Evening star., 1933-02-21
DRY FOR CES ISSUE BATTLE CRY
FOR REPEAL FIGHT IN STATES
Plans for New Offensive Will Be Formu-
lated at Conference Here Called by
$50 Prohibition Leaders.

Aroused to fighting spirit by con-
gressional approval of the repeal reso-
luton, dry forces today swung into
action to strengthen their lines in the
States, and to plan new major Often
sive to saye the eighteenth amend
ment.
Strategy for the new offensive will
be formulated at conference called
by 750 prohibition leaders to be held
here March Z and 8. at the Calvary
Babtist Church. More than 5000 in
vitations have been sent throughout
the country for the meeting, out of
which a new general war plan for the
drys will be evolved.
Dry leaders here differed somewhat
in their views concerning the pros
pective vote by State conventions on
the repeal resolution. opinion varied
from "hard fight" to assured vic
tory, with confidence of carrying from
80 to 80 States.
State Superintendents Instructed.
From headquarters of the Anti-Sa-
loon League Of America there went
ward B. Dunford, attorney, instruc-
tions to State superintendents. declar-
ing that the action Of Congress shifts
the battle from Washington to the
State capitals" and outlining policies
to be followed at once by the league
leaders
DR.. Clarence True Wilson, general
secretary of the Board of Temperance,
Prohibition and Public Morals of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, returned
this morning to his office after an ex-
tended lecture tour with prediction that
the drys will carry 80 to SO of the
States"
Plans were announced for temper
ance rally at Washington Heights
| Presbyterian Church Thursday night to
be addressed by several prohibition
leaders Among the speakers will be
DR.. John c. Palmer, pastor of the
church, who is in charge Of the pro-
of Ohio. Mrs. Henry w. Peabody, DR..
Francis D. Nichol, author and lecturer;
Mrs. Harvey w. Wiley, Mrs. Jessie w.
Nicholson, Mrs. Hiram Wadleigh, Canon
William Sheafe Chase and others.
Presidents of several clubs and dry or
ganizations will be guests Of honor.
Canon Chase, superintendent OF the
Interna tional Reform Federation, pre-
dicted a hard fight in the conventions.
This dry defeat may be turned into
a double blessing" he said. "It may
purify crooked politics. 1t may edu-
cate the public to know the terrific
results in this automobile complex age,
of legalizing the sale Of intoxicating
drinks and of returning the greedy
lawless liquor traffic to power in politics"
THE drys do not fear an honest vote
on repeal or honest State conventions,
he said. They fear that the votes Will
not be honestly counted and that the
State conventions will be composed OF
delegates hand picked by the alliances
of the two corrupt machines. They fear
that the State conventions will be mob
controlled as were the two Chicago con-
ventions. The drys cannot hope to win
unless they have the same use OF the
press, radio and motion pictures as the
vets The handicaps against the drys
seem insuperable, unless American citi-
zenship awakes and throws aside its
timidity and indifference"
"War Chest" Planned.
Plans for the big conclave of dry
leaders here March 7 and 8 are being
made by leaders of many organizations,
including 81 churches, with the details
of preliminary organization in the
hands of the Board of Temperance,
Prohibition and Public Morals of the
Methodist Episcopal Church. The pres
ident of this beard, Bishop Edwin H.
Hughes, resident bishop of the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church, will preside as
temporary chairman. Out of the con-
ference it is the hope of drys that a