Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-01-09
THE ANTI-SALO0N FIGHT.
A Hot Contest On for Control in the
National Capital.
Washington correspondence

NATIONAL C9p1tal.
Washington CORRESPONDENCE
Vested rights, as represented by the
Dreweries, distilleries and liquor deal
ers, have begun TO petition Congress in
anticipation of a strong move in favor
of prohibitory legislation at the hands
OF the national lawmakers Primarily
the petitions are aimed against dry"
capital city, which is the object fixed
upon by temperance associations which
have been encouraged by the prohibit
ton wave that recently swept various
sections of the country.
For some time a we'll organized lobby
has been doing quiet preliminary work
IN the interest of the anti-prohibition
interests, which have been made more
anxious over the possibilities of legis-
lation in the near future than surface
indications would lead one to believe.
The belief is entertained that the pro-
hibition elements are bent on driving
liquor out of the country's capital for
the moral effect such an accomplish
ment would have in still further ma
tionalizing the general prohibition
movement.
The question before students of the
situation who are able to look at both
sides without having their view warped
by prejudice is this: Has the prohibit
ton tide reached its flood, and will a
reaction presently set in; or will the
wave sweep on without serious inter-
ruption until it has converted the en-
tire country into a land of no license?
With this question in mind the work
ers on one side will put forth efforts to
make the capital of the United States
a temperance capital, while those on
the other hope that by downing the
movement here the way will be paved
for reaction from the results recently
brought about in several of the States,
especially those of the south.
The chances seem to be against any
drastic legislation on the subject by
Congress this winter. Possibly more at
tention might be given to the subject if
the Republicans and Democrats didn't
have so much to think about in the ma
ture of politics pertaining to Presiden-
tial candidates next year. And if action
is STAYED off the "antis'' figure on a
reversal of sentiment that will not re-
quire them to worry so much in the III
ture.
But there is another side to the anti
prohibition propaganda now in progress
here which deals with the subject
wholly apart from the local issue in
volved. The attempt is being made to
impress upon Congress the magnitude
of the whole prohibition question with
the argument that if prohibition pro-
hibited the government system of tax
alton would have to be revised, mas
much as twO-thirds of the governments
income is now derived from internal
revenue taxes.
In connection with this argument the
liquor interests are suggesting repris-
ais of a novel kind upon the dry"
States which locally would cease to pay
internal revenue taxes to the Federal
government. Admission is made that
the sovereign right of a State to de-
ternal revenue seems to have been es-
tablished But the anti-prohibitiinists
are declaring to Congress that when a
State adopts the prohibition policy it
should be cut off from the appropri-
ations for river and harbor improve
ments, rural free deliveries. public
buildings and other improvements for
which the ''wet' States, which pay the
internal revenue taxes, must supply the
money.
Such argument may seem very far
fetched to many, but it simply goes to
show how serious the real feeling is
over the agitation that is in progress.
1t indicates further that a stand is be-
ing taken by the anti-prohibition inter
ests for the purpose of fighting more
Systematically in the future the move
ment that has gained such Roadway in
thn 1oc,t