Evening star., 1922-02-28
PARTY HEADS WILL
DODGE WET ISSUE
Wine and Beer Question Held
important Only In Ger
tain Localities.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

Will light wines and beer be an
issue in the congressional campaign
this autumn? :
The view at both republican and
democratic national headquarters as
outlined to this correspondent is that
neither party will make an issue OF
1t. but that 1t may become of vital
Importance in certain localities. The
American Federation Of Labor, in its
appeal for the election of members
Of Congress who will vote for light
wines and beer as their "interpretat
tion" of the eighteenth amendment,
does not name either party as the
/ be effected. And II the prohibition
laws ever are revised the chances are
| the vote will be bipartisan.
sentiment Ii Divided.
As analyzed by the political lead
| ers here. the cities and natural CEN
ters are interested in seeing the sale
| of light wines and beer made legal,
while the country districts are just the
Usually cities. and Industrial CEN
| ters in the north are strongly demo-
| cratic and also "wet." In recogni-
ton of this sentiment republicans
who sought election in larger city
| and Philadelphia. have openly favor
| ed light wines and beer.
| The canvass by both political head
quarters here shows that the agita-
tion for light wines and beer Is
spotty. 1t ebbs and flows. In some
| localities it Is acute. while in otherB
1t is considered a dead question polit-
| ically.
Despite the announcement of the
intention of the American Federation
4 n M m ooff NJ
paign for light wines and beer.
| neither democratic nor republican
| leaders believe the fight will become
! nationwide. OF course, no one can
primaries. and the experience Of poll
| ticians is that in q congressional cleo
| tion an accumulation Of discomfort
has its effect in producing changes.
If tho light wines and beer agita-
tion should grow. the republicans ans
democrats. For this Is the first con-
gressional election since national pro-
| hibition went into effect which is not
| overshadowed by the war or . presi-
the first opportunity to center their
| thoughts on prohibition alone II they
| desire. AS the American Federation
! Of Labor points out. there Is to be no
| effort to repeal the eighteenth amend
| ment to the Constitution. That would
i
| ess. But Congress does have the
power to interpret what is and what
| is not intoxicating within the mean
| Ing Of the eighteenth amendment.
States has said so. II the American
| people, therefore want TO elect re-
| publicans and democrats pledged to
! raise the alcoholic content from one.
half Of one per cent to two per cent or
| two and three-quarters per cent.
Il q nj m q
| achieve the desired result for them
| without the necessity of submitting
any change in the Constitution to the
| several states.
| for President Harding in 1920 many
| districts normally democratic elected
| republicans to Congress. The demo-
| cratic candidate from the city dis
! tricts. probably will make effective
use of the prohibition question. and
publican Congress- on this subject.
Flaw n Argument.
There's a flaw in the argument, Of
course, that the election Of democrats
would give the people light wines and
beer, for IL the democrts did control
Congress 1t would be a question of
influencing the southern democrats.
who are dry. to change their views.
The answer of the "Wets" to this Is
that the southern democracy would
be visibly moved by any pronounced
demonstration in northern democracy
in favor of a more liberal interpreta-
tion of the liquor laws.
In connection with the agitation for
light wines and beer a new factor
has lately been introduced. 1t is the
suggestion that tax on the legal
sale Of light wines and beer would
bring in more than sufficient reve-
nue. to pay the soldier bonus and
would deliver body blow at the
bootlegger. who evades income tax and
plies his trade at an immense profit.
looks at present as If it will be local
and non-partisan. And neither the re-
publican nor democratic national
chairmen has any present intention
of regarding 1t as party matter.
Copyright. 1927