Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-09-06
INTERPOLATION Body's Ads
Urging Senator's Defeat
Split Wet Ranks.
REFERENDUM ATTACKED
IN COURT BY DRY SIDE
Both Wisconsin Candidates Will.
ing to Abide by Popular View
on Modification.
BY G.. GOULD LINCOLN.
staff Correspondent of The star.

MILWAUKEE, Wis, September
6.~Beer-the beverage which made
Milwaukee famous--is playing a ma.
jor part In these closing hours of
Wisconsin's strenuous campaign for
the senatorial and gubernatorial nomi-
nations. Not all the people of Wis
consin are vets. The State has its
dry element. But the wet vote is very
considerable, and all sides are hoping
for and angling for this vote.
In the senatorial race Gov. Blaine
is an out-and-out wet. willing to re
peal the eighteenth amendment an6
the Eolstead act. Senator Lenroot
whom he is trying to unhorse, voted
for the Eighteenth amendment and
for the Volstead enforcement act and
to override the veto of President Will
son of the Volstead act
But Senator Lenroot, like other
legislators, has not been unmindful
Of the developing wet sentiment in
Wisconsin and out of 1t in recent
months. He has modified his stand
to the extent of saying that he will
abide by the decision of the people ot
the State in referendum on the pro
posal that 2.75 per cent beer shall be
made legal.
Blaine People See Catch.
There is a catch in this. the Blaine
people say. for the referendum may
never be held. If it is not there is
nothing to prevent Senator Lenroot
from using his own judgment in re.
gard to the liquor or rather the beer,
question If it ever comes again be
fore the Senate for action.
The Anti-Saloon League has sought
an injunction to halt the proposed
referendum. 1t takes the ground that
1t requires the passage of a bill by
the State Legislature and it's sigma.
ture by the governor in order to have
question placed on the election
ballot next November. 1t appears
that both houses of the Legislature
adopted a resolution for a referendum
on 2.75 per cent at the last session
of the Legislature, and it is on this
resolution that 1t Is now proposed to
hold the referendum. Furthermore
it Is urged that the Legislature made
no appropriation for holding such a
referendum.
The matter is now before the Su.
preme Court of the State for argu'
ment and Is to be heard when the
court resumes for it's Fall term. Sep.
tember 13 or 20. Attorney General
Ekern. who Is a candidate for the
guberratorial nomination with La
Toilette backing, will appear in op-
position to the petition of the Anti
Saloon League and the attorneys OF
the league also will be heard.
Estimates Small Expense.
II believe that under our form of
Government, resting as it does on the
will of the people. the voters should
be afforded the fullest and freeest op.
portunity for an expression of that
WILL" Mr.. Ekern said in support OF
his attitude toward the injunction
He added that so far as the appro
priation was concerned. 1t would not
take more than SIS to pay for the
referendum--that all that would be
required would he to print the ques
ton on the ballots, which must be
prepared anyway.
The question upon which the people
of Wisconsin are asked to vote in this
proposed referendum follows:
Shall the Congress of the United
SLdJeS dII1SI1u Tie NOIStCdu dCt 81 az
to authorize the manufacture and
sale of beer. for beverage purposes
Of an alcoholic percentage of 2.75 per
cent by weight, under Government
supervision, but with the provision
that no beverage so purchased shall
be drunk on the premises where tb
tained?"
Referendum Advisory.
The referendum. as it is clearl,
understood, is merely advisory te
Congress. It has no binding effec1
and cannot affect the law. unless Con
gress adopts the suggestion. But II
it is voted upon and the advocates o.
beer are successful, as they are ex
pected to be the State over. then Wis
consin will be ranged as wet witt
New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois anc
other States. where the demand fol
some kind of modification of the DIR,
laws is very strong. Naturally the
drys are anxious to prevent this ane
they are attempting, through a lega
point, to prevent the taking of the
referendum.
Secretary Of state Fred r. thinner
man. who Is also a candidate for the
cubernatorial nomination, has an
nounced he will place the question or
the ballot. and II Is to prevent his do
ing so that the Anti-Saloon League
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