How Wayne Wheeler Helped Ban Alcohol

Wayne Wheeler

Wheeler himself looks innocuous. Looking at the picture above, he looks like he could be your friendly neighbor or a sweet old man you see crossing the street. At first glance, no one would suspect that publications such as The Milwaukee Journal would start to claim that "Wayne Wheeler’s conquest is the most notable thing of our times."

The Anti Saloon League

Prohibition was spearheaded by the Anti Saloon League and the Women's Christian Temperance Union. The Anti Saloon League was founded by Howard Hyde Russell. Wheeler had just graduated from Oberlin College at the time, and he quickly joined. Through their efforts, the Anti Saloon League became one of the most effective pressure groups of all time (Wheeler actually coined the term "pressure groups"). While the WCTU focused on a variety of social issues, the Anti Saloon League focused on what they viewed to be enemy number 1: Alcohol.

Leaders of the Anti Saloon League: Wayne Wheeler (left), Purley Baker (center), and Howard Hyde Russell (right)

The pressure group worked simply: if a politician supported banning alcohol, the ASL would loudly support them. If the politician opposed them, the ASL would ferociously oppose them and label them as politicians against the interests of the people. Wheeler himself was able to be so effective because he was an extremely productive worker. He was responsible for the initiation of several lawsuits, speeches, campaigns, and protests. This control quickly several the ASL supporting politicians elected in Ohio. The ASL had also managed to defeat over 70 members that opposed them, which effectively gave them control over Ohio's legislative body.

Governor Myron T. Herrick

Myron T. Herrick was then the governor of Ohio. He convinced the legislature to modify the ASL's Bill to reduce its extremities and make it more equitable. The ASL was furious, and Wheeler chose fight the governor himself. Herrick was extremely popular. When he was elected in 1903, he had the largest plurality and a plethora of campaign funds. He even had the support of the church for his stances against betting. However, Wheeler and the ASL had the resources to try to take him down. Wheeler sponsored over 300 rallies against Herrick and leaked a letter where the Brewer's Association voiced quiet support for Herrick to the press. Thus, at the next election, every Republican but Herrick was elected, effectively ending his career.

Prohibition cartoon

These smaller, statewide campaigns were very successful for the ASL. However, the ASL wanted to go bigger: it wanted to spread to the rest of the country. Wheeler eventually left for Washington DC in 1916. Around this time, Wheeler also began seeking an option to add an amendment banning alcohol to the Constitution. His fierce efforts caused him to be labeled by the Evening World as "the legislative bully before whom the Senate of the United States sits up and begs.” Wheeler was great at exploiting the fears of the people he was trying to convince. For example, he told racists that alcohol turned minorities into brutes and told these minorities that alcohol was a tool to keep them subjugated. He knew how to persuade and unite people against the common enemy of alcohol, leading most people to agree that it needed to be banned. Wheeler himself simplifies his approach, saying "We’ll vote against all the men in office who won’t support our bills. We’ll vote for candidates who will promise to.”

Newspaper announcing the 18th amendment's ratification

No amendment banning alcohol had ever actually emerged from the committee, despite numerous attempts from suffragettes and other anti-alcohol unions. Thus, it was a big accomplishment for the ASL to be able to get the amendment heard. The ASL also aligned itself with other popular movements, such as the women's suffrage movement. The first vote for the new amendment came with a simple majority voting for it. This was not the 2/3rds majority that the ASL was hoping for, but it was a step in the right direction. The ASL employed over 50,000 lecturers in an assault on the public conscience. Pro-prohibition sentiment was everywhere, which was reflected in the success of the Sheppard Amendment (which would later become the 18th amendment). The Sheppard Amendment was passed with an overwhelming majority in both houses and was ratified by 46 of the states. 

A pro-alcohol ad

The explosion of anti-German sentiment also helped the amendment pass (which was utilized by Wheeler and the ASL). Americans hated everything that had to do with Germans. Wheeler exploited this hatred, using it to investigate the National German-American Alliance. These investigations showed that many of the NGAA's funds came from the beer industry. After the results were published, Wheeler proudly said "“You have doubtless seen the way the newspapers have taken up the German-American Alliance. They are giving it almost as much attention as the Acts of Congress itself.” 

Newspaper talking about the 18th Amendment

From the moment that the 18th amendment was submitted for review to become an amendment, it took only 394 days (less than a year!) to get it implemented into the Constitution. However, less than seven years after Prohibition was officially launched, Wheeler passed away. He worked on Prohibition up until his death, having had heavy involvement in the Volstead Act (which specified how to enforce alcohol bans), ensured that any Prohibition legislation had to be approved by him first, maintained control over Congress appointments, and controlled appointments to the Prohibition Bureau.

Wheeler's impact on politics was undeniable. However, he couldn't control the disaster that was Prohibition. The laws encouraged more and more Americans to break the law, and the amendment was eventually repealed by the 19th amendment. Thus, instead of leaving a legacy of strong arming and spearheading a movement that made society better, Wheeler has become overshadowed by the monster he created.