The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-07-28
Wayne B. Wheeler, of the Anti
Saloon League, Divagates?
While He Looks That Word Up in the Dictionary We Shall
Talk to the Senators About the Folly of Attempting
to Force a Prohibition Constitutional
Amendment at This Time.

Gentlemen of the Senate it not intended by those
who established this Government that the Constitution
should be changed every time policeman or some asso
citation of temperate ladies and gentlemen wanted
lice powers
To change the Constitution to enable little group
prevent the selling of beerand thus increase the selling
of whskeys about wise would be to change the
Constitution in order help New York State close the
gambling race tracks.
States have power to end gambling they want to-let
them do it.
States have power to put themselves a whiskey
basis by shutting light wine and beer to put them
selves basis by abolshng whskey and encoura
ing light wine and beer-et them do it and take their
choice They exercise police powers without cons
tutonal Amendment.
You of the Senate are have the responsibility of
spending sixteen billions of American dollars this year.
That is important work and you to do it carefully
You have finance the great nations of Europe allied
with America in this You have before the prob
lem of beating Germanyhat is important than Jug
Cling with the demon rum.
We repeat that this is not the time concentrating
onal attention legislative attention and public bitterness
question which has nothing whatever do with the
Constitution or with Constitutional Amendments.
When somebody told Lincoln that Grant drank too
much whiskey Lincoln had his hands, the Sen
ate has
Lincoln didn't sit down and say, "In stop everything
ee and can't get eight States against
whiskey He said Give the of the whskey that
Grant drinks and I'll send little of it the other generals
They need it,
The Senate knows well that it injec into this national
crisis Constitutional Amendment quarrel in fortyeight
States endless lobbying and pickering, THE SENATE
WILL INTERFERE WITH NATIONAL EFFICIENCY
AND BOTHER THE PRESIDENT WHO HAS ENOUGH
TROUBLE ALREADY.
would be unwse at any time to make of the question
of police and State supervision of drink matter to be dealt
with by change in the Constitution It is especially unwse
and tend
to this foolish suggestion which few wemeaning sincere
and EXTREMELY IGNORANT fanatics constantly force
upon the Senate's attention.
Some members of the Senate say that they voting to
submit Constitutional Amendment that will cause discus
sion and agitation in forty eight States tate millions Of
workmen, BECAUSE THE SENATORS ARE TIRED OF
BEING BOTHERED BY PRoHIBITIoNIsTS.
Our reply that such offer extremely weak
There should be in the dignity of the Senate in
the character of the Senators sufficient protection against
energetic threatening lobbyists male and female who insist
that the Senators elected primarily to obey the orders of
the Anti Saloon League.
Now little free publicity for our great and good
friend Mr. Wheeler of the Ansaoon League. Those that
work for temperance for instance brewers whom
slider the best friends of temperance in the couny-when
they don't saloons that sell whskey-and Anti Saloon
men, well meaning but unfortunately the best friends of
Whiskey are usually referred advertising depart
men which prints their statements in large type rea
sonabe rate But we like Mr. Wheeler we are fascinated
by his inability to see more than hall OF one side OF
ton and let him talk right here in this sacred pulpit
Says he:
''First-You aege that ten million workers will be
dissatisfied by depivng them of the beer to which they
accustomed and which, right wrong they demand
You take for granted that the who either habual
casual drinkers of beer less devoted patriotism
than they to this privilege We do not believe that
your premise is correct"
Good Mr.. Wheeler, doesn't lack patriotism be-
he objects to having a minority interfere with
his method of fe YOU heaven smile on your pure spirit
passionatey fond of ice water Suppose little minor
y whkey drinkers persuaded the Senate to take away
your ice water and compel you to drink whskey What
would you say? What would you do?
After little while of course you wouldn't be able to
say anything is how whiskey actsbut long as