The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-07-11

ing. Again, though, there was BACK
sliding. and by 1905 America con-
tanned Just three dry states-Malne
Kansas and North Dakota
The cause of prohibition had been
making progress, nevertheless.
In 1869 the Prohibition party, never
really influential but significant, just
the same, of a slowly rising prohibit
ton sentiment, was organized. In 1874
the much more important Womans
Christian Temperance Union came in
to being: and in 1893, in the First
CONGREGATIONAL Church of Oberlln, o.,
was born the Anti-Saloon League.
Power in Politics
The league was primarily an organ
ization supported by the Protestant
churches; but its officials. With their
brilliant general counsel, Wayne b.
Wheeler. soon demonstrated that they
knew as much about practical politics
as any men in the country.
Party labels meant nothing to the
league. 1t applied to every candidate
for office the single test-Was he wet
or dry? If he was wet, it called on
its members and followers to 60 to the
polls and sock him; if he was dry, II
demanded, and got, his support,
At WeSterville. O., it established us
headquarters, with printing plant
In the decade and a half following
1909 that plant had printed for dis
tribution to the country more than
114OoOOOO leaflets. nearly 100000
books. more than 100000 pamphlets,
upwards of 1900 900 placards and APP
proximately 157 100000 copies OF
weekly and monthly magazines.
And the leagues war chest was kept
full In its first 80 years of life it
spent fully $35 900, 900 to further the
cause of prohibition. When the fight
was at it's hottest 1t was spending So
100000 year.
Sought State Laws
State prohibition laws were the goal
at first. When the league celebrated
its goth birthday, in 1913, the list OF
dry states had increased TO nine, and
congress had been induced to pass the
Webb-Kenyon act, pledging the fed
eral government to help dry states
stop importations of liquor from wet
territory adjoining.
In that year the league held Ju-
bilee meeting at Columbus, O.-and
announced that from that date 1t
would drive straight for a federal
prohibition law. Two weeks later
1000 men and women paraded in
washington in prohibition demon
stration. The league busted itself in
congressional elections, and in 1914
sent no fewer than $4,000 speakers in
to the congressional fights.
Mr.. Wheeler later testified before
the senate that it was not unusual, at
that time, for whole freight carloads
of prohibition propaganda to be ship
ped from Westerville in one day.
Unbiased observers have stated that
the LIQUOR trade in very real way
helped to bring prohibition on itself.
It permitted the open saloon to be-
come fostering sore in municipal life
when it could very easily have COM
PEELED cleanup. 1t allowed the very
phrase, Liquor trade" to become
weighted with unpleasant connota-
tions. When it tried to fight the
Anti-Saloon League it used tactics
that were not only pitifully ineffec-
tive but highly repellent. In every
way it alienated those who might
have defended it and strengthened
the cause of its foes.
Not until 1916 did the U. S. Brew
erS' association wake up and offer to
clean house. BY that time it was too
late. The tide was rising-or perhaps
it would be better to say that it was
going out-too fast. The stable door
was being locked not only after the