The Bismarck tribune., 1931-09-28
Member Of The Associated Press
(Official City. State and County
Newspaper)
Fuel on the Fire

Fuel on the Fire
Few things have put more fuel en-
the fires of argument which are rag
Ing about the prohibition question
than the recent action Of the Ameri-
can Legion national convention in
declaring for referendum on the
matter.
The DryS were admittedly dis
pleased with this action by an or
ganization representing more than a
million men who admittedly are, both
because of themselves and because of
their record of service, the flower of
the nations manhood.
If it did nothing else. the Legion's
action helped to push prohibition to
the forefront as major political is
sue and brought nearer by many
PAGES the next great showdown on
the subject.
Editorial reaction to the Legion's
declaration is varied, but nearly
everyone who has tackled this diff
cult subject agrees that 1t Is impor-
tant.
The VETS hail the action as a great
victory and there IS no denying that
the resolution passed by the veterans
lends aid and comfort to the Wet
cause.
The Drys see in 1t an action which
is disappointing but far from con-
elusive. To that extent, 1t seems
certain that both are right, for any
one who believes that enlistment Of
any organization upon one side or
the other OF this question will defi-
nitely swing the balance, Is grievots-
ly mistaken.
That a new crisis Is approaching
with regard to the prohibition ques-
tion is made evident by the heat
which the Legion's action engen-
dered. On the Dry side, the most
militant man to break into the news
papers was Clarence True Wilson,
secretary Of the board Of temperance.
prohibition and public morals Of the
Methodist Episcopal church.
The Associated Press quotes DR..
Wilson as saying that at Detroit
numbers Of staggering drunks dis
graced the uniform and yelled for
beer Asserting that his knowledge
was gained at first hand, DR.. Wilson
said further:
II was in Detroit until midnight
Sunday night. There was drinking
on the streets. The delegates were
preparing for an orgy. Across the
river in Canada. in saloon. was
headquarters with signs up showing
it to be the rendezvous Of the del
egates. Everywhere was general evi-
dence, evidence that anyone could
interpret, of unpatriotic disregard Of
the laws of the United States"
Answering this broadside came
James A. Reed, former senator from
Missouri, a leading wet and q man
known for his caustic tongue. He
said:
Probably the fanatic, DR.. Wilson,
Is the only citizen of this country who
would utter wholesale slander
against the men who stood on the
hattlefields Of France defending the
flag Of the United States"
Other dry leaders were more dip
lomatic than DR.. Wilson in their re-
marks, and it is probable that the
good doctor has been taken to task
by his superiors ere now for being
somewhat too direct and too inclusive
There is no one so naive as to be-
lieve that there was no drinking at
the American Legion convention.
The marvel would be II there wasn't.
But few will believe, also, that
there was more drinking per capita
when the American Legion met at
Detroit (and Windsor) than when
any other American organization
meets at Detroit (and Windsor). The
manner in which the prohibition law
is disregarded In cities which are en-
tertaining conventions is common
knowledge in America.
Neither DR.. Wilson, the enthusiast
tic dry, nor Senator Reed, tho ener-
getic wet, are important spokesmen.
The proposition Is so far reaching
and involves so many angles that no
one man can be, regardless Of his
position.
The only important speaking which
Will be done on the prohibition ques-
ton In our time win be done by the