New Britain herald., 1930-04-25

concerning the expense accounts of Walter G. Hooke, while working against prohibition at the Illinois and New York legislatures last year.
 Hooke is assistant to Curran and is the association's "political agent
 One of the items, as read by Rob- inson, showed Representative Igoe, of Illinois, had been entertained.
 Hooke's travelling expenses for one month was $1,500, Robinson said. He read a large number Of
 Reports Are Reasonable
 Curran said tfNt if the reports were analysed the amounts would be found to be reasonable"
 Another item was for entertain ment of Senator Starr" whom Cur ran said he thought was a member of the Illinois senate.
 Robinson said the expense account of Hooke last year apparently was s4,427, based on a nasty computa- ton.
 Curran said he would like to tieANC IiiS s19ooAiotlOll SliCCh lllC ures. He insisted that Nthe money had been spent ''properly." Robinson then brought out that expenses of Hooke for the first three months of this year were $l,7S9.
 Blaine, after looking over a list of contributors to the association. said brewers had donated money in 1928 and 1929 but no money had been contributed by them this year.
 Curran said it was decided last January not to accept contributions from brewers or distillers so that there would not be "one half of one per cent of commercial interest"
 He added that the brewers in 1928 contributed seven per cent of the total raised, while in 1929 it had dropped to one and one half per cent.
 Alcohol Question Raised Robinson asked if the association accepted contributions from pro- ducers of industrial alcohol. T don't know" Curran said. Don't the DuPont's make indus trial alcohol" Robinson asked.
 'I don't know" Curran said.
 Robinson said he understood they did and he would attempt to check up definitely.
 A letter from R. F. Kennedy, now of Cleveland, Ohio, to Curran. dated October IS, 1928. was read. It sug- eeStel h 10 h bo&, ;,{; ,o4 | William C. Martin of Monroeville. | Ohio. for a public statement on his prohibition views. Martin was run- ming for congress.
 If he should take an attitude agreeable to our views, it might de- feat him." the letter said, "where- as. if he preserves silence he has good prospects of success. Martin with Association''
 "1 can give you my personal as- surance that Mr. Martin is 100 per cent with us. I am not only per sonally familiar with his position but have assurance from many of my old friends who are equally close to him.
 My suggestion is that you do not press him for any public statement, also if you could aid him in a tinan- cial way you can be assured that his response in congress will be agreeable if his vote will be of any value"
 Curran replied that Martin would not be pressed.
 He said today. however, that he wanteds' every candidate to say where he stands"
 Curfan added that Kenney is now Ohio secretary of the association.
 Wadsworth Letter Cited
 A letter from Curran to former Senator Wadsworth of New York dated June "A, 1929. said in part:
 'l enclose the letter from Captain Stayton, Chairman of the board of the association) which I showed to you here last week asking that you send a note to Marion Eppley of Newport, R, l., suggesting the advis- ability of postponing the proposed suit by the state of Rhode Island looking toward the throwing over of the 18th amendment as unconstitu- tional.
 Generally speaking, we all believe Tn the executive committee that it would be better to wait before bring Ing any further important suits of this kind
 The United States supreme court has been extraordinarily curt and 1 UOpn1 ir in ,;.., ture of it's decisions and the absence or supporting reasoning by written opinion.
 The personal of this court is the same as it has been for some time past.
 Better Chance Later
 "The growing objection of Ameri. cans to our federal prohibition laws Will probably reach a greater degree of general disapproval later on, thus providing a better background for court action.
 When the break in the game comes it may possibly be by court decision, but it may just as easily come in any of a dozen other ways
 "All in all, we believe we are ir for a four mile race and are stil struggling through the first mile with plenty of time ahead to lift the stroke and do it with better effect than could be accomplished just now"
 Wadsworth replied that he had written Eppley urging postpone 1 ment of any proceedings before the supreme court and that their efforts be concentrated in securing the re, peal of the Rhode Island enforce. mcnt act.
 TIanSfcr Rill RNnorie1