The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-12-14
PROSPECTS BRIGHT
FOR DRY WASHINGTON
At THIS SESSION
cehoI Scared Ont OF His Wits In the
Nations Capital City-victory VIII
Re of Greatest National siGniA-
eance.

Washington, Dec. 13.--Instead of q
single vote on subject of prohibition
the members of the present Congress
are facing the probability of being
on the wet and dry issue.
The Anti-Saioon League has a we'll
organized force at work In Washing
ton.
f. C. Dinwiddie. president OF the
league. has been lowering around the
lobby doors Of the House and the SEN
ate ever since the gavels fell in the
two branches last Monday. and he
is determined by roll call to separate
the vets from the drys in Congress.
Mr. Dtnwiddie will shortly be Joined
here by w z. Johnson. who is known
in the Indian country OF the West as
'pussy-feet" Johnson. pursued the de-
mon rum to his lair on many Indian
reservations. and the demon was tied
hand and foot and crushed to earth
Leaders in Congress appear to be
confident that the two important anti
liquor measures which will cause
ruction this session are bills which
propose to enact a prohibition law
for Washington, D. c.. and resolution
for dry United States by constitu-
tional amendment. There IL moro than
a lighting chance that the capital city
will he made dry territory before the
current session comes to an end. The
outcome of the broader fight Is in
doubt. at least for the present Never
shsless~ the wet" boyss-in Congress
are in a fretfui mood, and fear the
worst.
Leaders of the Anti Saloon League,
it IL understood, will be satisfied
if they succeed In driving liquor
as merchantable commodity out of
achievement, they believe. would give
tremendous impetus for a dry ma
tion.
Webb, Leader I'm Houss.
Representative Webb. of North
Carolina, will undoubtedly lead the
fight against liquor in the House.
Senator Sheppard will direct the dry
forces in the Senate. The anti-liquor
folks have concentrated much Of their
attention in the House in the past to
getting their bills reported from the
judiciary Committee. to which the
subject 10 referred Mr.. Webb Is chair.
man of that committee and an anti
liquor man. He is the author Of the
Webb law. which provides for Federal
cooperation in keeping strong drink
out of dry States.
Things have changed With Mr..
Webb in command the anti-liquor bills
now stand good chance of favorable
action by the Judiciary Committee. 1t
is the plan of officers OF tho Anti-S&-
loon League to have the dry amend
ment to the Constitution reported
early enough in the session to insure
1si 100
quits next summer. There will be q
good deal Of pulling and hauling over
this proposition, with fair chance
that vote may be had before ad-
journment.
OF National Sig nificance.
For Warrington there is plan to
amend the appropriation bill which
carries money to maintain the local
government. Congress controls ex-
penditures OF the capital and all leg
islation for the city goes through the
same routine as national lawmaking.
Thus liquor fight affecting washing
ton assumes the proportions in Con-
gress OF a nationwide argument When
the new excise law was passed few
years ago--a law that made Wash
ington dry on Sunday--members were
hombarded with kilograms from their
districts urging them to vote for the
measure. The Anti-Saloon League at
tended to this. Tho Anti-Saioon League
lis again on the job, and those mem
bers who dread to face the liquor ques-
tion are not consoied by the thought
that the pending constitutional amend
ment will be sidetracked In view Of
the strong probability that the issue
will be presented in bill proposing
to make Washington rs dry as a bone.
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.TActful Welcome.