Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-09

able nature that have had wide circu-
lation. But much Of the information
furnished by Maj Green's investigators
was of the stuff of fairy tales. And
though, as I have pointed out, Maj.
Green had no adequate past training
or experience qualifying him to make
congratulations on the way to succeed
in assembling evidence to enforce pro-
hibition, his repeated differences that
1T can't be enforced" have carried
weight simply because he held so high
an official position. The psychological
damage he has done this country by
constantly presenting distorted and
ment problem is big factor in present
public pessimism on the subject of pro-
hibition.
Col. Green Appointment.
Another appointment of Gen. Andrews
was another military man named Green.
This one was Col Ned M. Green, who
served as prohibition director in San
Francisco. He was an old Army friend
of Gen. Andrews, and publicly boosted
of being sport" and hard drinker.
That was his outstanding qualification
and tried on the charge of unlawful d.
version of Government property which
came into the possession OF agents
working under him. "A jury acquitted
him. After his acquittal Gen. Andrews
recommended that Col. Green be re-
inStated, given back pay, and that the
Government pay his expenses for a
trip to Washington!
But David II. Blair, then Commits
sioner of Internal Revenue, saved the
Government honor by stopping such
proceeding. He called Gen. Andrews
attention to the fatty contradictory
statements Col. Ned Green had made
at various times under oath as to IL
legal use and possession of intoxicants,
his frank admission of Incorporating
contrabrand liquor and concluded his
rebuke to the general by stating:
Il cannot bring myself to believe
that We ought now to put our stamp OF
approval on such conduct just because
Col. Green happens to be acquitted in
criminal case"
These illustrations show that the
harm that has been done to the cause
of effective prohibition enforcement is
not properly attributable to the men in
the lower rank They have lacked
training and judgment and many have
gone to the bad" But prohibition has
been dealt it's hardest blows by those at
the head or near the head Of the en-
forcement organization.
Recalls Early Letter.
am not saying something now that
I did not dare to say before. The fact
is that I wrote regarding Gen. An
drews' appointments to the Attorney
General on August 2. 1926, three years
ago. as follows:
Il feel that before this Republican
administration faces another campaign,
something must be done about the
prohibition situation throughout the
country. 1t is now marked by such in
efficiency and lack of training that the
public is losing confidence in the sin
certify of effort. In my judgment. fall
ure to succeed in as high degree of
enforcement as one might wish will
never be fatal to any administration;
but continuing to place the reins of re-
sponsibility in those exhibiting hopeless
lack of training will prove uneXplain-
able"
have already said that the shooting
and naming OF innocent people is in
excusable. But even more inexcusable,
and criminal, in my Judgment, is the
incompetence of chiefs" who place au-
thority and weapons in the hands Of
unframed, unfit men, many Of whom
have been given their jobs merely rs
reward for petty political service.
The mere fact that there is now pro-
vision in law for civil service examina-
ton to govern appointments will not
cure the sore. While standards have
been improved, they ought to be raised
and the tests made more practical so
as to bring to the prohibition service
- a;rI, %l,a
postal inspectors, the special intelligence
service of the Treasury Department, the
Bureau of Investigation of the Depart
ment of Justice and the secret service.
Those services have been getting the
right kind of men for years. and they
have trained their men intensively and
effectively. United States attorneys all
testify to the quality of evidence they
assemble. I refuse to believe that it is
impossible to find 1000 honest men in
the United States with the basic char
acter and intelligence to gather proper
and dignified evidence for prohibition
enforcement and prosecution. I refuse
to believe that out Of our 100000,000
population and perhaps 100000 who
believe in prohibition, 1000 can't be
found who can't be bought! I know
pride of service must be developed. 1t
is sprouting in the small group Of spe-
cial agents under ALT Oftedal and in
the districts of some of the able admin
istrators. It ought to be further nur-
tured.
The prohibition law can and will be
properly and effectively enforced. Cour-
age, vigor, intelligence and experience
must begin at the top and spread down.
Until then the country will continue to
be influenced against prohibition by the
acts of incompetent agents But think
ing people ought to quit blaming the
lend men,"
Inc)
("Are the Cities Hopelessly Wet?" Is
Mrs. Withdrawals Next Topic.)