| Wayne Wheeler |
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Under Wheeler's brilliant leadership, the League focused entirely on the goal of achieving Prohibition . It organized at the grass-roots level and worked extensively through churches. It supported or opposed candidates entirely based on their position regarding prohibition and nothing else. It completely disregarded their political party affiliation or position on other issues. Unlike other Temperance groups, the Anti-Saloon League worked with the two major parties rather than backing the smaller Prohibition Party . Wheeler developed what is now known as Pressure Politics , which is sometimes also called Wheelerism. Wheeler was the ''de facto'' leader of the Anti-Saloon League and he wielded awesome power, as described by Justin Steuart, his former Publicity Secretary: :"Wayne B. Wheeler controlled six congresses, dictated to two presidents of the United States, directed legislation in most of the States of the Union, picked the candidates for the more important elective state and federal offices, held the balance of power in both Republican and Democratic parties, distributed more patronage than any dozen other men, supervised a federal bureau from outside without official authority, and was recognized by friend and foe alike as the most masterful and powerful single individual in the United States." The energetic and resourceful leader often bragged about the many deceptions he used in promoting Prohibition. By 1926 he was being criticized by members of Congress who were questioning the League’s spending in some congressional races. He retired shortly thereafter and died in 1927. REFERENCES
SOURCE Based on materials in [http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/Controversies/1091124904.html National Prohibition of Alcohol in the U.S.], which contains complete references and additional materials. |
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