Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-06
HELD DRY
LAWS WORST FOE
Former Assistant Attorney
General Scores Interference
by Party Leaders.
Continued From First Page.)

Where did the money come from
originally? Easily answered. The poll
tic.an first mentioned-the man who
died with a quarter of a million dollars
In his safe deposit box which his heirs
didn't want-practically controlled the
government of an entire State In which
prohibition enforcement had been and
IS most lax. Acknowledgement officers
there danced when he pulled the string.
Elections were just professions of his
creatures into office. But elections
mean political campaigns-electors must
be told" and be made to like 1t. Po-
litical campaigns cannot be run on ora
tory and spell-binding alone. even in
that politician-ridden Commonwealth.
Money, and gobs OF 1t. is essential to do
the trick. The big boss mentioned above
needed money. | seems, with which to
meet a campaign deficit. For that rea-
son and others (partly to maintain his
political controD he secured the ap-
pointment of a political friend of his
as prohibition director. This man was
wealthy and personally honest. He
spent most of his time elsewhere and
permitted two other men to direct EN-
forcement" efforts In his district. They
managed affairs so efficiently that prac-
tically all those within the State who
use or sale of alcohol and the operation
Of near-beer breweries we're eminently
satisfied. Their satisfaction was such
that they we're glad to contribute large
sums, including the quarter Of mill
lion dollars which found its way into
safe deposit vault.
Bootlegger Petitions President.
The influence of liquor in politics be-
gins down in the city wards and coun-
try districts. But it extends. If it can,
I'D to the cabinet and the White House
in Washington.
After the notorious king Of bootleg
gers" George Remus, had been con-
victed and successfully lost his appeals
to the Circuit Court and the Supreme
Court of the United States, the run1or
reached me that he would never serve
a day in Atlanta Prison, to which he
had been sentenced. A few days later
q phone call came from the White
House, stating that respite OF 60 days
would be granted Remus II the Attorney
General would send over the necessary
rapers to effect that result. Prominent
politicians. including the then Senator
Reed of Missouri. had interviewed with
the President to urge delay.
The natural impulse when the White
House phones to any department is to
rush into acquiescence to the request.
But Attorney General Stone viewed II
as a duty to inform the President OF
facts. We prepared brief summary
Of the actual facts President Coolidge
refused the respite, and shortly after
that the gentleman Remus took up his
residence on "Millionaire's Row IN Al
lanta Penitent:ary. where. with othef
wealthy prisoners, he succeeded IN
bribjng the warden to extend them spe-
cial favors. for which the warden was.
in turn. convicted and served SEN
tence in the institution he had once
managed" ~
While his case was before the Su-
nreme Court of the United States on
anpeal Remus figured in another case.
turning on the use of politics by liquor
bandits" It involved the Jack Daniels
Distillerv at ST. Louis. The Jury re.
turned a verdict of guilty against rs
of the rs men involved in the con-
sniracv. Among them were state
senator a former collector OF internal
revenue. a former Circuit Court CLERK.
a former deputy sheriff and memDeI
of each Of the city committees OF tne
Democratic and Republican paFtieS'
absorbing" a DistilIery.
The notorious Remus was the moving
shirt in more ways than one. he oe-
ysed the plan which succeeded IN get
ting the whisky out of the dlstlllery'
First he made a connection Win potI
the Democratic and Republican poitl-
clans in St Louis and secured an intro-
61ction to the collector OF internal reVe-
nue.. The collector agreed 10 cnange
eaueers at the distillery and TO suoStl-
tute for the old, honest experiences
man a man suggested by Remus ana MS
nolitical friends. The collector did not
accept a bride He simply did what the
politicians told him to do. His Joo was
dependent upon their continued gooo
will After securing removal OF the olo
oauper the conspirators had the whisky
Siphoned into a garage across the street
and water was substituted IN the par
rels remaining in the distillery. Inc
was convicted ana WsnC 70
Ieayenworth. He paid the price for ms
law violation, but some OF the ponu-
clans back of him who exerted the IN
fuence over his official acts remain I'M
punished. =
Very early in my tenure OF ONCE
ran into the powerfully intrencheo IN
iuence of anti-prohibition sentiment
and the tie-up between liquor and poll
tics In New York. A courageous agent
reported evidence as he 1ouno II, |
Irrespective of who the defendants
A violation of law connected with the
Green River and Eminence Distillerles.
H. involved the handling OF liquor oy
The Montague brothers, one OF whom Is
4 relative by marriage Of the president |
IF Columbia University, who is one OF |
he most violent and vocal foes OF the |
eighteenth amendment. The La Mon
taenes pleaded guilty and served a term |
in the local jail, in addition to being |
'ined $4,000 each, but every conceivable
political and personal appeal was made
70 uuash the case, including an appeal /
oy a cabinet Official 1t was reported |
hat $4,000 was voluntarily contrib
lted" to the deficit left in the .Repub-
lean national campaign by politicians |
who secured permits for the dist1lierles |
hat released the liquor In question.
BootIeggers Groom Congressman.
Attorney General Daugherty called
me to hts office and told me OF the |
pressure that had been brought on him |
% call of any further investigation in |
The matter" ! conferred with the |
United States attorney and, learning |
he nature of the evidence, advised the
Attorney General that the United States |
attorney could not be, in good con- |
science reuIlested IL withdraw from the |