The Washington herald., 1913-11-30
Legislative Superintendent Of
Anti-Saloon League, with
Headquarters Here, Di-
rects the Battle Against
Demon Rum While He
Watches Congress.
By JAMES B. MoRRow.

erty,' except perhaps, the proclamation
which gave freedom to several million
slaves. was begun in Columbus. Ohio.
month. While the attack was publicly
announced then, all of its plans had been
worked out a long time in advance.
Organized temperance leaders, shrewd,
nghting men, many of whom are law
yers. coming together from all parts of
the nation, declared their purpose to
close every distillery, brewery and sa-
loon in the United States. This can be
done, they thought, during the next
decade; some even believed that only five
years will be required to make this, US
ing their own phrase, "a saloonless coun-
try"
A fund of $4,000 with which to open
the war on beer, wine and whisky is be-
ing collected. More money will be OBJ
tained when it is needed. Wealthy men,
whose names are never published, have
supplied funds for the prohibition move
ment in the South, Southwest and the
Middle States, and they are ready to
finance the final STEP" as 1t has been
named, which will outlaw the manufac-
ture and sale of intoxicating beverages
everywhere in the United States
DistiIlers, brewers, and liquor dealers
are not talking humorously or contemptu-
ously about the Columbus convention
They have fought several pitched bat
ties with the temperance army, especial
ly with the Anti-Saloon League, and have
learned to fear the sagacity, the energy,
and the NapoIeonic ubiquity OF their ad-
yersaries.
Nor are politicians sneering at the ef
forts being made to ruin the liquor busi-
ness once and for all. 'The graves Of
many State legislators and members OF
Congress" Edwin Courtland Dinwiddie
told me, ''can be seen along our line of
march"
No Iobbyist-using the word to describe
him and not to belittle him-has ever ex-
celled Mr.. Dinwiddie in wisdom, tact, and
achievement. Officially he is known as
the legislative superintendent of the Anti
Saloon League OF America, but he acts
also for the International Order of Good
Templars, the National Inter-Church
Temperance Federation, the National
Temperance Society, and the Committee
on Promotion OF Temperance Legislation
n the National Congress
Rig Battles Won by DInwiddie.
Since coming to Washington fourteen
years ago, Mr.. Dinwiddie has managed
the campaign which closed the army can
teens-government saloons, he termed
them-at all military posts; the great pro-
hibition crusade in Oklahoma, and the
desperately fought contest which resulted
in law against the shipment of liquors
into States where their manufacture and
sale are forbidden. These were his big
battles. He has had ''skirmishes," as he
names them, by the score.
II am in Washington" he said to me;
not only TO help in the enactment of
new laws, but to see that the laws we
already have on the books are not re-
pealed."
AS the legislative and constitutional
expert of the temperance organizations
Of the country, Mr.. Dinwiddie will be
second to. no man in the mighty strug-
gle which may bring about the de-
struction of property valued at sew
eral hundred millions of dollars.
Purley a. Baker, general superintend-
ent of the Anti-Saloon League and
Mr. Dinwiddie will be the commanders
ln-chief of the hosts which will at
tempt to .tpulverize the rum power"
as Petroleum v. Nasby was in the
habit of saying in italics at the end
Of each of his editorials, no matter
whether he was discussing peace. war.
education, agriculture, politics or reli-
gion There are about s., 0Oo, 900 church
members in the country and something
ike I5S0 900 ministers, most of whom are
expected to vote for a prohibitory
amendment to the national Constitu-
tion.=
Both Baker and Dinwiddie are
preachers, the former a Methodist, and
the latter on Evangelical Lutheran. In
his conversation, his manner and his
appearance Mr.. Dinwiddie, however, is
more mercantile than ecclesiastical
One would say, not knowing his busi-
ness, that he owned a big store or fac
tory or, possibly, that he was law
yer with corporation practice. He
Ill md he
United States and has counseled with
fnanciers, manufacturers and states
men, He is no library moralist or phi
Iosopher dreaming and writing of the
nfIIennium. but a keen and seasoned
man of action.
From his windows, through the bare
branches of the trees in front of his
office, can be seen the National Capitol
Indeed, he can walk to the Senate in
three minutes. In five minutes he can
he Al. the House of Representatives. Sem
ators confer with him. Members of the
House 20 to him for help and informa-
tion. He knows the character and tenn
perament of all their constituents
The Greatest Contest of All.
A message from him will cause mem
hers. of churches and young peoples
societies. to begin arguing politics, not
in the streets but familiarly among their
naigbbors, especially in the evening when
visiting and electioneering for social de-
fenss' can be combined naturally, pleas
antly' and to good purpose.
'.The country is not ready at this time
IN vote for an amendment to the nation
al Constitution prohibiting the manufac-
tnre and sale of alcoholic liquors." Mr..
Dinviddie said to me. "Were vote
taken. now, we should lose. If We did
NOT lose. the amendment, In the present
state of feeling and knowledge would
he ineffective. The greatest battle OF all
human history against the trafnc IN
IioTor is before US, and we do not under
estimate the power. the resources or tne
ability of the enemy.
'sVTe mean to undertake nationwide
canpaign CT education. The votes OF
tbIrtx.six States are necessary to amend
the Constitution. There is prohibition
already in Maine; Kansas, North Dakota,
0l,iaboma, Georgia, North Carolina, Mis-
sissinpi. tennessee, and West Virginia
we begin. therefore, with nine States
'Twenty-seven more are necessary.
We shall get them in time and atter
strurrie that will be forever memorable
Besides. the nine States in which liquor
is outIavyed, there are ten others wnere
% per cent of the area Is dry. These
states are Vermont, New Hampshire,
Colorado, Utah, wyoming, New Mexico,
Kentucky, Arkansas, Florida. and Ala
barna.
''ours forces have been training ever
,caa g. advanca in their |