The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-12-16
Both Sides Hard at Work for
Control of House at Next
Mondays Session
HEARS. IA TED TIMES
TURNS 1U VlTUPERATlON
Brewery Controlled Paper
ISLANDERS League Workers
and Does Not Da.e to PRINT
Reply Even az an Adver-
tlscmcnt
tny a star CORRESPONDENT. }

Washington. Dec i5.-The SEES
sions of the national convention OF
the Anti-SaIoon League OF America
held this week, have had a wonder
fully tonic effect on members Of the
house of representatives who had
been trying to !snOre the approach
ing vote on submission.
The size. character and intelligence
OF the gathering. the plain. direct
presentation of the anti-saloon pro-
gram in the resolutions adopted, the
whitehot enthusiasm of the dry
leaders, arising from a sane and level
headed understanding Of the problem
Of the drink traffic and the firm ex-
perience- based faith In the means
proposed for it's solution. have COM
biued TO set several soions TO think
ing-and just IN time,
The resolution proposing a dry
amendment TO the constitution comes
UP for decisive action in the house
next Monday 1t Ia. likely that vote
will be reached that day. Speaker
Clark has already expressed himself
iE favor OF limiting the debate to a
single day. but makes It clear that
he thinks the subject la one that
should not be passed over.
Everey member of the house has
had the arguments OF both sides pre-
sented to him and mighty few have
failed to form some definite idea OF
what they believe would he the right
way to vote. There remain some
who are waiting TO see which side Will
win. If the drys come up to the
hour Of The isaiioe" with a clear ar
dependable two-tfiirds majority. they
may win by much wider margin.
or these iaggards both sides are
working hard. It's no fun to be a
congressman these days and try 10
carry water on both shoulders.
On behalf Of the booze crowd, the
Hearst tainted. beer ruled Washing
ton Times, OF which Arthur Brisbane
is n nominal owner has 6x.sAets. up 4
campaign OF vituperation and sophistry
through its editorial page. at the same
time ignoring the convention OF anti
saloon forces in its news columns. To
a villainousiv slanderous attack upon
the anti-sa loon workers and their
known friends In the house. printed
Thursday. the league prepared an an
swer in the form or half-page adj
vertisement. This was accepted by
the business ONCE OF the Times. but
was turned down by Brisbane on the
ground that IL was not fl for publ
cation" The copy for the advertise
ment. II was stated, had been re
turned TO the league" Thursday az
ternocn. but II had not reached the
leagues Office late Friday and all In
ouiriee as TO the identity Of the per-
son who returned" II and demands
for an interview with the solicitor
who handled the transaction for the
Times were evad ed--none too courte-
ously. Ultimately, the coSy was dis
covered In the Times Office.
Meantime. through display adyer-
tisements in other Washington pap
ers. the leag CUE has been hammering
away at the public and at congress
with timely arguments against tho
criminal waste OF the beer trade and
its utter unfltness for any place in
the nation during these times OF
stress. One OF the advertisements re-
lates to the enormous amount of coal
consumed by breweries--more than
seven and one-hatf million tons in
the last year. III YOU have no coal"
says one advertisement, send your
wife and Riddles down 20 the brewery
ana let them lean np against the
smokestack There's always coal and
warmth there, These brewers are
tender hearted: they won't chase
your family away.
With blizzard conditions prevailing
and q critical shorta ge OF fuel. this
presentation OF the case went home
10 evsrybody In Washington.