The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1922-03-22
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

10y LA III La W ANA1-NSl@+
Especial Despatch to The Reformer)
- Copyright 1922.
WASHINGTON, March 22.-The
greatest of battles between the vets and
drys in America is impending. Twenty
or more national organizations will be in
the fight for a modification of the Vol
stead law and at least 20 associations
comprising the allied temperance forces
of America will resist that effort.
News of the intensity of the fight to be
waged for control of the next congress
comes from both camps. They admit the
contest has begun and will grow IN vlo-
lence as the primary campaigns start III
the spring and summer months.
The issue is not partisan. The prohl-
bitiou forces intend to support Repuoi-
cans or Democrats. as the case may be,
who have stood by them in congress, and
they similarly viii do all in their power
to prevent the denomination or re-elec-
ton of Democrats and Republicans who
have leaned to the vet side.
The temperance forces" said Samuel
". Small. associate secretary of the Ma
tionai Reform association today, have
Dledged financial income of over S2,uOO,-
900 annually from voluntary contribu-
tors, averaging So per person. we nave
carefully analyzed in the light OF past
election returns the condition OF prompt
ton sentiment in every one of the 400
congressional districts. We know all the
senators and representatives who can be
truSfpd to maintain, strengthen and vote
to increase enforcement legislation. we
will support them without regard to party
or creed and try to re-elect every one VINO
has been faithful and undodging.
Know Whom TO Oppose.
eve know which members to oppose.
how they were elected. where their ma
iorities came from and how to organize
opposition that promises to replace vets
and 'drys'! We are making over 1.OOO
special addresses in all states every Sun
dav and in the congressional campaign we
viii be able to put 1000 special prohIbl-
ton speakers, aside from volunteers, into
the various congressional districts
throughout the United States.
we intend especially to maintain
safe, strong majority in the United States
senate to insure that no anti-prohlbltIon
legislation can be passed up from the
house to the President. Thirty-two states
had voluntarily adopted prohibition be-
fore the 18th amendment was put upon
the constitution. so that we feel sure OF
keeping dry majorities in both houses of
congress.
I'm 1920 the vets made the strongest
effort they could to elect wet congress.
and we put JQe question ~ tAC BNopi' III
every district and the result was the cleo
ton of 40 more drys in the 6Tth than were
in the Goth That dispOses of the idea
that the people would repeal prohibition
il the question could be sent to national
referendum"
More Efficiently Organized.
The temperance forces are much more
efficiently organized than their opponents
Tbirtv-fve Protestant evangelical denomi-
nations with a membership of 24,OO0,OOO,
two-thirds of which are voters, and two
Roman Catholic organizations with about
100000 voters, are claimed by MT
Small as the backbone of the temperance
movement He. estimates that there are
10000 enrolled pulpits from which pas
tors actively and continuously are sup
porting the prohibition cause. Added TO
these are fraternal organizations and the
famous anti-saloon league and women $
Christian Temperance union with mem
berships contributing monthly to promote
prohibition work.
The prohibition leaders have been
stirred to activity among the labor unions
ever since Samuel Gompers issued state
ment on behalf of the American fedora
ton urging modification of the Nolstead
law. The claim is made by the dryS that
thousands of local labor unions have en-
dorsed prohibition and will not stand for
light wines and beer"
Hope of Wet Forces.
The vets, on the other hand, have