Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1878-02-20
L0cAL OPTION.

Last Wednesday afternoon was fixed
by the Lower House of our Lcgisla'
turo for the trial of Local Option, IL
was anticipated, Of course, that u Hood
of oratory would be poured upon tho
subject. and tho hundreds of snectators
s.ySf s.sa 80
the galleries werca ou6dantly sratihts.
The crusader was there, relying us
firmly as even upon the efficacy OF
street prayers and saloon visits the
Murphyito was there, bearing aloit the
banner of moral suasion, upon which
il inscribed the motto "Malicc Toward
None and Charity for ALL and the
advocates of sumptuary laws were out
in force, comprising an audience, the
sympathies Of which were almost en-
tirelv enlisted upon the side OF the
bill. The advocates Of Local Option
were fully equipped and eager for the
fray, and the speeches ofsome of them,
at least, carried with them the odor OF
the midnight lamp.
Morgan, of Lawrence, who is the
especial champion of Local Option, led
off in a speech of more than ordinary
force, which commanded profound at
tention, and was filled with strong
points against the whisky traffic. Full.
ton, of Indiana Stewart, of Lawrence.
Fulton, of Chester, and Jackson, OF
Mercer, followed in short, pointed and
effective speeches. The members and
outsiders listened respectfully to thu
rrmarks of these gentlemen, but when
the tall form of Brooks, OF Cameron
doomed up from his seat, and he bcgar
TO read from n roll of manuscript. In
stead Of the house gong TO sleep, 81
might have been imagined, the enthu
siasm was intense. Members crowded
down the aisles aud into the opol
space in front of the speaker and ap
plaudod to the echo, and laughed unit
their sides were sore. And well they
might, for such a speech ia not Offer
heard in legislative hall. 1t was
Quixotic speech, pitched in a higl
key, full of long words of thun
denng sound, of Greek, Latin an,
NEUROLOGICAL terms, metaphors, eli
makes, anti-climaxes and all othe
figures of speech known to rhetoric
and accompanied by gestures of tn
widest and weirdest sort. 1t wa
more than a Quixotic speech it was
perfect windmill of a speech. But
would take the pen OF a Dickens I
describe the speaker, the speech, o
its effect, and | forbear. Suffice it t
say that at its conclusion Mr., Brook
was congratulated in the warmes
! manner by his fellow members VIII
. surrounded his desk, and was present
{ ed with a large and fragrant boque
: as a slight testimonial Of the appr'
cation of the audience.
Mr.. Gehr said that the bill had n
more chance of passing than he had {
flying to haven, and he therefore MOI
= ed to postpone it indefinitely to pr
= vent the alleged further waste OF tim
in its discussion.
The motion was defeated by a vol
of so nays to rs yeas.
i The question being on the ament
ment OF Mr.. Long to exclude from Il
provisions of the act native wines an
malt liquors.
; Mr.. Morgan submitted the iollowir
r amendment which was disagreed I
. That all damages to personal cha
acter or property caused by the ga
or use of intoxicating drinks in an
county shall be assessed upon and CT
d lected from any or all persons engage
c in the manufacture or sale Of spirit
e ous, vinous or brewcd liquors.
The amendment relating to nat'
wines and malt liquors was defeat,
u by "a yeas TO 118 nays.
r The next question was an amen
e ment by Mr.. Long requiring count
4. voting against license to reimbur
y owners of d%istillcries and brewer,
The amendment was defeated by q
following vote; Yeas 40, nays 100.
Q The vote was then taken on d
y first secticn Of the bill, and il was q
a feated and consequently the bill.
a Tho vote stood yeas rs, nays
Forty.sepen mombers lodged, one, Blu
VI ard, has olopcd, and another, ONE
is dead. 1t is reported that thirty
the forty-scvcn dodgers would ha
"a voted with the seventy-seven had
been necessary. A full vote won
therefore have stood, yeas 90, ma
10. Twenty-one of the dodgers VIC
Philadelphians.