A Brief Biography Of Wayne Wheeler

Wayne Wheeler: The Politics of Prohibition “Wayne B. Wheeler controlled six Congresses, dictated to two Presidents... directed legislation... for the more important elective state and federal offices… and was recognized by friend and foe alike as the most masterful and powerful single individual in the United States” (Steuart and Dinwiddie, 11). Wayne Wheeler was one of the most powerful politicians of the 1900s and put in place one of the most sweeping changes in American history, yet few today have ever heard his name. He was a skillful political leader who used innovative and manipulative tactics to achieve his goal of national prohibition. As a key leader for the Anti Saloon league, the tactics Wheeler used included propaganda, interest

When Wheeler was just a boy, he was stabbed in the foot with a pitchfork by a drunken neighbor, which is what sparked his passion for the dry cause. In 1893 Wheeler was listening to a temperance lecture delivered by Rev. Howard Hyde Russell, who had recently founded the ASL, and after joining him in prayer Wheeler agreed to be one of the first full time employees for the League. Wheeler started his work for the ASL by riding his bike from town to town in Ohio, recruiting new members. He also gave lectures in churches hoping to spread the dry cause. Once he graduated from law school, Wheeler became attorney for the League. As the attorney he initiated many legal cases, organized demonstrations, and started telegram campaigns. Wheeler was the hardest working employee the ASL had and in 1916, when the ASL’s focus switched from state prohibition to national prohibition, Wheeler was sent to Washington DC to push for a prohibition amendment. Wheeler truly thought prohibition was best for America. In one of Wheeler’s writings entitled Principles Underlying Prohibition, Wheeler says, “That the liquor traffic is a menace to public health and public morals has been settled beyond controversy” (Wheeler). He believed alcohol ruined families and health and therefore should be banned. Wheeler was a harsh leader who would do what ever it took to achieve

The League made great use of its American Issue Publishing Company where they issued over 350,000,000 pages of periodicals, over 300 cartoons, and hundreds of fliers (Jackson), all with the attempt to persuade citizens that alcohol is ruining America, and that prohibition is the only solution. Periodicals and some fliers were meant to be educational and persuade the nation with facts. One example of a flier that was published in 1913 reads, “Drink: The Largest Cause of Unhappy Homes in Chicago. Drink – 46%, Immorality – 14%, Disease – 12%, etc.” Cartoons and fliers also appealed to emotion. Another example of a flier that was for sale by the League reads, “Which Gets Your Vote, Mother or the Saloon? – Vote Dry” (ASL Museum). Propaganda was an effective was an effective way of bringing attention to the dry cause. It also gave a simple solution to the complex struggle of alcoholism – Prohibition. Even though propaganda was manipulative, it was an effective way to get citizens to support the dry