, 1922-11-22
LIBERALS CLAIM
CONTROL OF HOUSE
MondeIl's Successor Wet Will
Strike First Blow At Volstead
Act Believe Favorable
Legislation Sure

washington, Nov. 21.-The pronoun-
ced increase in the wet MEMBERSHIPS
OF the Nationatl House of Representa-
ives, as a result of Tuesdays ele--
Ion, render highly probable he pas-
a OF liberal legislation in the next
session of Congress that will strike
tne hrst blow at the more stringent
provisions of the Volstead Act. ac-
cording to an analysis of the situation
as given out by the Association Az
the Prohibition Amendment
from its headquarters here recently.
Although sanguine o fmaterial gains
at the polls this year, the Association
mad hitherto made no claims that the
point would be reached where positive
headway could be made in legislative
notifications looking to the legaliz-
ing of the manufacture and sale of
wine and beer.
With the election returns practi-
cally all in, however, G. c. Hincklev.
national secretary of the organization
claimed that the gain of eighty lib
eral' votes gives actual control of the
House to the notifications. and de-
clared the outlook extremely favor.
able for the carrying out of the prelim-
mary program of his organization at
the coming session.
Involved in this view is a consider
alton of the change of h~eadships os
powerful committees in the House
n defeat of Andrew J.. Volstead of
Minnesota removes the author of the
Objectionable prohibition enforcement
act from the craftsmanship of the
House Judiciary Committee. giving
the place over to Congressman George
ID. Graham of Pennsylvania, an avow-
ed wet"
very important also from the stand
point of the organization. Mr. H;nct
ley said, is the change that will he
naue IN other phases of House control.
ne passing OF Mondell leaves the ma
Jority leadership on the floor either
TO Representative Nick Longwortb NJ
ONO or Representative Jim Mann of
Illinois, both reelected, and both nav.
ing been endorsed by the Association
a of their attitude on the pro.
hibition issue.
ihese are among the Indirect
changes brought about in favor of
nperal Legislation by the election re-
SUITS In addition to the obvious in
crease in the wet strength through thu
election of many new liberal candi-
dates" said Mr.. Hinckley. "The cap-
ture of the craftsmanship of the Judi
ciary Committee is an especially graf
flying victory under the circumstance
es, in that the apostle of fanaticaI pro-
hibition measures was overthrow in
the process.
THE fact that the House leadership
will be in the hands of a liberal mem
Der is also a factor of the utmost sig
niticance, and one hat may be ex-
pected to influence materially the vots
on any future liberal legislation that
may be introduced.
"On all prohibition legislation up
to date, a large number of the House
members withheld their votes on inn
portant occasions. When the Vol
stead Act was passed over Wilson'S
veto, on October 81, 1919, the vote
was IT'S for, IS against, and 1913 not
voting. 1t is safe to say that many OF
those not voting then were overawed
by the power of the organized drys as
against the political weakness of the
unorganized vets.
"The result of the recent elections
has reversed this situation, and doubt
less will nave its effect in reversing
the position of the inert members who
have hitherto refrained from voting.
but who will now be encouraged to
take a positive stand in agreement
with their inherent convictions in
support of a modification of the pres
ent drastic prohibition laws.
at is in this way, also, that h
coming majority leadership in the
House will work in our behalf by in
luencing the inert vote of the major
ity membership. The vets of the MI
nority are already largely in the open
and will continue their support"
The Association has entered a Wig
orous denial to the statement attrib-
uted to Wayne B. Wheeler of the
Anti-Saloon League, to the effect that
Pomerene's defeat in Ohio was due TO
his wet leanings. Advices from its
Ohio representatives, officers of the
Association said, are to the effect that
Warren S. Stone, of the Brotherhood
of Locomotive Engineers, flooded the
state with over one hundred thousand
letters asking railroad men to knife
Pomerene on account of his record on
railroad legislation and that this was
the factor which turned the Gale