Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1922-10-20
VETS TRY HARD TO
DEFEAT VOLSTEAD
Liquor Interests Must Remove Vol
stead To Get Wet Bills Before
I House, Says Ebbert

nUuSC, Gays GUUG4L
"The 18th Amendment is here to
stay as long as this country remains
a republic but what is defined as in
toxicating liquor may be changed
by any Congress at any time. Only
a mere majority is necessary to say
that soft drinks containing 8, 4, or 5
per cent alcohol are not intoxicating
and your girl and your boy can get
the stuff in every cafe, every soft
drink parlor or restaurant in the
land. 1t is necessary then to send
to Congress that person who will
and can, keep the wet forces from
getting the upper hand. That man
is Mr.. A. J. Volstead from this very
district" said Capt Ebbert at the
Armory Friday night.
Less than fifty people heard Cap
tain F. B. Ebbert, Spanish-American
and World War veteran, at the arm
ory Friday night on the issues Of the
congressional campaign. Capt. Eb-
bert is representing the Anti-Saloon
League and is not committed to any
candidate for Congress except that
one who will best aid In the un-
ceasing war against the powerful
and grasping liquor interests.
THAT is the fight Of the liquor
crowd said Mr.. Ebbert "to gain
control of Congress or at least con-
troll Of the judiciary Committee, so
they can introduce wet bills into the
House of Representatives. And they
are spending huge sums of money to
defeat Volstead, for according to the
laws of the House, the oldest sitting
member Of the party in the majority,
becomes the chairman of the ju-
dietary committee. It is very nee
essary that that man be the right
kind of man, for this is very
powerful and responsible committee"
Let me explain" said Capt. Ebbert
"how the chairman of the Ju-
dietary Committee has such control
over legislation. Every bill or pro-
posed law must go to the judiciary
Committee before it can get to the
House. The chairman Of this COM
mittee then appoints subcommittee
to examine the bill and report It,
This subcommittee then hears the
arguments for and against the bill,
perhaps calling in experts and con-
tinuing the hearing for a week or
more. This committee then reports
it's findings back to the Judiciary
Committee as committee of the
whole. If the report of the sub
committee on the bill is favorable,
it usually passes and then goes to the
House, is put on the calendar and
finally comes UP for vote. If the
report is unfavorable, then the bill
dies. If the chairman Of the Ju-
dietary Committee is dry, then he
simply puts dry Congressman on the
subcommittee and that is the last
Of the bill. If he is wet, then he will
appoint men on the subcommittee
who are wet and the bill will appear
in the House of Representatives and
come up for vote"
Now you see why the chairman
of the Judiciary Committee has so
much influence" Mr.. Ebbert went on
''The next two Congressman in line
manship are both wet men, one is
from Philadelphia and the other
from St. Louis. They represent the
brewers and the liquor interests.
They will see to it that the liquor
bills reach the House. And let me
tell you that the bills are brought in
No less than six came before the
Judiciary Committee in the last
Congress. - 49,
Capt. Ebbert grew very emphatic
when he said, big Business does not
want Volstead elected The vets
would rather see Bryan or Billy Sun
day elected than Volstead. There
is a tremendous campaign on to de-
feat your Congressman here. 1 do
| not know his opponent, Rev. Kvale,
but I understand that he is dry. A
newcomer in Congress would be a
nonentity for two or three terms and
could do little or nothing. He could
| not change conditions. The vets
are doing their best to defeat Vol
stead and get back beer and light
wines by changing the volstead act
defining what is Intoxicating liquor.
Let me tell you that they don't care
much for the whiskey SALE, for before
this country was dry, 95 per cent of
the liquor business was In beer and
wines. s
''The key to the dry situation is
the craftsmanship Of the Judiciary
Committee" continued Capt Ebbert.
Don't let anyone fool you on that.
The mass of Congressman from New
York state and from Chicago are
committed to modify the Volstead
act. but so long as A. ]. Volstead
sits in the House as chairman of the
Judiciary Committee, they will be
held at bay"
I - q.