The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-02-18
SOMETHING MORE THAN
BUBBLES NECESSARY

A typical cartoon from the great
campaign that put the 18th
amendment in the Constitution.
The caption advises the prohibi-
ton reformer to use the rocks,
labeled votes" against the sa-
loonkeeper.
making the mistake of over-reach-
ing.
It's first important move was In
1899 when it got congress to bar
liquor from army canteens. That
took six months.
Then it got laws to prohibit the
sale of liquor at government i'm
migration stations. Next, it closed
the famous old bar in the base
ment of the capitol at Washington.
Then it turned its attention to
the National Soldiers Home and
had congress bar liquor there.
DY 1906, it had obtained dry area
ID zones around various govern
ment buildings in Washington. In
1908, it got liquor shipments barred
from the mails.
In 1909, it got a law putting an
end to collect on Delivery" liquor
shipments in interstate commerce.
In the sixty-third congress, it got a
law prohibiting the shipment Of
LIQUOR from wet states into dry
states. The same session clamped
drastic prohibition law on the
District of Columbia.
Meanwhile, it was busy in the
states. 1t fought first for local OPP
ton and, having got this, pushed
the battle for state prohibition laws.
It sought to make-and did make,
in several cases-prohibition a re-
quisite for new states then entering
the Union.
In 1913, the first open move to-
ward the ultimate aim that had
been quietly nursed through the
years was made. A committee of
1000 marched on the capitol and
presented a draft Of a suggested
federal prohibition amendment to
Senator Sheppard Of Texas and
Congressman Hobson of Alabama.
From that day until December,
1917, when congress decided to sub
nit the question to the states, pro-
hibition was a flaming issue in the
halls of congress, and throughout
the nation.
In January, 1919, the last neces-
sary state ratified the amendment;
one year later, by its terms, pro-
hibition became part of the ma
tons Constitution.
TINE guiding genius behind this
Il great reform was the late
Wayne B. Wheeler, legislative SUI
perintendent of the Anti-Saloon
League, who had grown up with
the movement from a college boy
at Oberlin.
Wheeler was a political genius
without doubt one of the Shrewd-
est lobbyists the nation ever pro-
duced. He built up in every con-
gressional district in the land a
local organization that could put
voting pressure on congressman
when pressure was needed.
His Office was just across the
street form the capitol. Daily, he
sat in the same seat in the senate
or house gallery, a silent figure
but tremendously powerful one.
He was strong enough, in the
showdown, to pass the Volstead act
over President Wilson's veto.
TN those hectic days of dozen
i years ago, the little town of
Westerville- which the leagues
headquarters were moved from
Oberlin because Westerville had
never in its history had a licensed
Saloon-boomed.
Despite its population of only
1000, Westerville became a first
class postoffice with postal receipts
as high as $4,000 year. Fifty-flve
per cent of this represented the
mailing of Anti-Saloon league
propaganda.
Today, Westerville has slipped
back to a second-class postoffice,
with annual receipts of about
$4,000. Less than Is per cent of
this amounO represents Anti Saloon
league mailings now.
Such is the story OF the rise and
decline of Westerville and, likewise,
the rise and decline of the Anti