Evening journal., 1920-03-27
prohibition
IS DEFENDED
Wayne B. Wheeler Tells
ethodists West Assaults
Are Mere Propaganda
SHOWS LABOR is
FOR DRY NATION

Wayne b. Wheeler chief counsel FOR
lhe Antl-saloon League Of America.
was the speaker before the anniversary
meeting OF the temperance societies OF
the Methodist Episcopal Church, VII
mington District Conference. in Grace
Church, this Afternoon. Mr. Wheeler
defended the 18th constitutional amend
ment and the Volste3d law enforcing II
and declared that opposition by the
"wsisH at this time 10 both the amend
ment and the enforcing act was propa-
ganda. He predicted that the u. S. Su-
prome Court would sustain both amend
ment and act.
Mr. Wheeler said IN part:
The active campaign now on TO
make 10 appear that a reaction has set
in against prohibition Is nothing but
wet propaganda said Mr.. Wheeler
There is no actual reaction except
from these who have always been re-
actloners on this question. A large
fund, plenty OF lawyers and good pub
licity agents can make lots OF noise
10 IS manufactured and viii soon die
out Every vote in Congress since the
prohibition code was 3dop,ed has been
two to one against liquor.
The remarkable showing In the Ia
Dor organization as revealed by the
vote taken by the Literary Digest IS an
eye opener % Congress and the Ma
ton. 70 has always been claimed that
organized labor was strongly wet. This
vote shows by their own canvass in
sec ORGANIZATIONS in as States 70 stood
two 20 one on ths proposition that
prohibition was a bench, TO the labor
ing man.
''rhe statements of the director OF
Public Charities, Bird C0ler In New
York, and Frank Vanderlip, prove that
National prohibition is q great eco-
nQmical blessing, snh vital factor IN
reducing TOveriy crime and disease
even In wet reyellous New York The
supreme Court was right when it said
years ago that Government had g right
10 save a man from himself because IN
iniuring himself ne Injuries society OF
which be is q pari. This is as true
OF a wet city as an individual.
Every home where sobrlety and
prosperity has come since liquor hiss
gone. will be against the return Of The
saloon Few. il any, advocate The return
Of the saloon or the whissty trade.
The wet advocates now ask for a law
10 permit the so-called harmless use
OF beer and winc. This is but 6 camou-
lague 10 dscredt and eventually de-
slrOy prohibition
Mr.. Wheclr who has had the legal
phases OF the prohibition fight In hand
for over twenty years, and has'drafled
and defended In the courts the prohi-
biii0n laws. including The national pro-
hibition code, and Is connected with the
pending cases, gave the following re-
view Of the legal status OF the flsht
or the 18th amendment:
"The first legal attack was on the
validity OF submission. claiming that
two-thirds Of Congress did not submit
the amendment. The supreme Court
has selled this IN The case involving
what Is two-thirds OF Congress TO pass
biz over the presidents veto. Tho
question IS again raised in the Ken
ucky and New Jersey cases on The
ground that Congress must, stats in the
words OF the constitution that "it
deems it necessary" 20 submit the
amendment. Unfortunately for mis-
contention not a single amendment 10
The constitution has been submitted IN
that form.
referendum. 70 Is raised ia .he Ken
trcl,v and New Jersey cases. The ken-1
tuoky case has been submitted. since
the recent decision in Colorado against
tho legality Of the referendum. lle
vets have no chance 10 defeat The islh
amendment as 80 leaves lhirly-s ven
states sure. even counting ohio oul'
which we do nos concede. The only
states which have q chance for rel
endum now even II the courts hold
81 legal are Nevada. oklahoma, MIS-
souri California Michigan Nebraska
and New Mexico. The other states haV-
ing referendum provisions require the
nelitions TO b. fled within a certain
number CT days. This prevents peii-
fions from heing fled in the states thai
Utah Idaho and some others, where u
is now TOO late. In Maine, Arkansas
Colorado. oregon. The courts have de-
clared the referendum Illegal In ONO
the recount indicates clearly mat IN
vets viii lose even there In Wash
ingi0n. while the courts sustained the !
TaIuIlN OF Illt ltltltAAAAAA IANf --'--f
the petition was declared invalid. Cases /
are pending in the Supreme Courts IN
New Mexico. Nebraska, Michigan, Call !
fornia. Nevada, Missouri and Oklahoma.
I'VE are confident that part OF lhese (
courts viii declare the referendum IL
legal under their state constitution, and
any further appeal TO the su-
preme Court This wiz reduce Inc
eight wei possibilities still further. AS
b, now stands we have thirty-seven
states beyond recall for the repeal OF
the 18Th amendment The additional |
decisions VIII probably make The forty |
or more. II iha Supreme Court holds I
that the referendum Is unauthorized /
under the Federal Constitution we viii, /
OF course have the whole forty. /
n the courts should hold The ref1ren- /
dunn legal. we are confident we will
gtll have more Than forty states I
FOR The 18Th amendment.
Another attack IS on what IS the I
states authority under concurrent /
mower 10 enact conflicting legislation /
with The prohibition code. The liquor
interests insist that the state can le-
ealize what The Federal Government /
prohibits. Tb, friends Of prohibitions
ISIS that concurrent power does not
mean oonira-concurrent power or CON
80. I