The Washington herald., 1920-03-05
"DRYS' Line UP
FOR 192OFIGHT
Anti-Saloon League Forces
Will Oppose Notification
Or Modification.
By FREpEAIo WILLIAM VILE.

Under the leadership of the Anti
Saloon League, the prohibition
forces of the United States are pre-
pairing to fight Qualification" or
modification" tooth and nail at the
1920 elections. The drys intend to
commit both the Republican and
Democratic parties at their respect
i've national conventions to keep
hands of both the Eighteenth
amendment and the Volstead en-
forcement act.
They purpose doing this, not by
asking the parties to come out spe-.
cifically for prohibition, but by de-
manding that they include a law
and order" plank in their platforms.
Such plank. the prohibltionists
argue. will bind both parties to
uncompromising support of the
Federal dry laws, along with other
laws on the statute books.
That information was supplied
yesterday by Wayne B. Wheeler.
general counsel of the Anti-Saloon
League. who remarked, with a sig
nificant gesture, We control Con-
gress and we intend to retain con-
troll" Before the day was over
his proud boast was vindicated by
the Houses rejection OF a New Jer-
sey Representatives amendment to
repeal the Volstead act.
Questioned ON RevivaIs.
| Mr.. Wheeler was asked IL the cam
paign OF Governor Edward I. Ed
wards, OF New Jersey; the wet vic
tories in Vermont elections. and ma
tion-wide Manifestations of reaction
| H.. III
ed to shake the drys' confidence In
their ability 20 hold the arid fort.
I'VE are not upset by these spo-
radio developments" he replied.
They were to be expected They
are the dying gasps of a lost cause.
| There are always such reactions af-
! ter enactment of reforms that do
away with ancient institutions.
Rhode Island. for example, which is
anxious to upset the Eighteenth
amendment. was the most reluctant
fof the original thirteen States to ac-
cept the Constitution. When Gou-
verneur Morris wrote to George
Washington about the progress OF
the union, Washington replied that
the union was getting along nicely
except in Rhode Island. whose peo-
[ PIC nave Diu ldTt"til 10 every pTlH-
ciple of common-sense and honor
Abolition of slavery was net ac-
cepted uncomplainingly. History is
repeating itself in the case of the
opponents OF prohibition. Many Of
these didn't believe in prepared
! ness and failed to stock up. They
will subside in time. Not only the
law, but the good results of the law,
are against them"
Sure of Opposition.
will the drys oppose modification
of prohibition law as uncompromis-
ingly as repeal?"
Most certainly" Mr.. Wheeler re-
Joined. I'VE base our opposition to
light wines and beer on the Su-
preme Court decision, as enunciated
by Mr.. Justice Brandeis, that a
one-half of per cent alcoholic
standard is necessary to secure the
enforcement of the Eighteenth
amendment. To weaken the stand
ard means crippling law enforce
ment and encouraging law vioIa-
tions. Prohibition has ceased to be
an issue and become a law. 1t has
been transferred from the realm OF
discussion to the statute books.
iLaw-breakers, whether they mas
querade as 'modificationists.' 'nulli-
tficationists' or liberals, will be COM
bated as such. and meet, we are
convinced, with the fate they will
merit at the voters hands"
Public Ledger SeryicpD