Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-31
BROOKHART WANTS
MELLON TO RESIGN
AS DRY FORCE HEAD
Second Demand That SeCre-
tary Quit Also Asks
Removal of Others.
L0WMAN WILL SUPPORT
ENFORCEMENT AGENTS
Holds Killing of Newport Rum
Runners Was unfortunate
But Unavoidable"
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
The second demand for the resigna-
ton of Andrew w. Mellon, Secretary
of the Treasury, during the current
prohibition controversy, came today
from Senator Brookhart of Iowa, a Re-
publican dry, who said that he wanted
not only Mellon removed but others in
the Treasury Department identified with
enforcement.
Senator Norris of Nebraska, Repub-
lican independent, had previously said
that Mellon should quit his place as the
chief prohibition enforcement officer.
Brookhart's assertion that Mellon
should lose his official head was the
second time within recent months that
he has attacked the Secretary of the
Treasury. In a speech on the Senate
floor made on the famous wall Street
booze party" he said that Mellon
should be removed.
The Iowa Senator indicated today
that he would carry the prohibition
controversy to the Senate floor next
week.
HOwman to Support Agents.
Renewed indication that Federal Of
ficers who use stern measures in en-
forcing the dry laws will be given the
support of their superiors was given to-
Gay by Seymour Lowman, Assistant
Secretary of the Treasury, who said
that the killing of three rum-runners
off Newport, r. L, Sunday by Coast
Guardsmen was unfortunate, but un-
avoidable"
Lowman's blunt statement followed
one equally as blunt by Rear Admiral
Billiard, commandant of the Coast
Guard, which said the Guard meant
business, and added that the law could
not be enforced by soft words" and
'amiable gestures"
Neither Lowman nor Coast Guard
headquarters, however, had any COM
ment to make on the report from New
London, Conn, that seven members OF
the Coast Guard had been arrested in
connection with the theft Of liquor con-
f1scated from a captured rumrunner.
II was said that no report on the Incl
dent had been received here and that
the commandant at New London was
handling the matter.
"Only Themselves to Blame"
Ioman's statement, which also said
that the Smugglers who were killed had
no one but themselves to blame, tenn
porarily directed attention from ramifi-
cations of the present bitter row over
prohibition in other official circles.
notably the Senate.
The White House today maintained
the silence it has kept since the deluge
of statements began shortly before the
Senate recessed for the holiday period.
There was interest, however, in the
probable result that a letter Senator
Borah of Idaho has written the PreSi-
cent may have. Senator Borah has been
severe in his criticism of law enforce
n1ent and enforcement personnel, as
ssrting that a change was needed from
top to bottom" and it was known that
the communication he sent the Chief
Executive was about prohibition.
Hoover to Take No Action.
Mr.. Hoover indicated that he will
take no action until Congress has named
a joint congressional committee to con-
slider prohibition enforcement. The
Senate has passed the resolution Tor the
committee, but the House has yet to act.
Senators in the Capital have not
commented on the killing OF the three
rum runners, but two who are at home
for the holidays, Walsh of Massachusetts
and Metcalf of Rhode Island, have de-
manded through Investigations.
Senator Metcalf said he would ask Tor
a senatorial inquiry if it appeared that
investigators are not reaching the root
of the matter"
BOrah's Letter Kept Secret.
Inc cOQJenJS Oh a ISIJSI OLl P4OAAiOA-
ton sent to President Hoover by Sena-
tor Borah today were closely guarded
secret, while official Washington turned
to speculation on the nature OF the
senator's latest contribution to the
present bitter controversy.
The communication was regarded as
climaXing Borahs participation in the
current discussion, in the course OF
which he had issued two denunciatory
statements, scathingly arraigning the
Federal personnel to which prohibition
enforcement is intrusted. and had dis
cussed the situation personally with
the Chief Executive.
The White House announced that the
letter had been received late yesterday
with the added statement that it would
not be made public an dthat thus far
no reply mad been drafted. Borah, too,
declined to reveal what was contained
in it.
In his previous statements the Ida
hoan, who was one of Mr.. Hoover s
most prominent campaigners, asserted
that the faults of prohibition enforce
rnent lay with those charged with
making the law effective, and that with
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