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Politics. Observers wondered what the Monaghan-Mackey excitement portended in Philadelphia politics. Mayor Mackey, District Attorney Monaghan and Judge Lewis are all creatures of the Republican machine bossed by William S. Vare. The Hon. Mackey wants to run for Governor. Perhaps the Police department clean-up was designed to "make character" for the Varists. Or, perhaps, with Boss Vare lying on a sickbed at Atlantic City, Attorney Monaghan had grown so bold as to plan to discredit the Mackey administration and at the same time make a name for himself. Such speculation seemed idle, however, in view of the fact that Mayor Mackey took office only eight months ago. He cheered Attorney Monaghan's efforts and issued helpful orders himself. He said:
"I have every reason to believe that the investigation is on the level and has no political aspects at all. ... I call upon the citizens to help the law by self-denial. If there were no drinkers there would be no bootleggers."
Such statements by its mayor may well save Republican Philadelphia from a Federal raiding, such as was lately administered to Democratic Manhattan by the Republican Assistant U. S. Attorney General Mrs. Mabel Walter Willebrandt.
*Interesting is the attitude on prohibition of Judge Lewis, zealous investigator. "I think a beer garden," said he, "with music and tables for a man to sit with his family and have a glass of beer or talk about politics, is not the worst place in the world. . . . Personally I am not in favor of the prohibition amendment, but officially I must be."