AMERICAN AFFAIRS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3662, 20 May 1924, Page 19

AMERICAN AFFAIRS.

THE ENFORCEMENT QUESTION. NEW TORE, May 11. A message from Springfield says that in an impassioned speech denouncing the Federal enforcement of prohibition Governor Pincliot, of Pennsylvania, in addressing the Methodist Convention, declared that the enforcement of the law was the greatest moral issue before the American people. “The sordid betrayal of the Eighteenth Amendment by politicians,” he said, “is known from coast to coast, is openly tolerated by an alliance between bootleggers and politicians, has corrupted our children, degraded characters, destroyed health, cost the lives of uncounted thousands, debauched our Government, and shamed us before the world. The failure of enforcement is sometimes claimed to mean that the Eighteenth Amendment has failed. It means nothing of the sort. We are infinitely better off now with all deductions made for the wretched enforcement than we were before.” Governor Pincliot blamed Mr A. W. Mellon for the failure of the Federal enforcement, and added that “moral indignation was not enough and resolutions were not enough. This is a case for fearless, untiring, and uncompromising action in a cause to which every church member in America is irrevocably pledged.” MR COOLIDGE’S NOMINATION ASSURED. NEW YORK, May 11. The New York Times’s Washington correspondent says with the National Conventions but a few weeks away the strength of the various aspirants for Presidential nominations are becoming easier to estimate. Mr Coolidge has unquestionably become the outstanding figure of the Republican Party, and net only is his nomination assured in the first ballot by the vote of the 1050 delegates, but it is believed that he will be able to dictate who the Vice-Presidential candidate shall be. The tactical policy of the Republican leaders will be to attempt to secure regularity. unanimity, and tranquility throughout the party, especially conciliating the so-called Radical elements from the northwestern States, who are inclined to initiate an independent third party. The movement of the outstanding figures of the Democratic Party are still towards Mr M'Adoo. Governor Smith, of New York, Mr M’Adoo’s campaign manager, asserts that he is already assured of the support of 600 delegates, and will secure the requisite two-thirds majority among the 1098 delegates after the first few ballots, but unbiassed observers assert that probably a compromise candidate will secure the nomination. May 12. The Socialist Labour Party has selected Mr I rank Jones, of Oregon, as candidate for the Presidency and Mr Verne Reynolds, of Maryland, for Vice-President.

MEDICAL SCHOOL SCANDAL. NEW YORK, May 13. According to a despatch from Hartford graphic testimony respecting the character of Kansas City Medical College was ottered during the hearing upon an appeal ol 20 physicianswhose licenses to practise were withdrawn, following a national scandal regarding faked diplomas. An expert medical investigator declared that a janitor at the college kept an attendance roll, while only three of the 3C members of the faculty went near the college to draw their salaries. Another witness declared that the col lege was a harbour for derelicts from everywhere. Veterinarians arrived al Kansas City - by one train and actually left by the next with medical degrees tor which they paid 200 dollars. A witness who examined the college building found it filthy and completely lacking in equipment facilities. The appellants, who were present in court, grey angry at the revelations md attacked the witnesses with their fists. A fight ensued, and the detectives were compelled to beat several of the former into submission. BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION. WASHINGTON, May 13. Various Congressional investigations which are steadily going on have revealed several interesting incidents of corruption. The Shipping Board Committee has learned that vessels which cost millions were secretly disposed of for a twentieth of their value. The steamer City of Los Angeles, upon which 2,392,000 dollars had been spent to convert it into an oil burner was sold for 100,000 dollars, it being appraised for the board by a member of the firm which purchased it. The Daugherty Committee has learned from a former agent of the Prohibition Enforcement Service that efforts to bring influential violators of the Volstead law to justice had been frustrated. He cited various cases in which guilty persons were permitted to gain their freedom upon payment of fines. Witness drew a picture indicating that Ohio was less dry than before prohibition. He alleged that the Department of Justice took no action. A witness in the war fraud cases stated that he passed bribes aggregating many thousand dollars to agents disposing of surplus War Department timber, which had been used in the construction of cantonments. KU KLUX KLAN. WASHINGTON, May 13. A Senatorial Committee which is hearing the alleged fraudulent election of Senator Mayfield brought Congress into an investigation of the Ku Klux Klan for the first time since the Klan’s modern revival. The hearing developed into a serious affair when women were ordered from the committee room, and witness told terrible stories of torture, cruelty, and an invisible Government by the Klan, especially in Texas. Former Klan officials described an espionage system in

which neighbour spied upon neighbour, and a few malignant personalities wrecked personal vengeance on whites and blacks alike, the latter being subjected to unrelenting persecution and intimidation. The witness further described an intricate but effective political organisation as maintained by the Klan, which through military discipline destroyed and made candidates for various offices. Attempts are being made to widen the Senate inquiry into an investigation of the Klan. Nationally there is an agitation by both parties to adopt an antiKlan policy at the Conventions. VETERANS’ BUREAU SCANDAL. NEW YORK, May .13. A telegram from Covington, Kentucky, says a Federal Court Jury has found Congressman Langley, of Kentucky, guilty of conspiring in 1921 to illegally transport and sell whisky. The jury convicted only one of five co-defendants. The maximum sentence is two years’ imprisonment and a 10,000 dollar fine, bub the court intimated that the fine would be omitted. The charges arose from the Veterans’ Bureau scandal. The defendants were charged with conspiring to remove 1400 cases of whisky, Langley being specifically accused of using his influence to have State prohibition officials issue permits allowing whisky to be transported by truck contrary to law. The trial reached a virtual impasse until two of the co-defendants suddenly changed their pleas to that of guilty. The Government then placed witnesses in the stand who were confessedly members of Langley’s so-called whisky ring. These implicated Langley in illegal operations, alleging that he had received huge sums for his influence in obtaining permits, and adding that he had received the money supposedly as loans, which he need not repay if he succeeded in obtaining the particular permits. Langley received the verdict calmly, bis wife standing composedly behind him. He was sentenced to two years in the Federal penitentiary. Three co-defendants were similarly sentenced, while the remaining two will face another trial in the autumn. The court refused a motion for a retrial of Langley, whereupon the latter’s counsel filed notice of appeal, posting a 5000 dollar bond, whereupon Langley was released. A CRUDE BELIEF. NEW YORK, May 14. A telegram from Lebanon, Pennsylvania, says that, following the ravages of diphtheria within the Faith Tabernacle, the State medical authorities have entered the colony forcibly, administered anti-toxin to affected persons and established quarantine. They are now hopeful of soon checking the disease, which, within three weeks, caused nine deaths, five of which succumbed within a single family. The authorities endeavoured to persuade the mother to receive medical treatment herself with her four surviving children. She at first declined, but eventually submitted to treatment, but refused to give her verbal consent. The

officers were obliged to use force upon several other resistant parties, one otiering opposition so strenuous as to oblige the officers to initiate a formal prosecution to compel him to submit to treatment because of the danger of infecting liis neighbours. THE OIL SCANDAL. WASHINGTON, May 14. Senator Borah has presented to the Senate a report completely exonerating Senator Wheeler, of Montana, in connection with the charges of misuse of his office respecting the oil permits. PROHIBITION LAWS.' NEW YORK, May 14. Eight Broadway cabarets, including the most prominent, report that the white light district has been ordered to be closed for the year under the padlock provisions of the prohibition law. AMERICA AND JAPAN. SAN FRANCISCO, May 14. A telegram from Sacramento, California, says that in order to create a better understanding between Japan and the United States, American-born Japanese propose to establish in California the first. Japanese university in the country. Articles oi incorporation were filed to-day, the headquarters being San Francisco. 12,240,000 dollars have been subscribed for its establishment. CONFERENCE REPORT ADOPTED. WASHINGTON, May 15. Overriding the opposition of President Coolidge the House of Representatives has adopted the conference report on the Immigration Bill, making July 1, 1924, the effective date of Japanese exclusion. The Senate must bow to this act. The Bill will then go to the President for signature. His course is unknown. The House developed an overwhelming majoritv against any delay of the exclusion date to allow negotiations. The Senate also quickly adopted the conference report. President Coolidge will not receive the measure for signature. The House vote was 308 to 58, and the Senate 70 to 9. TREATY WITH GERMANY. WASHINGTON, May 15. The United States has concluded negotiations with Germany for a 12-mile liquor treaty with Germany similar to that with Britain. The treaty upon ratification by the Senate and the Reichstag will become effective for a year and will continue in force until it is abrogated. SOLDIER’S BONUS BILL. WASHINGTON, May 15. President Coolidge has vetoed the Soldiers’ Bonus Bill. In his message he estimated that the payment of the bonus would commit the nation to an average annual expenditure of 114,000,000 dollars for the next 20 years. Then the Govern ment would be obliged to sell dollars’ worth of bonds, which might jeopardise the value of the Federal securities then outstanding.. The advocates of the Bill immediately announced that an attempt would be made to pass it over the veto. On its original passage it received more than the necessary two-thirds vote in both Houses. The tide of enthusiasm for the Bill ran so high after the veto had been received that insistent demands for an immediate vote were made in the House. May 17. The House of Representatives has passed the Soldiers’ Bonus Bill over President Coolidge’s veto. The measure now goes to the Senate. JAPAN AND EMIGRATION. WASHINGTON, May 17. The Immigration Bill, providing for Japanese exclusion, reached the White House to-day for consideration by President Coolidge. The measure will first be sent to the Labour and State Departments for opinions as to its practicability. Action must be taken by the President upon the measure by midnight of May 29. POOLING NATIONAL RESOURCES. WASHINGTON, May 17. A discussion which was proceeding throughout the country on means to minimise war profiteering, in which Mr H. C. Hoover and Mr C. D. W’ilbur (Secretary of War), participated, has reached an early legislative stage in the House. The Military Affairs Committee has reported a resolution designed to take the profits out of the war. The resolution would create a commission composed of four Congressmen, two Senators, and three presidential appointees, representing respectively the public, Labour, and industry. These, with the Secretaries for War, the Navy, and Commerce, would be empowered to draft a plan for pooling the national resources and the Governmental machinery in order to operate without profit any private interest in the ease of war. BOOTLEGGING AND BRIBERY. WASHINGTON, May 17. George Remus, the millionaire bootleg King of Cincinnati, who is now serving a term of imprisonment in the Federal penitentiary for violations of the liquor law, told the Senate Daugherty Inquiry Committee that he had pajd Jess Smith (Daugherty’s intimate friend) 250,000 dollars since 1921 for illegal liquor permits and protection from prosecution, in addition to which Remus maintained that ail agreement existed under which Smith received an average of two dollars for each case of liquor released. Remus was born in Germany, and came to America at the age of four years. He practised law at 19 years in Chicago, and entering the liquor business directly after the passage of the Volstead law in 1919 acquired cheaply within a few years nine

distilleries, which he operated through a Abdicate of so-called drug companies. Ine latter prospered by bribing the prohibition officials, who issued permits to seli liquor for allegedly medicinal purposes. which the law allows. Remus, comment in r on this, said: “That provision in the law is a joke. It is the greatest perversion of justice anywhere in the world. I do not believe one ounce of whisky prescribed by physicians is used for purely medicinal purposes.” Remus added : “Smith failed me only once, and that was when I paid him 20,000 dollars to secure the reversal of my sentence in the penitentiary.”