The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1922-03-17
The Anii-SaIOOn Leagues Fate


Before the Senate convened today
an agreement was reached by the
Senators who had opposed the refer
endum that on the final vote each
should act as he deemed proper. AS
a result Of this only four refused to
support the bill, and at least one of
these, DR.. Jones, of Montgomery, did
so because, he said, he was not only
opposed to the referendum but to the
bill itself. and in explaining his vote
revealed the prediction methods of
| the Anti-Saloon Leaguers. He said
pledge had been enacted from him
10 support an enforcement bill, to be
submitted, and, being a dry repre-
senting a dry, county, he Willingly
assented, believing when he did so
lthat the bin offered twotyears ago, and
then fathered by the League, would
be submitted. Instead there came the
measure that was introduced. and
which was so drastic and so unaccep-
table that he felt constrained to op-
pose it.-Annapolis dispatch.
1t may honestly be claimed that if
and when the referendum on the en-
forcement bill is held, the vote will
be as much on this sort of practice
on the part of the, Antl-Saioon
League as on the general issue
The Anti-Saloon League occupies
very peculiar position not only in
this State but throughout the coun-
try 1t is a militant body, taking a
hand in legislation, politics and ad-
minstraton, speaking with an assur-
ance and acting with an authority the
origin of which is, as mysterious
as it's exercise is anomalous. There
is no other institution in the country
like it.
1t dictated the Volstead act. We
may believe that had Congress been
left to itself the administration OF the
Eighteenth Amendment would have
been put on the same broad basis as
the administration Of transportation
under the interstate commerce clause
or as The antitrust laws are admin
istered 1t was the League that de-
cided that in the matter of prosecu
ion no line should be drawn between
gross and petty infraction OF the law.
II is the Anti-Saloon League, with
body concealed and head alone WIS.,
BILE, that keeps its extraoficial field
agents at work, prodding, challeng~
ing, browbeatipg the Government in
to ways of persecution instead OF
prosecution.
1t dictated the State enforcement
bill. It assumed command, forced the
pledges of candidates for Office to
support its legislation in blank. The
opposition to State enforcement is
not opposition to prohibition. 1t is
born as much as anything Of fear or
such an institution getting its grip on
the administration of the law. It's spir-
it is known. 1t is responsible for more
than half the dispute in which Vol
stead law as an administrative act
is held; and to deliver the State over
to it would be a very serious matter.
There is this much to be said for
the referendum: that if the Anti-Sa-
loon League loses, that League will
have been told with the full voice of
public opinion to leave this State
alone. Even the most devoted prohi~
bitionist may well stop to consider
whether that woulG not be desir-
able decision. It is even possible that
with a healthy, fair-playing spirit
known to be back Of legislation and
administration, enforcement legisla-
ton might be welcomed and more or
less efficacious But that will not be
the case until the State has rid itself
OF this anomalous, eXtra-legal or
ganizations dictation-From Baiti-
more News March 16.