The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1922-02-28
By DAVID

BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Especial Dispatch to The Reformer.l !
Copyright 1922.
J. WASHINGTON, Feb. 2S.-Wnl light
wines and beer be an issue in the con
gressional campaign this autumn? |
The view at both Republican and Dem
%ocratic national headquarters as outlined
to this correspondent is that neither party
will make an issue of it. but that it may
become of vital Importance in certain
localities. The American federation Of la
Dor in its appeal for the election of mem
bers of congress who will vote for light
wines and beer as their Interpretation"
of the 18th amendment does not name
either political party as the medium
through which a change can be effected.
And If the prohibition laws ever are re-
yised the chances are the vote will be
bipartisan. As ~aualyZed by the political
leaders here the cities and industrial CEN
tiers are interested in seeing the sale of
wine and beer made legal while the coun-
try districts are just the opposite.
Usually cities and industrial centers in
the North are strongly Democratic and
also wet In recognition of this senti-
meut, Republicans who sought election in
larger city districts. AZ for instance in
Baltimore and Philadelphia. have openly
favored llSnt wines anu peer
Agitation Is SpOtty.-
The canvass by both political ~headquar-
ters here shows that the agitation for
light wines and beer is spotty. 1t Gibbs
and flows. In some localities It Is acute
while in others it is considered a dead
question politically.
Despite the announcement of the inten-
ton of the American federation of labor
to wage an active campaign for light
4 wines aud beer, neither Democratic nor
| Republican leaders believe the light Will
become nationwide. OF course. no one
can tell what the issues Will be in the pri-
marieS II the experience of politicians
Is that in a congressional election an ac-
emulation of discomfort has its effect in
producing changes.
If the light wines and beer agitation
should grow. the Republicans have more
to fear from ii than the Democrats. For
this Is the first congressional election
tsince national prohibition went into effect
which is not overshadowed by the war or
a presidential election. 1t affords the
voters the first nance to center their
thoughts on prohibition alone ii they de-
sire. As the American federation of labor
points out. there is to be no effort to re
peal the. 18th. amendment to the conStitu-
ton. That would be too lahOriouS and
lengthy a process. But congress does
have the power TO interpret what is and
| " Htl - NOl lAtbAttdttilS Wine NiIulu the
meaning of the 18th amendment. The
supreme court of the United States mas
said so. If the American people. there
fore. want to elect Republicans and Demo
Gratis pledged TO raise the alcoholic con-
tent from one-half of one per cent TO TWO
per cent or two and three-quarters per
cent, 4 simple majority of congress can
achieve the desired result for them with
out the necessity of submitting any change
IN the constitution To the several states.
Cities May Change.
1t so happens that i'm the landslide for
President Harding in 1920 many districts
normally Democratic elected Republicans
TO congress. The Democratic candidates
from the city districts probably will make
effective use of prohibition and will point
to the record of the Republican congress
ON this subject. There's a flaw in the
argument, of course. that the election of
Democrats would give the people light
wines and beer for if the Democrats did
control congress it would be n question
of influencing the southern Democrats.
who are dry, to change their views. The
answer of the 'wets" to this is that the
southern Democracy would be visibIv
moved by any pronounced demonstration
in northern Democracy in favor of n
more liberal Interpretation of the liquor
laws.
In connection with the agitation for
light wines and beer Il new factor has
lately been introduced. 1t is the Suggcs-
ton that Il tax on the legal sale of light
wines and beer would bring in more than
sufficient revenue to pay the soldier bonus
and would deliver a body blow at the
b~ootlegger. who evades income tax and
lplies his trade at an immense profit. But.
politically speaking, the issue looks at
present as if it was local and non-parti-
san. And neither the Republican nor
Democratic national chairman has any
present intention of regarding it as a
party matter.