Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-05-16

Washington, d. c., May 13.-Is pro-
hibition a temporary thing, from which
public opinion will swing away strongly
in a few years or a few decades? Will
public and official support Of the Vol
stead law in the United States fall
away so that the law becomes a dead
letter. and bootlegging be tolerated
without much interference from the
police or from federal officials?
The state of mind Of the American
public will be wen shown in many of
the congressional elections this au-
tumn. The wet and dry issue is fore
most in many Of the campaigns.
Straight out party issues do not
amount to very much. The same old
hue and cry about extravaganza and
taxes voiced by the ~"outs," and point
ing with pride to accomplishments by
the "ins' doesn't arouse any tran
scendent enthusiasm among the great
common people SO frequently referred
to by campaign orators.
But the question of liquor seems to
remain a very live one with nearly
everybody. Tbs interest keeps up,
whether a person be wet or dry in SEN
timent. In the elections this fall there
will be some effort to organize on the
part of citizens who believe prohibit
ton a failure and a bad thing. just as
the %anti-saloon league. and other SINH
lar so-called reform organizations have
organized their followers and the dry
voters with considerable success.
In the coming elections the history
of the Volstead law will be revived.
Anti prohibitionists will recall the
charge that the Volstead law was
passed over President Wilson'S veto in
violation Of an agreement which had
been made with several opponents of
the measure. When the measure had
gone to the White House. several
PENNSYLVANIA. New York and other
congressman who were opposed TO the
Volstead measure secured promises, so
they said then, that they could go home
in safety. and that there would not be
a vote on passage of the measure again
if it was vetoed by Mr.. Wilson. until
they had a chance to be present and
their ballots.
Bad Faith Charged
However. according to certain anti
days, when it was found that there was
a sufficiently large dry vote in the
house. with the wet" New York and
members absent, the bill
was called up for passage over the veto
of the president, and among those
and voting the sufficient two
thirds affirmative vote was secured.
Interest in the matter of prohibition.
however, is spreading throughout the
partly due to the efforts OF the
of the Anti Saloon league. Eng
land was made the first objective of
this purely American organization. The
first emissary of any prominence who
was sent to the tight little island was
when he started his campaign.
and in the excitement one of his eyes
knocked out. However, he took
this loss so philosophicaliy. seeming to
think that it was well lost in his cause.
that there was a revulsion of feeling
him personally. and those who
had mobbed him looked upon him later
rs a good sport"
This man, judging by the present sit
did not make much Roadway,
md was later reported to be attempt
,ng to ameliorate the condition of the
Indian subjects of the British crown.
In the excitement there of a political
however, he has not succeeded
n getting much publicity, and what
'ver he is engaged in doing now is not
particularly well known here except 70
lis immediate friends and associates in
he uplift organization for which he
For many months past anti-dry So
have been quietly at work or
The first object of these or
'anizations has been merely to enroll