Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-12-02
EARLY DRY VOTE
IN CONGRESS SEEN
Both Factions Hope to Dis
pose of Issue to Clear Way
for Economics.
Continued From First Page.)

indications today that the White House
would not be adverse to a vote being
taken in Congress on a prohibition
referendum proposal.
Wet supporters of prohibition refer
endum, although they admit that their
plan for a referendum might be voted
down by both Senate and House. espe-
cially if it comes in the form of a re-
submission of the eighteenth amend
ment, said today that they would well
come showdown on this question.
Says Referendum Needed.
What we need" said Senator Bing-
ham, lis to have a vote on this prohi-
bition issue and particularly on the
referendum proposal, so that we may
get some reaction from the people back
home"
The Connecticut Senator expressed
the opinion that the constituents of
members Of Congress would be quick
to take cognizance of the action of
their representatives in Congress on
referendum proposal.
The prohibitionists desire vote
to place the candidates for Congress on
record in time for the 1882 campaign.
Many drys recognize that prohibition is
high up in the minds of a large part of
the population and that until a vote is
had these persons will not give eco
nomic issues as much consideration as
otherwise.
Rainey Favors Vote.
Rainey has always voted dry, but
favors a referendum on the eighteenth
amendn ent.
What 7 am irving to do" the Illinois
veteran legislator said, lis to attract the
attention Of the people to the economic
issues.
I'VE can't get a laroe section Of the
people Of the country to consider eco
nomic problems because the prohibition
question overShadoWs all others with
that particular section of the people
We ought to vote on the Wet-and dry
question early in the coming session
1t will then be possible to give the eco
nomic issues the consideration to which
they are entitled"
He stressed that he was speaking
"only for myself"
Representative Linthicum of Mary
land, the Democratic chairman of the
wet bloc, and Representative La Guar
ola, independent Republican, of New
York also expect the House to vote
on the question.
With the wet bloc numbering about
ITO members and the Republicans gen.
orally favoring rule which will per-
nit a vote on prohibition, it appears
almost certain some action will be
taken.
Wood Asks for Statement.
Attorney General Mitchell today was
asked to tell the exact cost of enforc-
ing prohibition.
The request was made by Represent
alive Wood of Indiana, who said he
wanted the information so all conjec-
ture would be removed during this ses-
sion of Congress.
When guesses are made" the chair
man of the last House Appropriations
Committee added, II want to be able
to present the figures"
Mitchell was asked to include the
Prohibition Bureau, Coast Guard, Bu-
reau of Industrial Alcohol and court
costs for prohibition cases.
Meanwhile, the national prohibition
board of strategy reported today that
more than $4,000 dimes were scooped
out of one days mail as the first cash
returns from the dry groups campaign
for dry dimes to beat wet dollars"
Expects Million Dollars.
Edwin C. Dinwiddie, executive secre-
tary of the board, watched 10 women
pushing the dimes into a mound on
table and then into an electric counter
in a local bank He said he believed
the campaign, begun some weeks ago
for funds to carry their cause through
this session of Congress and the presi-
dental campaign OF 1882, would bring
in well over million dollars"
Dinwddie said the vets would be
defeated in any congressional roll call
on the dry law.
I'VE don't think it is fair to prohi-
bition to keep agitating now he said,
when we ought to be devoting our
selves to enforcing the law, but If these
folks-the wets-are able to get vote
without the help of the drys, we will