The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-03-21

Both Camps Plan Bitter
Fight for Control of
Congress.
-. BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Copyright, 1922, by The Argus.)

(COpyr1SnL, 1Sll, Dy Inc ATguS.J
Washington, March 81. = The
greatest of battles between the vets
and dry forces in America is i'm
pending. Twenty or more national
organizations will be in the fight
for modification of the Volstead law
and at least 20 associations, COM
prising the allied temperance forces
of America will resist that effort.
I 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.
The issue is not partisan. The
prohibition forces intend to support
Republicans or Democrats as the
case may be, who have stood by
them in congress, and they similarly
will do all in their power to pre-
vent the denomination or reelection
of Democrats or Republicans who
have leaned on the west side.
Drys Have Money.
I'VE know which members to op-
pose, how they were elected, where
their majorities came from and how
to organize opposition that prom
ises to replace vets with 'drys' We
are making over 1000 special ad-
dresses in all states every Sunday
and in the congressional campaign
we will be able to put 1900 special
prohibition speakers, aside from
volunteers, into the various con.
gressional districts throughout the
/ Union.
Are Confident.
I'VE intend especially to maintain
safe, strong majority in the SEN
| ate to guarantee that no anti-pro-
| hibition can be passed up from the
house to the president. Thirty-tWC
states had voluntarily adopted pro-
| hibition before the 18th amendment
was put on the constitution so that
we feel sure OF keeping dry majori-
| ties in both houses of congress.
| 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 elec-
ton of 40 more drys in the 9th
than were in the seth congress
That disposed of the idea that the
people would repeal prohibition if
the question could be sent to a ma
| tional referendum"
The prohibition leaders have
been stirred to greater activity
among the labor unions ever since
Samuel Gompers issued a statement
on behalf of the American Fedora
ton of Labor urging a modification
of the Volstead law The claim is
made by the "drys" that thousands
of labor unions have endorsed pro-
: hibition and will not stand for
light wines and beer
Vets Want Beer, Wine.
"The vets do not base their
campaign on the question of repeal
ing the 18th amendment They
are concentrating on the Volstead
law hoping to exhibit certain of Its
provisions as too extreme and in
consistent with the intent of the
18th amendment. The objective is
the return of light wines and beer.
This election for congress is the
first in which a prohibition issue
can be fought out without being
encountered by national presiden-
tiaI questions and party platforms.
It's the first time since the 18TH
amendment was adopted that the
returned soldier who is said to be
against prohibition will have a
chance to register a protest.