Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-27

One phase Of recently published
articles by Mrs. Mabel Walker Willie
brandt that has been the subject OF
widespread and vigorous comment Is
her reference to dry-voting and wet.
drinking Congressman, and to the
activity Of bootleggers in washington
oficial circles.
In answer to suggestions that Mrs.
willebrandt, during the years that she
had charge of prohibition enforcement
as Assistant Attorney General, should
have dealt with official violators of the
law. the Columbus Ohio State Journal
observes: "She gives 1t as her belief that
there is no legal reason why searches
and seizures should not be made In the
Capitol, under the same procedure fol-
lowed elsewhere. But she relates that
one agent who sought search warrant
was advised that no warrants could be
had to search the Capitol. Mrs. Willie
brandt is right when she says that such
an attitude is bad law and bad policy 3"
Endorsing her statement as to the effect
of hypocrisy in dealing with liquor, the
State Journal continues: Therein she
goes to the root of the failure of legal
prohibition as we have 1t. No legisla-
ton founded on hypocrisy can be re-
spected, observed or enforced. When
that fact is recognized, we shall be a
situation, but not until then"
Quoting Mrs. Withdrawals suggestion
that these particular Congressman zap
pear really to regard themselves. being
Congressman, above the Jaw" the
Topeka Daily Capital concludes: Prob
ably they have the complex of the Gre
ator who cannot be subject Of what he
creates. This Is a matter that should
be attended to by the voters, who are
the creators Of Congressman"
"It will be hard to convince ordinary
persons" says the Lynchburg News,
however, "that when an officer bur-
dened with the duty Of prosecuting
Of evidence indicating violation of that
specific law. the ofilcer is excused from
acting, merely because the evidence did
not come from those specifically
charged with collecting that evidence.
It Will be hard to make them under
stand why prosecuting officer, strongly
in favor Of the law she has sworn to
enforce. didn't prosecute men she knew
were violating that law"
True or untrue, what Mrs. WILLIE
brandt writes serves its purpose" in
sists the Cincinnati Times-Star. "Her
lightning strikes In places where the
silence hangs so heavy that men are
afraid to speak" The Seattle Daily
Times believes that "she is trying to
make out the best possible case for
prohibition as practical theory. which
has not been practically. much less
honestly, applied"
at Is . particularly severe indict-
ment of professedly dry members of
Congress. who not only fail to observe
the law In their own conduct, but take
advantage of the privilege of the
freedom Of the port to Smuggle liquor
when returning from junketing trips"
says the Springfield Union. Similar
views are held by the Spokane Spokes-
man-Review, which makes the state
ment: LAS ex-Gov. Smith would say,
Mrs. Willebrandt has the low-down' on
the alliance between politics and liquor,
past and present. Her statements carry
the impress Of understanding, courage
and frankness."
.She may or may not have formed
right judgments as to every part of the
enforcement problem" remarks the Des
Moines Tribune. Capital. But even the
wet leaders know that she is a brilliant
woman, an extremely capable lawyer. 1t
Is to be noted that she has made many
persons squirm by what she says" The
Jersey City Journal comments, "She
makes many New Jersey reader think
Of the New Jersey lawmakers who are
ON the Anti-Saloon Leagues roll of
honor just because they vote dry in
Trenton, but who, in private life, are
noted for their zeal In drinking"
Protests against her statements are
cited by the Baltimore Sun. which,