The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1922-12-16

The tlationas amendment.
I Lift All Restrictions be.
sT Some of the smaller inadequate
wet organization are frankly for lift
ing all restrictions of liquor; re-
turn to the days before prohibition.
These :. smaller units in the lineup
number more than 90 Some Of them
bear names not even remotely con-
connected with their aims. Wayne
B. Wheeler, general counsel for the
Anti-Saloon League lists among
them, the Sanity League of America,
the Puppets League, National Order
Of the Sphinx, Vigilance Committee,
Veterans League, American Long
e,vity Association, National Ameri-
can League and the Molly Pitcher
club. ~ ...
On the other hama some bear
names that evidence a plaintive
yearning for the old days-the Ma
tional Order of Camels, the Anti-Dry
League, Good Fellows of America,
Sanity League for Light wines and
Beer. ~. ...' - $751;.
The Association Against the Pro-
hibition Amendment was organized
byFs William H. Slayton, Baltimore
shipping man, in 1919, because ne
believed that majority OF the
American citizens are opposed to
prohibition. G.. c. Hinckley, secre-
tary, said that his organization now
has 800. 900 members, and is rapid
" gaining in strength Funds for
munitions of war are derived large
ly from dues and contributions.
s Both sides frankly admit actual
participation in politics. Despite the
fact that, the d:ys have an over
Whe!mnfng majority in both houses
Of congress, they are constantly on
the alert TO increase their strength.
Vets are fighting an uphill battle,
but they received great encourage
nnent in the congressional elections
last November. Stayton claimed the
vets gained so votes. Stayton feels
sufficiently encouraged to prophecy
modification Of the Volstead act by
the new congress, which takes office
March 4,l923.
wheeler processes to treat the vet
prophecy lightly. Ec points out that
it requires two-thirds vote OF both
houses to make the change and he
announces absolute confidence in
the ability of the drys to beat of all
assaults.
Publicity Battle a....--.. a e
In tie meantime the battle of the
printing presses is on in full blast
Daily both sides lombard the
country with statistics. Pamphlets
by the millions are showered on The
voters. Drys broadcast figures show
ing the reduced population of the in
sane asylums and ipoorhouses as
evidence of the beneficial influence
of prohibition; the vets retort with
more figures showing increasing in
sanity and penury due to the preva-
lence of bad liquor. s@s%..
Drys print banking statistics to
show that more money is being
saved by thRe who heretofore squan-
dered it on whiskey and the vets re-
ply with bitter broadside of COM
ment and figures showing the scores
of thousands of men and their fami-
lies impoverished because they were
deprived of jobs in breweries, dis
~ tilleries and allied industries.
Drys dwell with glow of pleas
ure on the fact that Jail in some
particular city has been razed be-
cause prohibition has robbed it of
boarders and the vets hurl back a
set of figures showing increased Jail
populations in other cities.
+ And so the battle RACES; printing
presses crashing tons of literature
, hurling through the mails; statistics
confounding statistics same wet
Interpreted to mean many things
and opposing leaders passing the lie.
Whether tie great American thirst
shall or shall not be quenched will be
determined by the voters and indi-
cations are that the 1924 elections
will show whether the country has
harkened to the siren song of the
vets. .,t,a
Il II +. e4Sssgysfr (Tho End1