Evening star., 1927-09-14

An outpouring Of praise for the
character and ability Of Wayne B.
Wheeler, general counsel for the Anti
Saloon League, follows his death
under tragic circumstances. Vets
and drys alike recognize the dominat-
ing place he held in the prohibition
movement and many express a doubt
that his place can be filled.
Appraising him as "a good practical
politician, a born lobbyist and q great
executive" the Baltimore Sun offers
the judgment that mo other official
of the Anti-Saloon League who Is
known to the general public has the
combination of qualities which made
Mr.. Wheeler an extraordinarily effec-
tive worker" AS a critic of the dry
law, the Sun states that "it would
like to see all Government prohibi-
ton officials and all the Anti-Saloon
League officials as competent as it is
possible to get them. When the most
competent have failed to enforce the
law, it may be easy to convince the
voters of it's unenforceability."
IF prohibition proves a great and
permanent reform" says the Cincin-
natl Times-Star, Wheeler will be en-
titled "to a place among great Amer
leans. If it proves a failure, he will
share the fate of other leaders of lost
causes. The next generation will de-
eide where to put the name of Wayne
3. Wheeler in history. Its letters
may become luminous on history's
scroll. And they may become the
blurred characters of a half-forgotten
failure The Lansing State Jour
nal feels sure he will have his place
in history"
The New York Sun holds that "but
one Wayne B. Wheeler is born to a
generation" and the Little Rock Ar
kansas Democrat remarks that eff
there be a man to take his place, he
and his personality are hidden, for
there has not appeared in the public
prints the name of a crusader who
even remotely resembles Wayne b.
Wheeler" The Manchester Union
adds that then keen interest in the
question is in itself most striking
evidence" of his accomplishment.
The Butte Daily Post, calling him
"distinctively the prohibition lead
er," recognizes that ''at once, the
choice of his successor becomes a
perplexing problem" but the Lex
ington Leader contends that mo
man is indispensable in the history of
great reform" The Charlotte OBJ
server, acknowledging the difficulty in
finding such q man, asserts the need
of one, 'if the forces of the Anti
Saloon League are to continue to WELD
their great power in behalf of tenn
perance."
HE exerted more influence on the
laws of this country than any man
in a generation" says the Newark
Evening News, and, adds the Buffalo
Evening News, che was so decidedly
the dominant figure in the league that
it will be difficult to identity the or
ganization without him." The Column
bus Ohio State Journal points out that
one thing that makes his place so
hard to fill," namely, that for life.
long rtformer, he was tolerant, and
he kept his personal relations with
those who did not agree with him al
ways pleasant"
Optimism is voiced by the Admission
Star, which declares that "he still
lives in the deeds of his followers"
His influence, it believes. will CON
tinue to be felt and his successors
will see to it that his enemies are not
allowed to tear down the structure
he had built up" The Utica Observer
Dispatch is satisfied that whoever IS
selected will never have to surmount
the difficulties which faced the intrepid
leader who has fallen" but the Day
ton Daily News considers that the
drys have lost their commanding gen
eral, and in the very midst of battle
America needs more men like him,