The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-06-08
Hard Road Ahead Of Repeater In Badger State With Drys Claiming Majority In Senate Governor Would Sign Bill
LAF0LLETTE MAY SEEK TO DEFEAT PROPOSITION
VoIstead Leaders Claim 19 Out Of 33 Senators Favor
 Prohibition - House Vote Smaller Than Expected

MADISON, Wis, June 7.-"Wets," in the Wisconsin legislature. have taken the first step toward modify ing prohibition, but a hard road lies ahead of the Tucker bill repeating the Stevenson state prohibition en- forcement act.
 Shortly after the assembly had voted Thursday 10 engross the Tuck CT repealer by the narrow margin of 47 to 43, Assemblyman Lindahl, wet" floor leader, withdrew his res olution commenting Gov. Al Smith for signing the New York dry law repealer.
 The dry forces immediately claim ed that the opposition had been frightened out by the narrow margin of their first victory. This victory must be repeated before the bill goes to the Senate.
 If the Tucker bill succeeds In final passage in the assembly We'd nesday, the dry leaders claim, the Senate is sure to kill 1t. Senator Stevenson. author of the dry law. say S that 19 out of 33 senators will vote to kill the bill if it gets to the upper house. The "wets" have conceded all along that the repealer's best chances were in the house. and the four-vote margin of Thursday, which encouraged them. The senate has defeated number of less drastic wet" bills.
 Blaine Would Sign. -s...-
 Gov. John G. Blaine, 1t Is under stood. will sign the repealer if he gets the chance.
 Meanwhile, bill proposing a ref erendum of the Eighteenth amend ment, defeated by the "wets" them selves, has been referred to the judi ciary committee for an amendment providing for a referendum on modi- fication of the Nolstead act.
 Blaine's wet attitude has been connected with the presidential pos sobilities of Senator Robert M. La Toilette which are naturally re- garded brighter in Wisconsin than anywhere else. The two men are political comrades. and although self on the prohibition issue. it is held that his chances as conceiv- able republican or third party can didate would not be helped if Wis consin followed New York's lead and went wet. Most of LaFollette's support WOulu nave lo cOiiS u oHi tAe comparatively dry west.
 Hence some attempt Is expected by the drys to persuade both La Toilette and Blaine to lend their moral support" against the Tucker repealer. on the ground that it is too drastic, in the approaching sen ate fight.
 LaFOllette, Jr., Takes Action.
 Robert LaFollettc, Jr., son of the senator. his secretary. and chairman of the state central republican com mittee, conferred with Assemblyman Price. progressive dry" leader, just before the vote, and Price later held whispered conversation With As sem blyman Peterson of Milwaukee, a wet" What was said could not be learned.
 The 46 to 43 vote Is expected to pre- vail Wednesday in the final assembly passage. The same ballot was cast twice, first against a motion to Kill the repealer. and again on its en- grossment. The votes were accom- panied by oratory.
 The country is going to hell under prohibition" Assembiyman Anton Holly of Tisch Mills declared. T weep to see boys and girls drunk now when they never drank liquor before.''
 It's the fault of the parents" re- torted Assemblyman Peltier. Door county spiritualist. They won't watch the kids"