The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-08-17
BY RODNEY BUTCHER
(NEA Service Writer)

washing lOu, aug LIE " wayne
Bidwell Wheeler probably expected
more authority over governmental
affairs than any elected official, &C.
cording to his first biographer.
He took Republican administra-
tions under his wing. If he bullied
them. he also protected them from
attack. He kept some men in office
and blocked other men both in the
prohibition service and in the Anti
Saloon League, to retain his unques-
toned control. Other big men in
the league grew FESTIVE as he walked
over them rough-shod and used
methods which they considered
harmful to the cause. Today
Wheeler has no real successor.
"Wayne Wheeler, Dry Boss" is
the first biography Of the man, writ,
ten by one Of his closest associates,
Justin Steuart, his publicity secre-
tary for years. Steuart remains
with the league and one might ex-
pect eulogy in this volume. But
Steuart, hot for the cause and
boasting Wheeler's greatness, adj
mits that it is difficult to tabulate
the good accomplished and the
harm done to the prohibition cause
by Wayne B. Wheeler" He insists
on awarding rightly to others much
credit that Wheeler claimed or re-
ceived.
AS a boy Wheeler was accidental
ly stabbed in the leg by a pitchfOrk
in the hands Of hay-pitcher who
had been drinking. "A sociable,
good-natured old soak" came
liquored to the Wheeler home one
night and recited "Ten Nights in q
Barroom" for hours, frightening the
women and children. These Incl
dents impressed little Wayne ire
mendously.
Three elements predominated in
him, says Steuart = sincerity, tire.
lessness and opportunism in the
order named. He loved the lime
light and grabbed glory belonging
to others. He loved "power or the
semblance of it."
His willingness to endorse per-
sonal vets WHO agreed to vote dry
early brought him in conflict with
his own colleagues.
Twice Superintendent P. A. Baker
was on the point Of firing him for
his aggressiveness on his own be-
half while other league leaders
waited modestly for honors to be
awarded them.
In 81 Ohio years Wheeler intro
duced the pressure system" which
he was to use successfully on .
national scale. He became q ma
tional figure in his defense Of the
Webb Kenyon liquor acts consti-
nationality, which SteuArt says was
doubted by Wheeler himself. Steu-
art credits Wheeler with authorship
of the Volstead Act, but denies hi::,
credit for the eighteenth amend
ment.
After that Wheeler rode high,
shaping the governments prohibi-
ton policy from the start. When
Treasury or Justice Department
made an Interpretation Wheeler
forced a reversal if he saw fit. He
was one Of the few who saw that the
amendments adoption didn't mean
dry nation. While others pre-
pared to disband he leaped into the
saddle and became the leagues man
on horseback.
Wheeler was q Republican and
imposed his politics on the league
He asked Harding easier public
questions than Cox in 1920, permit
ting q more equovical answer, be.
cause, as Steuart says, "the league
was out to beat Cox" Steuarl
credits Wheeler with stopping Smith
at the 1924 Democratic convention
and with blocking Underwood and
Richie.
He had Bryan taking orders and
permitted the Davis nomination
because he felt it was 1tantamount
to . Republican victory" After
ward Wheeler prepared . statement
Boosting Of his personal victory q
the convention; Bishop Cannon, I
Democrat, angrily blocked it, pub
LEGATION.
Steuart tells how Wheeler bea'
Ernest Cherrington out Of TIL
leagues general superintendency b!
deception and trickery 90 that b
might have . weaker and more PHI
able man in the job; how his over
llordship Of prohibition endel
abruptly when Gen. Andrew tool