Douglas daily dispatch., 1927-09-06

wherever he appeared, the Vets were
there cunning for him. Even with
this every day running Of the gaIlnt-
let the forces associated with him
were uniformly successful in beat
ing back every threatened advance
of the opponents of the dry laws.
Soon after enactment of the Vol
stead act someone coined the word
"Wheelerism" which was freely used
on the floor of the senate and the
house by those who assisted them.
The Anti-Saloon League had set up
super government" which crack
ed the lash on the backs of congress
as well as the officials of the adj
ministration. Some one else facetious-
ly defined the word as a state of
mind which put senator or rep
resentative to sleep during some ter
rifle onslaught by the militant vets,
and awakened him refreshed in time
to cry eyes" while the clerk recorded
his vote in favor of another blow at
the liquor trade.
Nevertheless "Wheelersim" was the
target. of invective wherever the
never r-Surrendering Vets came to-
gether, and to the Drys it was a
force that even the Vets recognized
as almost all-powerful and against
! which their shock troops were sent
time and again in vain assaults.
Besides guiding the policies of the
Ant-Salooni League in matters Of
legislation, Mr.. Wheeler was ever at
hand when appointments were to be
made at the treasury to carry out
this legislation.
He was never slow to make known
his opposition to treasury decisions
which he considered adverse to pro-
hibition interests. No treasury Off,
cials, from the secretary down, was
immune from Wheeler criticism in
SUCH instances. One of the long
fights made by him at the treasury
was for the retention of Roy A.
Haynes as prohibition commissioner
and this contest was carried to the
White House. Mr.. Haynes finally lost
out, but with his departure Lincoln
G. Andrews, Assistant Secretary in
charge of enforcement, who was
opposed to Haynes, resigned from the
service. Wheeler's friends claimed he
got at least a draw in this slxirmish.
Mr. Wheeler had shown the effects
of illness during the last session of
the Goth congress, and Dry advocates
had looked anxiouSly about to see
who would be able to take up the
work he had been so successful in.
It was admitted on every side that
his death would be heavy blow to
the dry forces carrying on, their CAM
paign here. Some vets even private
ly declared that someone with the
energy of the anti-saloon league
chieftain might have been invaluable
to their cause in the days when the
lines were being drawn on the pro-
hibition issue.
He was married to Ella B. Candy
of Columbus, O., in 1901 and they
had three children, Robert Wayne,
Donald Hyde and Joseph Candy. The
tragic death of his wife in fire in
his home was stunning blow to
him.
He began temperance work while
still at college and was member
of many organizations interested in
prohibition.
Mr.. Wheeler was taken i'll last.
Thursday with kidney ailment from
which he had been undergoing treat
ment for several years. He was re-
moved from his home to a. hospital
and after an examination rushed to
the sanitariun where it was at first
decided to perform an operation.
Mr.. Wheeler apparently responded
rapidly to treatment, however, and
showed SO much improvement yester-
day that it was decided not to operate.
A bulletin issued late last night by
his physician, Dr. Lloyd E. Verify, said
the dry leaders, condition had, i'm
proved to such an extent that it was
thought he would be out of danger
within a few days.
Today, however, his condition took
a sudden turn for the worse and he
sank rapidly, and died about $50 o. m.
Members of Mr.. Wheeler'S family
were at the bedside when death oc-
Cured.
Mr.. Wheeler's death followed that
of his wife by few weeks. Mrs.
Wheeler was fatally burned in an oil
stove explosion at the Wheeler home
which also indirectly was the cause of
the death of her father. Seeing his
QduSI1OCI 1uo11 11lLO u TOOul, IlGT clOCA~
ing in flames the aged man was strick-
en- with heart attack which proved
fatal
Mr.. Wheeler had just returned from
Cleveland where the funeral of his
wife and father-in-law were held
when he was taken ill. His condition
was not thought serious until his re-
moval to the hospital. Even then ply
Sicians did not consider his condition
grave
Funeral arrangements. have not yet
been completed but it is thought burial
will be at Columbus beside that of his
wife.
Mr.. Wheeler had told his physicians
that he felt much better and had asked
permission to read in his bed. A nurse
handed him book and as he lifted it,
he fell forward dead. DR.. Verify de-
clared Mr.. Wheeler's death was due
to a heart attack aggravated by the
kidney trouble.
The body was taken to a local un-
dertaking establishment and will be
accompanied to Columbus by one son
and q frinpd Dr EOward EVde RuS-