Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1927-09-06
Registration Starts In Valley Schools Today
Wheeler, Famous
Crusader Of DrY
Forces, Is Dead


R)-Wayne B. Wheeler, the mild
hammered Ohio lawyer who for years
has been prohibitions most famous
and successful crusader Is dead at
the zenith Of brilliant career.
Thirty-three years Of energetic
labor in the cause Of temperance
were ended ut q saritarium here
late yesterday. The general coun-
sci Of the Anti-Saloon League had
asked a nurse TO hand him q book.
He half lifted himself in bed 20
take il. Then a heart strained by
disease and overtaxed by tragedy
which took the life of Mrs. Wheeler
three weeks ago, stopped.
At his bedside were q son, Robert
Wayne Wheeler, and DR.. Howard II.
Russell, founder of the League
Wayne B. Wheeler so successfully
served.
Heart disease, following prolong-
ed treatment for kidney trouble was
the cause Of death. Mr.. Wheeler
had come to the sanitarium last
week from his summer home at Lit
tie Point Sable, Mich.-the home
where on August 13 his wife was
burned to death when her clothing
caught fire from an oil stove and
where her father, a witness Of that
tragedy, had dropped dead.
The double tragedy was said by
his friends to have weighed 80
heavily upon Mr.. Wheeler as to
have been q strong contributory
cause of his death.
Gave Life for Cause
"He literally gave his life for the
dry cause" said DIR. Francis Scott
Mcbride, general superintendent OF
the Anti-Saloon League.
ale was for prohibition because
he knew il was right. He fought
not for himself but for the cause in
which he believed.
At Washington, where he was the
handspring Of all Anti-Saloon League
legislative activity, Mr.. Wheeler
held the respect and admiration even
Of those who fought him most Bit
terly.
Senator Edwards OF New Jersey,
who has vigorously fought the dry
cause, said when he heard of Mr..
Wheeler's death:
"While we were poles apart on
the question of the 18th amendment,
/ always admired him for his con-
viction and earnest endeavor to dry
up America. I love and respect q
| fighter whether he agrees with me
or not. and Mr.. Wheeler was an In
veterate fighter"
Mr.. Wheeler, who was born on
his fathers farm near Brookfield,
O., Nov. 10, 1869, once told report
ers that he formed his first antag-
onism 10 liquor when q drunken
farm hand jabbed u pitchfork into
Mr.. wheeler will Be buried Thurs
day in Columbus, O., beside the wife
whom he himself buried hardly
more than a fortnight ago.
The dynamic character Of Wayne
B. Wheeler for years cast its sha-
dow over everyone in the bitter
fights that have been waged around
prohibition and its enforcement in
the United States. because his name
had come to mean prohibition in its
every sense.
Backed by the Anti-Saloon League
and the vast religious organizations
supporting il, Wheeler fought long
and stubbornly for the 18th amend
ment 20 the constitution and the
Valstead act TO enforce IL, and when
the battle was won. he fought no
less stubbornly against every effort
TO modify these enactments-
Typifying. ms he did, the very
spirit Of the drys, Wheeler took the
leadership around the halls of con-
gress, about the capitol, even at the
White House in opposition TO every
move by legislative administrative
| or executive branches Of the govern
ment which he thought would dis
49, L. H. L.. ~ -
his co-workers had set up.
Fighting Pualities
II has been said that Wheeler
was abused for his activities by the
vets, but that his energetic fight
| ing qualities had nc last earned the
secret admiration Of some Of them.
While the vets heaped about his
head an unprecedented quantity OF
stinging phrases, the dry leader
| worked untiringly 10 put more teeth
into the enforcement act which they
| denounced bitterly.
Although ostensibly the Anti-Sa-
loon League general counsel was
merely the instrument Of the league
so far as Washington was concern.
ed Wheeler was the league, and In
his activities there he was credited
with welding an enormous influence
on legislation affecting the dry
cause.
There was no move 10 amend ths
volstead act, however slight, thai
escaped the sharp eye Of this Ohio
born lawyer. He was inruisitiye N
a superlative degree OF every bill
touching upon prohibition which
was dropped into the senate or house
bill boxes, and he was lightning.
like In striking nc the measures M
considered objectionable. He wal
u prolific witness before committees
and wherever he appeared, the weta