Evening star., 1922-03-21
|DRYS|NTRENCH|NG
| FOR SUPREME TEST
Greatest of Battles Between
Prohibiti0niSts and Vets
impending at Polls.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.


The greatest of battles between the
wet and dry forces in America is i'm
pending. Twenty or more national
organizations will be in the fight for
a modification of the Volstead law
and at least twenty associations COM
prising 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 violence as the primary
campaigns start in the spring and
summer months.
Issue Is Not Partisan.
The issue is not partisan. The pro-
hibition foresee intend to support re-
publicans or democrats as the case
may be who have stood by them N
Congress, and they similarly will do
all in their power to prevent the re-
nomination or reelection OF demo-
Gratis and republicans who have
leaned to the wet side.
"The temperance forces" said Samu-
ell w. Small, associate secretary of the
National Reform Association today,
"have a pledged financial income of
over two million dollars annually from
voluntary contributors. averaging 80
per person. We have carefully ana
lyzed in the light of past election re-
turns the condition of prohibition SEN
timent In every one of the 435 con-
gressionaf districts. We know all the
Senators and Representatives who can
be trusted to maintain. strengthen and
vote to increase enforcement legtsla-
ton. We will support them without
regard to party or creed and try TO re-
elect every one who has been faithful
and undodging-
1000 Special Addresses.
I'VE know which members to op-
pose, how they were elected, where
their majorities came from, and how
to organize opposition that promises
to replace vets with 'drys.' We are
making over 1000 special addresses
in all states every Sunday, and in
the congressional campaign we will
be able to put 1900 special prohibi-
ton speakers. aside from volunteers,
into the various congressional dis
tricts throughout the Union.
1--WE intend especially to maintain
a safe, strong majority in the United
States Senate to guarantee that no
anti-prohfbition legislation can be
President. Thirty-two states had
voluntarily adopted prohibition be-
fore the eighteenth amendment was
nut upon the Constitution, SO that we
feel sure of keeping dry majorities
in both houses Of Congress.
Drys Gained Forty in Last Test.
'In 1920 the vets made the strongest
effort they could to elect wet Congress,
and we put the question to the people
in every district, and the result was
the election of forty more drys in the
Sixty-seventh than were in the Sixty
sixth Congress. That disposes OF the
idea that the people would repeal pro-
nibition if the question could be sent
to a. national referendun."
The temperance forces are much more
efficiently organized than their oppon,
ents. Thirty-five Protestant Evangelical
denominations, with a membership OF
"a. 600, 900, two-thirds of which are
voters, and two Roman Catholic organ
izations, with about 100000 voters,
are claimed by MIR. Small as the back
bone OF Gle temperance
estimates that there are 10000 enrolled
pulpits, from which pastors are actively
and continuously supporting the pro-
hibition cause. Added to these are ira
ternal organizations and the famous
Anti-Saloon League and Women's Chris
tian Temperance Union, with member
ships contributing monthly to promote
prohibition work
Active Among Labor Unions.
The prohibition leaders have been
stirred to greater activity among
the labor unions ever since Samuel
Gompers issued a statement on be-
half of the American Federation Of
Labor urging a modification Of the
yolstead law. The claim is made by
the "drys" that thousands Of local
labor unions have indorsed prohibit
ton and will not stand for Tight
wines and beer"
The "wets," on the other hand. have
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