The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1922-12-12
ADMINISTRATION GIVING
THOUGHT TO PRO- B|TION
WET" ISSUE IS BOTHERSOME.
RECENT ELECTION SAID TO
SHOW Folks TEMPER.
"DRYS" ARE STILL IN SADDLE
Anti Prohibitionists Hold Balance of
Power in Senate. Cabinet Officials
Favor the liberalization Policy"
For 1924. President Is a Prohi.

T.
WASHINGTON, D. C.-President
Harding and his cabinet are giving
considerable thought these days to the
prohibition issue, an issue which is eX-
pected to have a great influence on
the presidential election in 1924 The
voting last month is regarded by
MANY as the handwriting on the wall,
and the cabinet has decided that some
thing should be done to arouse the
moral cons iousness OF the nation to
greater respect for law.
Some OF the cabinet members are
said to favor a "liberalized policy" Tor
1924. These members, led by Secre-
tarv OF War Week, it is said, hold that
recent elections in New York and
New Jersey cannot be ignored. The
result in MARYLAND and Rhode Island,
the refusal OF Massachusetts, to adopt
the Volstead act for state enforcement
and the fears OF what Connecticut,
Delaware or Pennsylvania might do
on a straight out test have impressed
republican leaders that the issue must
be met.
west stays OIy'
1t was argued by 'wets" i'll admin
istration councils that the issue would
not assume Importance in the agrlcu!-
tural west, where candidates OF both
parties would be dry" but with the
''Solid South" voting as usual and the
east going democratically wet the
party would have problem on It's
hands if it hopes to win. They count
282 electoral votes in the Solid South
and wet" east, clear majority, With
out including Illinois or Wisconsin.
REPRESENTATIVE Hill, OF Maryland,
one OF the wet" leaders OF the house,
has addressed a new request to Char
man Volstead for consideration by the
Judiciary committee OF his bill to trans
fer prohibition enforcement from the
treasury department TO the department
OF Justice. He argued that, attempt
ed law enforcement by commissioner
HAYNES and the prohibition unit nav
ing admittedly failed" some 1urther
steps should be taken.
"Drys" Still Rule.
A poll of the senate and house IN
the present congress, made by the
New York Herald, shows the .drys
in overwhelming control in spite, OF
the wet gains in the November cleo
tions. The vets are not claiming
thew will be able to change the Vol
stead law. either now or after March
4th when the sixty-eighth congress
will be in control for two years, bu'
they will begin their efforts III Inc
hope of winning enough support II
the 1924 elections TO give them ma
ioritv in the senate and house tor ligh'
wines and beer. ~,
ing senator's on the republican side IN
favor of the modification OF the vol-
stead act: Ball, Brandegee, Calder
Colt. Edge, France, Johnson, LaFol-
lette, Lodge, Mclean, Moses, P,hipps
Shortridge, Spencer, WadsWorth ano
Weller.
The democratic senators in favor Of
the modification OF the Nolstead act
are said to be Bayard, Broussard, Ger
nv, Reed. King, Ransdell, Shields
Stanley. Underwood, Walsh and VII
liams. Eleven republicans and one
democrat are listed as doubtful.
"Wets" Predict Gains.
A reCaDitulatlon Oh lle PoIa III 'ii>
present senate shows 10 wet rePub,
Iicans, II wet" democrats, 81 dry
republicans, rs dry" democrats, ant
y doubtfu1s. The "wets, however
claim that enough new senators Wi
favor modification OF the Nolstead &C
to give them a gain of six in the mex
senate. This would not give them
majority, although it would cut dow
the dry majority to four votes, pro
vided the doubtful senators would .y,ot'
wet" which is unlikely, it IS said.