Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-05-16
WET AND DRY
FIGHT is UP
In ELECTION
nY FREDERIC ]. HAsKIN.

support OF the NolStead law in the
United States fall away so that the
uaw becomes a dead letter, and
! bootlegging be tolerated without
interference from the police or
| from federal officials?
The state of mind of the Ameri-
can public will be we'll shown in
many of the congressional cleo
| lions this autumn. The wet and
dry issue is foremost 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 voic-
ed by the "outs,' pointing with
pride to accomplishments by the
''ins" doesn't arouse any tram
scendant enthusiasm among the
great common people so frequent-
ly referred to by campaign ora
| tors.
| But the question Of liquor seems
to remain very live one with
nearly everybody. The interest
keeps up, whether a person be wet
or dry in sentiment. In the cleo
tons this fall there will be some
effort to organize on the part OF
citizens who believe prohibition a
failure and a bad thing, just as
the Anti-Saloon league and other
similar so-called reform organiza-
tons have organized their follow
ers and the dry voters with consid-
cradle success.
In the coming elections the his
tory of the Volstead law will be
revived, ti-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 9TH
er congressman who were oppo ed
to the Volstead measure secured
promises, SO they said then, that
they could go home In safety, and
that there would not be vote or
passage of the measure, again if it
was vetoed by Mr.. Wilson, until
they had a chance to be present
and cast their ballots.
Bad Faith Charged.
However, according to certain
anti-drys, when it was found that
there was a sufficiently dry vote In
the house, with the swet" New
York and Pennsylvania members
absent, the bill was called up for
passage. over the veto of the pres
ident. and among those present
and voting the sufficient two-thirds
affirmative vote was secured.
Interest In the matter of prohi-
bition. however, is spreading
Throughout the world, partly due
to the efforts of the agents of the
Anti-Saloon league. England was
made the first objective of this
purely American organization. The
first emissary of any prominence
who was sent to the tight little is
land was mobbed when he started
his campaign, and in the excitement
one OF his eyes was knocked out.
However. he took this loss so philo-
sophically, seeming to think that
it was we'll lost in his cause. that
there was a revulsion of feeling to-
ward him personally, and those who
had mobbed him looked upon him
Iaters as a." good sport"
This man, judging by the present
situation, did not make much
Iheadway, and was later reported to
be attempting to ameliorate the
condition of the Indian subjects OF
the British crown. In the excite
ment there of a political nature,
however. he has not succeeded in
getting much publicity, and what
ever he is engaged in doing now Is
not particularly we'll known here
except to his imm cdiate friends and
associates in the uplift organization
for which he works.
For many months past anti-dry
societies have been quietly at work
organizing. The first object OF
these organizations has been merely
to enroll members. One of them
with headquarters in Washington
has declared that it is not seeking
to change any opinions, or prose-
lyte in any way-that at present no
members were wanted except those
who believed the present supposed
ly dry regime a bad thing, with the
bootlegging evil rampant, and who
want modification of the Volstead
law or eventual repeal of the dry
amendment to the constitution.
The efforts of the dry organiza-
tons will be spread to other coun-
tries. Some of the agents of those
associations have dreams of a dry
world. They are particularly de-
sirous Of making countries within
striking distance of the United
states abolish the legal sale anu
manufacture of liquor and beer, be-
lieving that this will be q step to-
ward making prohibition effective
in the United States. Parts of Can
ada are somewhat dry now, but
Mexico and the. West, Indian is
lands, other than those under the
American flag, are as wet MS can
be.
Just at this time, though, the
whole attention of the Anti-Saloon
league, for instance, is conferred in
the coming congressional elections
Some candidates, such as Senator
Reed, of Missouri, have directly de-
fled this organization. Senator
Reed has attacked the actions Of
Wayne Wheeler, the moving spirit
in the Anti-Saloon league, publicly.
Then, too, the professional reform
organizations have the beginning Of
organized opposition to fight this
y ~ahs hOlh ~ IoNllI
this is regarded only as begin
ming by the anti-dry organizations,
which are just getting under way.
However, they hope to. be able even
at this time to make their presence
felt.
Prospects Elsewhere.
s If 1t should happen that the dry
era Of today is not passing phase
of public opinion in America, and
that the spirit should spread to thu
rest Of the world. the progress is
bound to be slow and perhapssdis- !
appointing to the hackers of pro-
hibition. For instance. the busi-
ness Of prohibition is not likely to |
ass W AT YnT