The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-02-28
LIGHT WINES
AND BEER NO
PARTY ISSUE
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
Copyright by Tho 1ntsnigsncer)

Washington. Feb. @7.--W!N Nght
vines and hse~ be an issue IN The cen
Sress!onal campaign th!s autumn?
The view q; bota Republican and
Democratic national headquarters as
outlined "a this correspondent today $
that neither |IHTty w.I make an issue
OF IL but that !: ma" hcrun" Of Nttal
Importance In certain !orait'"S. Tie
American Federation Of Labor m itS
arpea! :or Ihc election oC members OF
congress WHO Will vote Tor light Wines
and beer as their "!u:erpretatloa" II
the eighteenth amendment does no;
ramo either political party Is the me-
diam Through which n change can he
effected. And II the prohibition laws
eIer are revised the chances are the
vote will be b!-pacc!sar.
AS ana!yzcd by the po,itlca! leaders
here The cities and industrial! ceaters
are interested N seeing the sale ~ light
wines and beer made legal whilst the
coan,ry districts are just the opposite.
Usually cities and Industrial ccnters
n the north are strongly democratic
and also wet. In recognition Of this
sentiment. Republicans who sought cleo
iion in larger city districts. as tcr in
stance IN Baltimore and Philadelphia.
have openly favored light wines and
beers.
Tho canvass by both political head
quarters here shows that tho agitation
fo- ,lEhc Wines and beer Is spot.y. II
ehhs and flows. II some localities :. IS
acute while IN others :: Is considered a
dead question politically.
no Nationwide Fight
Despite the announcement y: ;he in
ient,ou Of tho American Federation OF
Labor to Aage an active campaign for
l!s6t wines md 5ee:.| neither Demo-
cr$Ic nor Republican leaders believe
the ashc w'N become nationwide. or
course no one can tel what the lssues
.,w.,l be IN ;hc primaries and tho expert
Fence Of politicians IS that In a congress
slonal election an accumulation OF DIS
content has i:s effect IL producing
changes.
II the High. wine and hce- agitation
shows growth. the Republicans lave
more 70 fear from Il than the Demo-
rrats. For this Is the first congressional
s,ection since national prohibition went
INTO effect which Is not overshadowed
by the war or a political election. II
affords the voters fhe first opportunity
20 center their thoughts on prohibition
s.ore z they desire. As the American
Federation ot Labor points out. there Is
10 be no effort TO repeal. the eighteenth
amendment TO the constitution. That
would be too laborioua and lengthy
process Eut congress does nave the
power 20 interpret what Is and what IL
not Intoxicating within the meaning OF
tho eighteenth amendment. Tho su-
premr court Of The Cn!ted States has
gald So II tho American people. there
fore van: 10 elect Republicans and
DcmoerntS pledged to raise the alcoholic
content from one-half OF on" per cent
To- two per cent nr swo and ;hree-1uar-
,ers per cen'. p simple majority OF c9n-
greSe can achieve the desired result
for them without the necessity NJ sub
hitting any change in The constitution
20 tte several states. \!
no Party Matter
Y so happens that IN ~" landslide Cor
President Harding n 1920 many dis
tr;c,s normally Democratic elected Re-
rub,irans 20 congress. IT," Democratic
,.nuG!da'es from tho city districts prob
ABLY will make effective nsc o' the pro-
= h.h!..nr question and w!'l point % tho
-rco-d ~ ~" E"aIh.ira1 congress on
.:!s subject, There "a = faw II tHe
argument % course that TO election
ur p"u,acra.s would give The people
'EghtA wines and hee- FOR !r rho Demo
cra.s d'd coat"o' congress- = would he
= question ot influencing the southern
Democrats "NH arc dry - rHaNSe 'neE
views Tho answer ~ ;hr 'wcts" %
MIS- Is tina. thn southern Democracy
v-oa:G he r!S&h.v moved ~ any pro-
,r'rrcei demon S:-ot!0r n northern
p",1or-arv N fI"nr.-Nr moro liberal
.,,.sr!re = !n& y: 80 l!uun- laws.
IL connection With thH G,'tatlor t6-
,..I, winCs ond h~"r u new factor has
.ateir hc"n !Dtroduccd. L - 'he sug-
res,'cr t'It = :aN on the legal sale. ns
'!rh, vines and heer wnW,1 h-.aC -
moro ,H~., s,isTci"as revea.io - ray tho
sn'djc. bonus and VOID 6"'!"H- n BODY
blow a. 40 hoot,cSr'- who cvadas In
COMO .av and plies re tradc a: a. ~
..,~as, --"c; Rut. rn,!sicail" speaking
-ne ISSUE 'ooiiG ~ r~tscnt as - !: viii
10 io~7l 1oU ~ -t.saa aHd ncl'he- the
r"1uhN'03 ror Rnmor-a;!r national
-ho!~rraT has acv present intention os
-r:ar,l'uC T, ne 7 party matter