The Washington times., 1925-12-05
VETS AND DRYS
IN CONGRESS
LINE UP
R...Aie Expected to Be Halted
In Years-Anti-SaIoon
Leagues Plans
BY GEORGE R. HOLMES


Instead Of an orderly, business
like session devoted to reducing
taxes and passing appropriation
bills, the new Sixty-ninth Congress
gave promise today, on the eve OF
It's assembly, of becoming a verb
table Donnybrook Fair, with a
dozen spectacular fights in the
offing, and a real one impending
over prohibition.
Wet and Dry Battle
Any doubt but that the wet-and-
dry issue is to be dragged forth
and fought over was dispelled today
by the rapid-fire developments OF
the week, which included the an
nouncement by Congressman Dyer
R.) of Missouri that he will in
troduce a bill fatty repeating the
Volstead law; the vitriolic attack
on the Administration enforcement
policies by twenty-odd reform or.
ganizations, and the announcement
today of the Anti-Saloon Leagues
legislative program for the session.
While not openly endorsing the
extreme measures advocated by the
reform organizations headed by
Clinton n. Howard, the Anti-Saloon
League nevertheless served notice
that 1t is going to marshall its not
inconsiderable strength in the new
Congress to put real teeth in the
dry laws.
The league wants, 1t announced,
every prohibition agent put under
civil service. 1t seeks the deporta.
ton OF every alien convicted OF
violating the Volstead act and
wants a law to divest all intoxicat.
ing liquor of its legal status, when
ever and wherever procured.
Another law is sought putting
nearly all violations in the felony
class. It would use the navy to
enforce the Volstead act; extension
Of the search and seizure provisions
and has drafted a law compelling
the teaching Of the constitution in
public schools.
The educational campaign" will
be continued by bill posters and
advertising to propagandize for OBJ
servance OF the law, and finally,
it will ask "any other legislation
necessary to enforce the eighteenth
amendment"
Many New Members
How much of this program can
be put over is problemtical
The Sixty-ninth Congress, with
nearly 100 new members Of the
OF the Senate, is rated. by vets and
drys alike as "about rs per cent
wet and rs per cent dry"
The vets are all wet, and ihe
drys are Of varying degrees OF dry.
ness, and therein lies the question
mark.
Many ostensibly dry Congress
men are not dry to the extent of
blindly following the leagues d.
fection, although they are opposed
to the repeal Of the Volstead law
aud the Eighteenth amendment.
To signalize the approaching
fight, the Anti-Saloon League held
q big banquet last night, which
was attended by many of the
radical drys attending the con-
vention here of the United Com
mittee for Prohibition Enforce
ment. and by many members Of
Congress.
Deny Chance for VETS
The Congressman assured the dry
1aymen that there was no chance
of the vets making any real head
way at this session, and they also
assured the leagues officials that
president Coolidge is heart and
soul behind the Eighteenth amend
ment."
In response to these Congress.
sional assurances, Doctor F. Scott
Mcbride, general superintendent of
the league. served notice that:
1T is the purpose of this or
ganization to take the stump in
the backwoods of America until
every wet Congressman is sent TO
political oblivion"
Congressman Cramton Rep) Of
Michigan assured the dry leaders
that he was certain of the passage
OF his bill to deport all aliens upon
conviction Of violating the Vols:ead
act.
Some Reassuring Words
A score Of Congressional speakers
spoke re-assuring words, among
them Senator Dale of Vermont, Har.
reid or Oklahoma, Brookhart Of
Iowa. Howell Of Nebraska; Congress
man Newton Of Minnesota, Kelly of
pennsylvania. Hudson Of Michigan,
THOMPSON Of Ohio. Timberlake of
Colorado. Hershey Of Maine, Stroth-
er and Bowman Of West Virginia,
Byrnes Of Tennessee. Barley of
Kentucky. Sanders of Louisiana,
Rathbone Of Illinois. Brown of Wis.
consin. Tillman of Arkansas. Aber-
nathy OF North Carolina. Gasque of
South Carolina. and Johnson of
Washington.
The injection Of some religious
bitterness into the fight was en-
vtstoned by the letter indited by the
radical drys of the Howard conven-
ton TO Pope Plus. appealing to him
10 bring pressure to bear on Catho-
lies TO observe the law.
Letter Is Attacked
The Reverend John J. Burke.
general secretary Of the National
Catholic Welfare Council. character
lied the letter as 'impudent"
THE impudence of demanding
that the Holy Father personally
interfere in the domestic politica
affairs of our country will be patent
to everyone" he said.
Prohibition Is a political cues
ton; was born Of politics, and 20
day is the most critical political
question in America"
Howard denied today that his
letter to the Pope was 'fnpudent. =
On the contrary, he told Inter
national News Service, the letter
was subscribed to by the Catholics