The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-05-16
TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
Information Bureau
FREDERIC J. HAsKN. DirecsSr.
Washington. d. o.
DRYING UP THE WORLD.

hfbition a temporary thing, from
which opinion will swing away strong
ly in a few years or few decades?
VIII public and official support of the
Volstead law in the United States fall
away SO that the law becomes a dead
letter. and bootIeggine be tolerated
without much interference from the
police or from federal officials.
The state of mind of the American
public will be well shown in many
of the congressional elections this
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 voiced by the outs" and point
ing with pride to accomplishments by
dent enthusiasm among the great
common people so frequently referred
to by campaign orators.
But the question of liquor seems to
remain a very live one with nearly
everybody. The interest keeps up.
whether a person be wet or dry in
sentiment. In the elections 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 organ
izations have organized their followers
and the dry voters with considerable
success.
In the coming elections the history
of the Volstead law will be revived.
Anti-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 other
congressman who were opposed to the
Nolstead measure secured promises,
so they said then. that they could go
home in safety, and that there would
not be a vote on passage Of the meas
Gre again if it was vetoed by Mr.. VIII
son. until they had chance to be
present and cast their ballots.
Bad Faith Charged.
However, according to certain anti
0rys, when it was found that th9re
was a sufficiently large dry vote in
the house, with the wet" New York
and Pennsylvania members absent.
the bill was called up for passage over
the veto of the president. and among
those present and voting the sufficient
two-thirds affirmative vote was Sc
cured.
Interest in the matter of prohibi-
ton. however. is spreading thruout
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 island
was mobbed when he started his cam
paign, and in the excitement one of
his eyes was knocked out. However,
he took this loss so philosophically,
seeming to think that it was well lost
in his cause, that there was revul-
sion of feeling toward him personally,
and those who had mobbed him
looked upon him later as a good
sport"
This man, judging by the present
situation. did not make much head
way, and was later reported to be at
tempting to ameliorate the condition
of the Indian subjects of the British
crown. II the excitement there OF a
political nature. however, he has not
succeeded in getting much publicity,
and whatever he is engaged in doing
here except to his immediate friends
and associates in the uplift organiza
ton for which he works.
For many months past anti-dry So
cieties have been quietly at work or
ganizing The first object of these
organizations has been merely to en-
roll members. One of them with head
quarters in Washington has declared
that it is not seeking to change any
opinions, or proselyte in any way
that at present no members were
wanted except those who believed the
present supposedly dry regime bad
thing, with the bOotlegging evil ram
pant, and who want a modification of
the dry amendment to the constitu-
ton.
The efforts of the dry organizations
Will be spread to other countries.
lions have dreams of a dry world.
They are particularly DESTROYS of max
ing countries within striking distance
of the United States abolish the legal
sale and manufacture of liquor and
beer, believing that this will be a
step toward making prohibition eff
fective in the United States. Parts of
Canada are somewhat dry now. but
Mexico and the West Indian islands,
other than those under the American
flag. are as wet as can be.
Just at this time, tho, the whole at
tention of the Anti-Saloon League, for
instance. is centered in the coming
congressional elections. Some candi-
dates. such as Senator Reed of Mis-
souri,, have directly defied this organ
ization. Senator Reed has attacked
the actions of Wayne Wheeler. the
moving spirit in the Anti-Saloon
fessional organizations have the be-
ginning of organized opposition to
fight this year. From present indica-
tons. this is regarded only as a be-
ginning 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.
II II should happen that the dry era
of today is not a passing phase of
public opinion in America, and that
the spirit should spread TO the rest OF
the world. the progress is bound to be
slow and, perhaps disappointing to the
hackers of prohibition. For instance,
the business of prohibition is not likely
to appeal strongly to the'people OF this
hemisphere to the south of the United
States Latins are different from
anglo Saxons- They are different peo-
pies, and they regard strong drink
from different angles. The drunken
ness which was used as an argument
for the abolition of the saloon in the
United States is seldom met with