all ranks of po- ltiCal life to sign written promises to do their bidding as sine qua non of election to public office, how they used labor leaders and labor organizations for political purposes and organized allied trades for the purpose of boycott and how they corrupted politics. The records of an executive meeting Of the United States Brewers association showed that one of their political leaders controlling the foreign language press, in his address 10 the meeting said:
 We hear the constant cry from the professional politician; Get the liquor question out of politics. Do you really believe he means it? Why, gentlemen, this question in it's po- litical aspect is one of the main sources from which the politician derives his sinews of war in politics. And why? Because we brewers supply them, and make it a para mount object to the politician to keep the prohibition movement alive. I say make that question expensive 10 him instead of profitable. and you will see how soon his tactics will change.
 This reveals the reason why the liquor businesses have always tried to keep the liquor question in poli- ties and how they have been able to break every kind of liquor law made to restrain them without suf- fering the consequences. But in the earlier days of our country they did not have the same power to bribe political leaders, and corrupt gov ernment as in more recent years,
 "The first whiskey rebellion oc- ] cured in 1794 in the western coun- ties of Pennsylvania. The uprising was directed against a tax adminis- tered by Alexander Hamilton. George Washington gathered an army com posed of the militia of neighboring states, marched into the disturbed districts. seized the leaders of the insurrection and restored the au- thority of the government. It cost the government $1,500OO0 to sup press the whiskey rebellion. al- though at the time the total ex- penses for military purposes amount ; ed to only s4,362,0 900.
 7 "The liquor men were not willing : to pay their share of the expenses of the revolution in freeing our country, though they have rallied many in succeeding years to their support because of their claims to the benefits of personal liberty.
 At one time the rebels under arms were estimated to number 16,- : GOO.
 
 Law Observance should decide to make the most thorough and fear less Investigation into the facts cor rected with crime and political cor : ruption in New York, Philadelphia, Chicago and Washington, most start ling facts will doubtlessly be discov- cred, which will make clear the situ- ; ation which is largely responsible for the increasing lawlessness of our land.
 The New Politics
 The war against crime cannot hope to destroy the alliance be- tween criminals and corrupt politi- cal leaders, without decisive and wig orous action. It will not be so diff cult task as it may at first thought appear, for doubtless it will be found that in order to purify politics, the principal thing needed will be tc bring into the light what has here tofore been done in secret and in the dark. The invisible government must