Omaha daily bee., 1922-05-07
Prohibition
Still Issue
in Politiy<s
Drys Claim 18th 4 50 a
Being Enforced y III
Greater Success Than
Expected.
Fight for Wet Congress
BY GRAFTON s. WILCOX.
OWsaha ties Leased Wire.

Washington. May o.-Pfohibilion
alter 30 months OF existence 10 the
United States. is still a political issue
!, 10 not conceded TO be a major
issue. nor is Il a party issue. but u
is conceded even BY the champions
OF prohibition enforcement, TO be All
issue.
Ths, they are apprehensiye abou,
Il is demonstrated by the recent ap-
peal sent out By the legislative cont
mi,tee OF the Anti-Saloon league TO
all friends OF prohibition enforce
men, 10 he on the alert IN the COM
ing political primaries and see 10 IL
,ha, men are not nominated for con-
gress who could by any possible in
iluence he induced 10 vote for a
modification Of the Vols,ead enforce
ment act.
No serious-thinking "wets' have
any hope OF ever over,urning the
18th amendment. They know i, is
not necessary because the 18th
mcndment does not prohibit, i,
amendment does not prohibit. II
congress must pass the law cniorc-
ing this condition.
Vets Want Modification.
But the wet" leaders do have al
abiding hope that the Nolstead ae;
may be modified by boosting the
alcoholic content OF permissible
beverages.
The late Senator PeErose OF Penn
svlvania remarked at a social occa-
sion shortly after the ratification OF
the 18th amendment:
Congress hereafter will. be wet
or dry. For some years it will be
dry. Then along will come a wet
wave and up will go the permissible
alcoholic content"
That it is just what the prohibition
leaders are trying to prevent and this
is the first year since the establish
mcnt OF prohibition that the signs on
the horizon point to real serious po-
ltical assaults on the John Barley
corn lock box.
In many states and in more con-
gressional districts the "wets" and
"drys" arc arrayed against each
other this year about as they were
before the amendment was ratified or
before it had ever been submitted to
the states. And in most of the CAM
paigns where prohibition figures the
success or the breakdown in enforce
ment is the proposition around which
the debate centers.
On one side it is contended that
conditions have improved enormous
ly; that intoxication has diminished
and that by slow but sure processes
enforcement is being made effective.
On the other side, it is charged that
enforcement is impossible; that a
great majority of the people scoff
at the law and violate it without COM
junction, and that worse evils have
grown up under prohibition than ex-
listed before.
Situation From Two Sides
There are two viewpoints of en-
forcement, one from the government
side and the other from the Asso-
ciation Against Prohibition, Prohibi-
ton Commissioner Haynes says
about enforcement.
with the utmost emphasis it can
be stated, and convincing evidence
is to be seen on every hand that the
18th amendment is being en-
forced with greater success than was
ever conceived possible in less than
80 months by its closest friends.
"The truth is, it is being enforced
to such an extent that its enemies
are increasing their false, country
wide propaganda and this fact alone
is sufficient evidence that the shoe
is pinching
1T is scarcely necessary to point
cut facts that are apparent to every
one, that the 18th amendment is
being enforced.
"Thc open saloon is thing Of the
past, and even enemies OF the prohi-
bition law admit it is gone forever.
Hotels which before prohibition
feared ruin are now cooperating in
enforcement and many prominent
managers declare they do not want
the barroom back.
"The head OF the Salvation army,
who is in position to know where
Of she speaks, i'll a recent statement
said evidences of enforcement are
unmistakable and Godsend to un-
fortunate humanity.
Purchasers of bootleg liquor
themselves know beyond any ques-
ton of doubt that the 18th amend
ment is being enforced for the sim
pie reason that the source Of supply
is now SO nearly closed that real
Turn to Page Two. Column Four.)