More Deceptive Temperance Tactics
The head of the old Anti-Saloon League, Wayne Wheeler, often bragged
about the many deceptions he used in promoting National Prohibition
in the US. It seems that many current alcohol activists may have
studied Wheeler’s writings.
Anti-alcohol consultant Dick Malec appears to have been behind
an alcohol election flyer with a letter supposedly from a Saudi
prince seeking to spread “cheap liquor in your neighborhood,”
according to the Dallas Morning News.
Malec has also been associated with a group involved in campaigns
against legalizing alcohol. The Texas Ethics Commission recently
ruled that the group’s manager violated state election law
during an earlier anti-alcohol campaign.
Deception and misrepresentation have a long tradition in the temperance
movement and characterize temperance organizations today.
References
- Hanson, David J. Wayne Bidwell Wheeler. American
National Biography. NY: Oxford university Press, 1999. (Wayne
Wheeler was the de facto leader of the Anti-Saloon League
and was the single most powerful leader of the American temperance
movement)
- Hogan, Charles M. Wayne B. Wheeler: Single
Issue Exponent. Cincinnati, OH: University of Cincinnati, Ph.D.
dissertation, 1986.
- McCann, Ian. Rowlett alcohol flyer raises questions:
Printer says “prince” letter originated with opponent
of legalization. Dallas Morning News, 6-1-04.
- Nish, Dennis. Prohibition. San Diego,
CA: Greenhaven Press, 2003.
- Shaw, Elton Raymond and Wheeler, Wayne Bidwell.
Prohibition: Coming or Going? Berwyn, IL: Shaw Publishing
Co., 1924.
- Steuart, Justin and Dinwiddie, Edwin. Wayne
Wheeler, Dry Boss: An Uncensored Biography of Wayne B. Wheeler.
NY: Fleming H. Revill, 1928.
- Wheeler, Wayne. How to Enforce National Prohibition.
Westerville, OH: American Issue Publishing Co., 1927.
- Wheeler, Wayne B. Rum Rebellions: Past and
Present. Westerville, OH: American Issue Publishing Co., n.d.
- Wheeler, Wayne Bidwell. Is Prohibition a
Success after Five Years? Westerville, OH: American Issue Publishing
Co., 1925.