Evening star., 1927-09-06
Funeral Plans.
WHEELER's CAREER RECALLED.
Champion Of Prohibition Began His
Work i'm College.

Wayne B. Wheeler's active partici-
patton in the prohibition movement
began at Oberlin College in 1894. when
he, like many other members of the
graduating class, was wondering what
career he would follow in life.
DR.. Howard II. Russell, founder of
the then recently organized Anti
Saloon League, needed a young man
to assist him in the league work, and
he later described as follows bis find"
of Wayne b. Wheeler:
81 very much needed an earnest
young college-bred man to help in the
pioneer organization work. Thus /
described the man to several Okcrlin
College professors: This job calls for
hard. uphill work. A league work
man to succeed must be tactful, tire
less, optimistic, resourceful. He must
be a good speaker, a good mixer. a
self-sacrificing fellow who yearfis to
help the other fellow. Who fills that
bill in the class of 1S94?' Every
teacher consulted promptly replied
Wayne b. Wheeler"
Crusaders First Victory.
Two years after he joined the
ranks of the Anti-Saloon League that
organization decided to help the pas.
sage Of its first temperance bill by try
ing to defeat the members of the
State Legislature of Ohio who opposed
it. John r. Locke, then floor leader
of the lower house of the Legislature,
was a candidate for the State Senate.
He was considered n political power,
pronounced wet" and his votes
would come from the Counties of
Clarke, Madison and Champagne.
During the Summer preceding the
election young Wheeler rode on a bi-
cycle throughout the counties, address
ing church gatherings and generally
pleading with the voters not to elect
Locke. The political leaders laughed
at Wheeler and what they considered
his puny efforts But the people went
to the polls and defeated Locke.
He once called this experience his
first victory, and it showed him that
the real power for defeating the liquor
interests lay with the voters. His life
was spent in organizing and develop
ing this power. He became an expert
at laying the groundwork throughout
the country for campaigns in Wash
ington. Ten years ago he came to
Washington, when the Anti-Saloon
League felt that the time was ripe
for concentrating it's forces, previous
ly directed in the States, upon the Ma
tional Government. He thereafter
remained in Washington, keeping
watchful eye on the aCpitol. corralltng
by personal calls the congressman
whose votes were needed to pass
SOM :. measure tightening the enforce
ment of prohibition appearing at hear
ings before congressional committees
and ever watching the newspapers for
statements or propaganda from his OPP
ponents. in order that he might answer
them with statements OF his own.
His last appearance at the Capitol
was during the Senate slush fund IN
Vestigations Here he was TO clash
with one of his keenest and most bit
ter enemies, Senator Reed of Missouri,
chairman of the committee conduct
ing the investigations. The expected
clash was heralded far and wide, and
the committee room was jammed for
days awaiting the battle of wits that
was to take place between the steely'
eyed Missourian and Wayne Is.
Wheeler. But though Senator Reed
used his traditional skill at cross-eX-
animation, Wheeler was no mean wit
ness. There were no fireworks. No
decision was rendered after the battle
for whether Reed or Wheeler was the
victor depended upon the point of
view of those who occupied the side
lines.
The strain of the last session Of Con-
gress--for a session Of Congress al
ways meant hard work for the dry