Show t I I Chairman During Prohibition i Probe Fought Off Cameramen I 4 By HERBERT tEa PLUMMER WASHINGTON July 17 17 U It W was S. S as chairman of ot the committee which last year conducted that curious in investigation investigation investigation in- in of ot prohibition that the capital perhaps best remembers George Scott Graham It was on one of the most trying tasks tasa the elderly Pennsylvania representative tive who died the other day had been called upon to perform in his nine t terms as a member of ot the house Although on the brink of ot his year day after er day for almost three months he sat Bat in the center of the large largo horseshoe dais with its Its' velvet elvet curtain background in the Judiciary committee ommittee room His gray hair pince-nez pince and advanced advanced advanced ad ad- years gave dignity to proceedings proceedings proceedings pro pro- which at times were not so dignified I For at times he was forced to si silence silence silence si- si lence hisses as well as applause Prohibition Prohibition Pro Pro- was alternately praised and reviled during that hearing and partisans partisans partisans par par- were quick to mako make known their attitude Graham himself was opposed t to prohibition But he be let it be known that he Intended to b be fair that all who cared to present their views would be heard But he made it clear also that he was bossing the show and that his rulings would be obe obeyed ed There were stormy scenes but Graham stood firm On one occasion a a. representative became riled rUed when the wets loudly applauded one of their witnesses Rising to his feet teet he indignantly exclaimed to the chair If It we are going to have a town meeting me-eUng here I 1 shall withdraw I Graham looked at him calmly then with some show of ot spirit retorted retorted re reo re- re I ha e asked th the audience to restrain its emotions but it seems It-seems seems impossible for tor them to do so The chairman cant can't throw them out personally personally personally per per- and bodily And besides he added with a twinkle in his eyes the chairman wants an audience to listen to the testimony Kind by nature and considerate Grah Graham m made many friends during his 18 13 years ears in the house Law was his profession proCession his hobby his life lite For more than 60 years ears he was Vias in- in connected with it both botha a. a as asa a practitioner and arid a student He Ha was elected eJected for six consecutive terms of six years ears each as district attorney of Philadelphia county Aone Alone At Al Atone one time he taught criminal law lava lawand and procedure in the University o ot Pennsylvania I He was never happier than when his colleagues in the the- house woul consult him on legal questions way of many a newcomer was mad easier by his advice A hard worker despite his ad nd V n d age he nevertheless man man-i aged to keep in the background He had a thorough dislike for tor publicity During the prohibition hearings h he refu refused ed to pose for a picture until news photographers worried him such a point that he had t to c consent |