The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-02-25
CRABBE IS REAL POWER IN
DRY CAMPAIGN IN WYOMING
Young Lawyer Takes Hold Ansaoon League and Brings Fighting
Men Aid Prohibition Bill
Dissenting Vote

On January .. the legislature of
wyoming assembled, the 14th ses-
son of that body which meets in
BIENNIAL session.
Detwen that date and the 21st, a
pIii submitting to the people con-
s,tutional amendment prohibiting
the ilquor traffic was passed unani-
,nously by both houses and on the
Ias' date was signed by Governor
John h. kendrick and became a law
me whole thing had been accom-
plished within twelve days from tho
opening of the legislature
1t was Wyoming whirlwind all
right, and means the destruction OF
the business OF the 800 licensed sa-
looms of the state and about as many
ollnd pigs besides. For the saloon
system breeds blind pigs in wyo-
ming just as in other states.
Last spring, the Democratic state
convention meeting at Casper de-
clared for the submission Of a pro
hibition amendment to the constftu-
ton. The Republican machine was
pretty damp and held things in
check on that side OF the house. But
the Democrats walked off with most
or the trophies at the election and
the Democratic espousal of submits
sion had much to do with this result.
The dry Republicans refused to be
bossed around by their wet leaders,
and that put machine AFFAIRS in a
pretty pickle. The wet leaders who
mad their ears to the ground heard
something that sounded very mach
like an earthquake
But still, the Republican machine
was not quite sure the Democrats
meant just what they said at Caspar.
and they waited. But, on January g.
the night before the meeting of the
legislature, the Democratic caucus
passed, unanimously, the following:
Resolved. That It is the sense OF this
caucus that the right to vote on the
question Of the submission OF an
anle iment to the constitution should
not be denied to the people.
That settled IT, The Republican
machine knew that the Jig was up.
as II could not control the dry mem
bers, So. the same night. the Re
publican caucus passed the follow
ing resolution:
Resolved, that 1t Is the sense OF
the Republican senate caucus that. an
amendment to the state constitution
providing for statewide prohibition he
submitted to the people OF Wyoming
al the next general election In No
vember 1918
The vets did not have a look-in
'anywhera--the people saw to that by
electing dry men TO nearly every
state office, n dry United States SEN
ator and dry congressman. So on
the day following the caucus Gov
ernor kendrick. in his annual mes
sage. doomed the submission pro-
posal by saying.
Within the last decade thore has
been tremendous reversal OF optn-
thrGIiv -.
economic aspects of the liquor traffic.
There has never been any question
as to the moral issues involved. nor
as to the desirability OF prohibition
from that standpoint. But the new
angle from which the traffic has been
attacked has developed vcritable
wave of negative sentiment, until
today Wyoming stands In a vast dry
erea. as the only state which permits
the sale OF intoxicants with little or
no restriction. In view OF the many
petitions presented to the legislature
two years ago and the great interest
manifested by the people on the qties-
ton during the last election. I am
confident that there Is a growing con-
viction in the minds of the people
Of Wyoming that the time has come
for the state to move into line with
her neighbors. Therefore. | earnest
~ tANVt GARY a. 4Aii upon Inc I'et L
OF the legislature at this session
which will afford the citizens OF the
state an opportunity to vote upon the
question. In fact, the right TO vote
upon this, as upon every other vital
public issue. involved one OF the
fundamental principles of our govern
ment All of which makes clear the
path. of DUTY and indicates an obli-
gation resting with the legislature
4, ~ ~ l-
tory
This setting OF the caucus gather
ings of the night before. this action
OF the government precipitated, things
in an atmosphere charged with dry
electricity.
From the saloon standpoint, the
case was 50 utterly hopeless that
even the vets voted dry at the show
down. They confined their efforts to
trying to Ak January /. 1922, as the
date for the amendment going into
effect. Dick Keenan,, the smiling
brewer OF Sheridan, who acted as a
sort OF ringmaster for the wet in
ter {. lost most of his smile and
pleaded with Fred L. Crahbe, super
intendent of the Wyoming Anti
Saloon league, please to give them
two more years But Crabbe seemed
TO think that they had already had
too much time and walked away with
his hands damned into his pockets.
In the Beg inning.
At diverse times attempts have
been made to launch live Anti -Sa-
loon league IN Wyoming but these
attempts nave been spasmodic and
the organization failed to obtain a
firm footing. These movements sur
fered to some extent by being too
completely ecclesiastical In their ap-
pearance. The movement was nursed
by the church, of course. and. for
that reason, in part, the cattlemen
and the business interests rather held
aloof.
wyoming had not been quite brok-
en- OF her frontier ways. The cow
men were not disposed to do any
thing that they could not do on horse
back and the business men accepted
the saloon with all its troubles as
matter OF course.
But last May there came a new
article into camp. Fred l. Crabbe
became superintendent of the Wyo-
ming Anu-Saloon league He was a
tow headed lawyer. backed by the
church. He went up and down tho
nriro tho Satonn IN ian Qua o n