The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1922-09-26
VOLSTEAD Is MAN
OF SILENT TONGUE
AUTHOR OF DRY LAW EN-
FORCEMENT ACT is ADEPT
AT BURYING BILLS.

WASHINGTON, D. C.-The best
little lid-clamper in Washington
that's Andrew ]. Volstead, OF Min
nesota. father of the well known pro-
hibition enforcement law bearing his
name.
Volstead's ld-clamping proclivities
have not been limited simply to clamp
ing down the lid on the national thirst
He puts the lid on lot OF leg1sla-
ton. and
He also keeps a lid on his own lips.
II was as chairman of the judiciary
committee of the house that NOlstead
gave his name TO the proniche IN his
tory. And il is as chairman OF the
same committee that he is able to
sink without trace the hordes OF bills,
resolutions and proposals OF all sorts
for repeating the enforcement law. NO
pigeon holes in congress are more
crowded with dust-covered forgotten
documents than those of the judiciary
committee. And no lid is clamped
more tightly against possible consld-
Grafton and enactment OF measures
disapproved by the committee chair
man.
Here's Buried Bills.
Among the bills buried under the
Volstead lid are proposals to amend
the constitution to permit wines and
liquors OF 10 per cent alcoholic con-
tent; to permit beer OF 2M per cent
alcohol; to permit the states to decide
for themselves what constitutes in
toxicating liquors" under the eigh-
teenth amendment; to provide a ma
tional referendum on prohibition, to
transfer enforcement OF prohibition
from the treasury to the department
of Justice; to repeal the enforcement
act. to amend the act and so on, by
the score.
These bills were introduced, reterr-
ed to COMMUNICATION buried. The lid
clamped shut on them and they were
gone! And if you try to tilt the lid
YOU find sitting atop of it small but
grim and very determined man who
doesn't argue or plead or waste time
in words. but exercises the preroga-
tives OF his position as committee chair
man and the weight of the dignity
tia. position gives him to hold the lid
firm.
- Never Talk"
Il never discuss prohibition or the
prohibiticn enforcement act, Vol
stead tells you if you seek to lead HIM
aheld into the consideration OF the
merits c. light wines and beer. pro-
hibition 70 is the wet influence in pol
iitcs and .;aircd subjects,
Therein has been much Of Vol
stead's Iat"rnal strength in protecting
his Legislative progeny.
Had Il uied to argue the merits
OF his enforcement act, his enemies
might have tangled and confused his
statements and made capital Of them.
But on railroads or coal mines or
matters not referred to the judiciary
committee for action Volstead will
talk as freely as the most ardent adj
vocate Of booze will discuss Vol
stead. Those issues, and not prohibi-
ton, Volstead will tell you, are the
serious problems to be faced just now
There is probably no man in con-
gress whose name is so widely known
but about whom as an individual SC
little is known, as Volstead.
Little Gray Man"
He might aptly be described as
The Little Gray Man
Sixty-two years OF age, slight OF
build, unassuming in carriage and
presence, the outstanding factor in his
appearance is the leaden-gray over
tone that seems to enshroud him.
His plain, rather darkish-gray suit
matches almost perfectly in hue the
gray of his mustache and his HAIR
which in turn blend with the gray
OF his eyes. His serious, almost sol,
emn, attitude toward all subjects o.
discussion further cast a grayish aura
about his personality. There is nc
suggestion of color, OF gaiety, Oh
sparkle or scintillation about him. On
Iy quiet, earnest, serious, grayness..
Born in Goodhue county, Mimi, II
1860, when that state was still an out
post of our northwestern frontier, Vol
stead is a product of the hardwork
ing, serious-thinking people witt
whom his whole life has been cast.
A firm in Dundee, Scotland has re