Half-length portrait of Mr. Wheeler, from the Harris & Ewing collection at the Library of Congress.

Wayne Bidwell Wheeler (November 10, 1869 – September 5, 1927) was an American attorney and prohibitionist. Using deft political pressure and what might today be called a litmus test, he was able to influence many governments, and eventually the U.S. government, to prohibit alcohol.

Wheeler was born at Brookfield, Ohio to Mary Ursula Hutchinson and Joseph Wheeler.[1] He graduated from Oberlin in 1894 and in law from Western Reserve University in 1898. While a student he engaged in temperance work, and after graduation joined the Anti-Saloon League as a field secretary. In 1902 he became superintendent, and in 1906 led a successful fight against the reëlection of Governor Myron T. Herrick. The defeat of the Herrick campaign was the first significant victory of the Anti-Saloon League in American politics. Wheeler became the attorney and general counsel for the National Anti-Saloon League, a member of the executive committee, and its head lobbyist. He became widely known as the "dry boss" because of his influence and power (Shaw).

Under Wheeler's 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 (Childs).

Wheeler was the de facto leader of the Anti-Saloon League and he wielded considerable political power, according to 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."

He often bragged about the many deceptions he used in promoting Prohibition (Steuart)[unreliable source?]. By 1926, he was being criticized by members of Congress who were questioning the League’s spending in some congressional races.[citation needed] He retired shortly thereafter and died in 1927.

Further reading

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wayne Wheeler.

References

  1. ^ Ancestry of Wayne Bidwell Wheeler
  2. ^ "Prohibition Life: Politics, Loopholes And Bathtub Gin" Interview with Daniel Okrent by Terry Gross, Fresh Air on NPR, 2010-05-10. Retrieved 2010-05-10.
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