New-York tribune., 1922-11-10
Friends and Foes of
Volstead Act Arm for
Battle, Each Claiming
Victory in Elections
Seek to Legalize
Wines and Beers
Change i'm Personnel of
House Insures Liberal
Action, Says Hinckley

WASHINGTON, Nov. 9.--Thc polit-
ical complexion Of the next Congress
having been definitely established, in
terest turned to-day to the probable
lineup on the question Of modification
Of the prohibition enforcement laws.
Both drys and vets were claiming a
victory as a result Of Tuesdays cleo
tiops.
For the Anti-Saloon League Wayne
b. Wheeler, general counsel, said the
vets would not have as many votes
by three at least In the Senate as
heretofore, and that their strength in
the House would not exceed lao, or
aeventy-eight less than majority.
On the other hand, the Association
Against the Prohibition Amendment,
through G. G. Hinckley, its general
secretary, claimed gain Of eighty
liberal votes in the House, which, IL
was asserted, would give actual con-
troll to those favoring modification.
Plan Blow at Volstead Act
"The pronounced increase in the
wet membership" said Mr.. Hinckley's
statement, renders highly probable
the passage of liberal legislation in
the next session Of Congress that will
strike the first blow at the more
stringent provisions Of the Volstead
act.
Involved in this view is a consid-
Grafton Of the change in headshipg OF
the powerful committees in the House
The defeat of Andrew j. Volstead. OF
Minnesota, removes the author Of the
Objectionable prohibition enforcement
act as chairman of the House Judi.
ciary Committee, giving the place &c
Representative Graham, of pennsyl
vania, an avowea wet.
The passing of MondeIl leaves tn,
majority leadership on the floor eithe,
to Representative Longworth. of Ohio
f Representative Mann, of Iiiinois
both reelected and both indorsed by
the association because of their atti.
tude on prohibition"
Mr.. Hinckley said the House leader.
ship would be in the hands of a
liberal and that this might be ey.
pected to influence materially the vote
on any future liberal" legislation. He
was of the opinion also that the re-
suit In Tuesdays election would have
it's effect on members who hitherto
have refrained from voting on the en-
forcement question.
Wheeler Denies Wet Claims
Mr., Wheeler in his statement de-
clared that the claims Of the Asso-
citation Against the Prohibition Amend
ment of gain of eighty votes in the
next House were "like the foam on a
glass of beer-nothing substantial to
it."
ain the House, said Mr.. Wheeler,
their total strength in the past FOR
any beer or light wine amendment or
similar weakening amendment to the
national prohibition act was not more
than 1873. The last reports we have
from the various states, with few
districts out, show that they will never
muster lao votes for any such amend
ment. Their vote, will probably be
much less than that.
"The only real test OF sentiment on
the 2.75 per cent beer issue this year
was in Ohio, where the proposal was
defeated by more than 100000. In
Illinois the organized dry forces did
not vote either way on the beer pro-
posal.
"The defeat of the enforcement
codes in Massachusetts and California
Is no loss because we never had any
codes in those states"
Both Foresee Battle
Both the "wets" and the "drys" are
preparing for fight in the new Con-
gress. Mr.. Hinckley declared tho out
look was Extremely" favorable for the
carrying out Of the preliminary" pro-
gram of his organization, and other
leaders of the "wets" entertained q
similar view.
Just what the program of attack on
the Yolstead law will be has not yet
been fully developed, but it is expected
to be direct proposition for the sale
of light wines and beer. That proposal
was put forward in connection with the
soldiers bonus bill at the last session,
but it never received serious con-
sideration. Representative Britten. of
Illinois, announced to-day, however,
that 1t would be renewed.
Treasury and other officials looked
for proposals to modify the enforce
ment act. Treasury officers, however.
said the policy Of strict enforcement
would continue until Congress acted.
Unless the question actually comes
up in Congress, IL was indicated that
little consideration would be given at
the Treasury to taxes on beer and
light wines as possible source OF
revenue.