Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-05-25

Hoover and His Dry Commission

Pres. Hoover has named his dry commission, or
rather his law enforcement commission. He has
picked men OF outstanding ability and a woman edu-
Gator who is widely known. He did not invade the
ranks Of the Anti-salcon league for his selections. He
did not invade the ranks OF the pronounced opponents
of the 18th amendment and the volstead act.
His most notable selections are former Atty. Gen.
George w. wickersham Of New York, who has never
been classed as q dry, and former Secy. OF War New
ton D.. Baker of Ohio, who is classed as one Of the
group who did not believe that the 18th amendment
should be written in the organic law Of the republic
ut the time 1t was submitted TO the people ana VINO
has never changed front.
wickersham is O republican,; Baker a democrat.
Hence. wickersham, who will be chairman Of the COM
mission, and Baker are classed as advocates Of law
enforcement but who doubt the efficacy or the wisdom
of the amendment to the constitution and its enforce
merit act. To offset their selection two outstanding
drys were named by the president. United States Cir
cult Judge w. 8. Kenyon OF Iowa is a life long dry
and United States Circuit Judge VIM. !. Grubb Of
Alabama Is another outstanding dry-a life long dry.
Kenyon is a republican and Grub a democrat. Ten
lawyers and a woman educator have been named by
the president to make q nationwide research and to
recommen changes that will bring about the enforce
mentcf all laws. through the cooperation Of the fed
eral congress and the legislatures OF the 43 states.
This Is the list:
George w. Wickersham Of New York.
Newton ID. Baker OF Ohio.
Frank J. Loesch Of Illinois.
Roscoe Pound OF Massachusetts,.
william I. Grubb OF Alabama.
Monte M. Lemann Of Louisiana.
William S. Kenyon of Iowa
Kenneth q. Macintosh of Washington.
Paul J. Mccormick Of California.
Henry W.. Anderson Of Virginia.
Miss Ada !. Comstock OF Massachusetts,.
Four of the appointees were classed as drys prior %
che adoption OF the 18th amendment In 1918 and
seven we're classed as vets. II is thought unless the
Associated Press correspondent is at fault. that they
are very evenly divided as 10 the wisdom Of the 18th
amendment" All sections OF the republic are repre-
sented on the commission. There are nine Protestants
one Catholic who is rated as a dry. and one Jew who
IS rated IS a wet. Federal Judge Paul j. Mccormick
of California is the Catholic OF the commission. a re-
publican. Monte M. Lemann of Louisiana is a Jew and
rated by the Washington correspondents as a pro-
nounced wet. Pres. Hoovers own views on what his
commission is to do were given expression a month
ago. when he said:
Every student Of our law enforcement mechanism
knows fun we'll that 1t Is in need or vigorous re-or-
ganization; that its procedure unduly favors the GRIM
inal: that our judiciary needs to be strengthened: that
the method Of assembling our juries needs revision;
that justice must be more swift and sure" He then
declared that he wanted to select on the commission
high minded men, impartial in their judgment. skill
ed in the science Of the law and our judicial system.
clear in their conception Of our Institutions"
He predicted that such a commission can perform
the greatest Of services to our generation" II is a
noble experiment. Give it the acid test.