The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1917-09-28

NJ. l.. Mencken, writing in the New
York Evening Mail, wildly pictures
the manner in which the Anti-Saloon
League of America, through its tre-
mendous financial resources, holds the
whip above the heads OF public offfcials
and compels them to do its bidding or
commit political suicide. Mencken's
article says:
The news sent out from Washington,
at the end of June, that committee
Of Congress would investigate the
Anti-Saloon League, and particularly
he soft and slippery doings OF its
lobby at the Capitol-this news, while
soothing TO alarmed patriots, deceived
no enc with any accurate knowledge,
either of the average Courage OF Con.
gressmen or OF the daring and re
sourcefulness OF the Cossacks OF
virtue.
The simple truth Is, that not one
Congressman out OF forty, dry or wet.
on or off the floor, Is bold enough to
tackle the league head-on, and that It's
gents at Washington are we'll aware
Of the fact, and act upor 1t with the
utmost confidence and enterprise.
The principal business Of these
agents. indeed, Is the browbeating OF
legislatures, and they have lifted II
TO the dignity OF a fine art. They be-
gan upon the one-horse lawyers. coun-
Try storekeepers and professional job
holders who make up the legislatures
of such states as Kansas, Maine and
Georgia; they proceeded TO the law
makers OF the more urban and civil.
zed states; and now they apply their
tested and sure-fre methods to the
rational Justinians and Uammurabids
at Washington.
The White House whip makes Con-
gressman jump; the Anti-Saloon
Les que knout makes him leap like a
kan CARGO.
Forced President to seg.
= Compare the efficiency OF The two
| wea pons. On June 80. with the White
House pulling one way and the league
the other way. the Presidspt had to
ask for quarters. That is y say. he
had to appeal 70. the league jsnissariss
lon patriotic grounds. to let up--and
he had to make his appeal publicly 70
-et the force OF public opinion be-
hind It.
The iowiy Congressman he's ne ssch
means OF defense-oY Of oAliQue OF
tense, o. you Will. II he venttres upoc
bout with the league professionals
40 rs beaten be ore he can strike 9
lXcw, He can not wrap himself In the
white chesaise or patriotism. fer nc
one. not insane. believes In the Datri
lotism OF Congressman. He can MOI
lstrike back with an investigation. 70,
lnIne-tenths OF his fellows are afrait
Of an investigation. And he can no
appeal to the public, as DR.. Wilson did
COR the league has a machine for get
ing publicity that. within its limits
ls so powerful as TO he we'll nigh ire
lslstible
Ii may not be strong enough TO brow
beat the whole nation or TO comta
the enormous prestige OF the Presiden
OF the United States, but il is assured
~ strong enough TO go into the distric
OF a single Congressman and maxi
mincemeat OF him. Not only is IL abl'
TO do so; il has actually done so. AnC
every Congressman, contemplating tn
sour fact, stays his gorge when
urges him TO revolt. and stays IL agail
when 1t urges him to go to the ali
OF some fellow.
A Business Enterprise.
The Ants Saloon League got its star
BY being mistaken for a mere camorr
of harmless fanatics-old-line prohib
tionists. publicity-crazy preachers. e,
tanks. moral" lawyers. and such riff
raft. II was. and is. nothing of III
kind
On the contrary, 10 IS one OF the mos
intelligent. enterprising. wealthy an
efficient organizations in America-th
full peer. one might say. of the Pull
man Company or the Pennsylvani
ttatifO1u.
And il does not depend for its VI
keep upon the pennies OF the piou
Nay II taps the fat bank accounts
rich sportsmen in every state. and S
long as II gives them thrilling sho'
and keeps the animals jumping IL ca
get all the additional money IL want
up to millions.
Does IL pay enormous salaries to tn
scandal OF this thrifty and money-d
spising nation? Well, why not'
needs frst-rate men for Its work. an
II has to pay hard cash to get then
$4,000 Versus $500.
Nor can Il be supported on virtue u
pumped-up. So long as the prohit
u6n cause was managed by 81 500 me
htaafuR and n m0CkfnR. IN