Dry & Mammon

From 1912 to last week a revered Baptist minister superintended the multifarious business of the Colorado Anti-Saloon League. One of his functions: choice of local political candidates to be endorsed by the League. High public officials sought his political blessing. After the Dry landslide of 1928 he, if gifted with egotism, may well have fancied he superintended the entire State.

Versatile, he was not only a political bigwig but a high financier, president of Fitzsimmons Oil & Leasing Co. On any sale of Fitzsimmons stock he received a 25% commission. He made of his affiliations with public officials and aspirants opportunities to talk oil, to make 25%- personal-profit sales. The Fitzsimmons property became known as "the Anti-Saloon Oil Well." Last week this admixture of Drywork and Mammonwork led him, Rev. Arthur J. Finch, to resign his superintendency in disgrace. Moreover, it caused the Colorado A. S. L. to decide no successor would be appointed, to admit temporary collapse.

Mr. Finch had sold some of his stock to a Republican senatorial candidate, William Van Derveer Hodges, then endorsed him, reputedly a personal Wet. To Senatorial Nominee George Hamlin Shaw no stock was sold, no endorsement given (TIME, Sept. 8, Sept. 22). Other endorsed stockbuyers: Democratic Senatorial Nominee Edward Prentice Costigan, Governor William H. Adams, onetime Senator Alva Blanchard Adams, two district attorneys.

Last week investigators of the Senate Campaign Funds Committee were in Denver, examining the books of the Denver Anti-Saloon League.

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