The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-02-17
THE PROHIBIToRY AMENDMENT.

an AFmIAtlce Agreed Upon untll THIS
Morning..
AS ausual thing the Senate has few Wis
itoIs, either fair ladies or grave men. We
don't know whether this state Of things is
owing to the oppressive dignity of the
body or the tame and uninteresting char
aCter Of its deliberations, This We do
know, however, that the House Is the IA
vorsd body with visitors. Yesterday the
rule was reversed and the Senate was
crowded with visitors, mainly ladies', at
tEaCted to the Chamber by the announce
ment that the prohibitory amendment
would come up for discussion. Among |
those who, occupied seats in the lobby the
reporter recognized many prominent tenn
peranCe workers who manifested great
interest in the debate, their CountenHnCes
rejecting their thoughts as the speeches
pleased or displeased them.
The Senate had been engaged in perfect
ing the State BOard.oi Health bill greater
part OF yesterdays session, and were toy
Ing with 1t when the Capitol clock struck
the hour OF three. When the echo OF the
strokes died away Mr.. Faulkner arose and
demanded the special order, which called
Tor the consideration Of Senate Joint Res
olution No. 8, the proposed prohibitory
amendment. The resolution provides:
"ThRt the manufacture and sale oil intoxi'
eating drinks are forever prohibited in this
State except for medicinal, mechanical, and
scientific purposes, and that the Leglsla'
ture shall enforce the same by appropriate
Legislation" After the reading OF the req.
olution by the Clerk several Senators
scrambled to their feet for recognition,
and Judge Brown being the successful
one asked Mr., Faulkner II he would not
agree to q further postponement OF the
resolution, Mr.. Faulkner replied that he
did not think that further postpone
ment would accomplish any good, The
Senate had nothing OF special Importance
to consider at present, but 1t would be
rushed with work later on; and the Ques-
ton might as well be decided now ono
way or the other.
Judge Brown asked that the resolution
be postponed for one week, at least. He
said there was very important bill await
ing the action OF the Senate--the bill reg.
ulating the Justices OF the several Coun.
ties-and until that bill was passed the
people were virtually without laws for
their government. he hoped, therefore,
it would be the pleasure Of the Senate to
agree TO his motion 10 postpone.
Mr.. Woods said the question must be
met sometime during the session, and he
knew OF no better time than the present
to meet the issue, and, therefore, he would
move that the resolution be indefinitely
poBtponed,
Judge Brown resisted the motion 10 in.
definitely postpone, and warned the S0na.
tors II II was postponed now there would
come an hour when there would be no
postponement Of the question. The peo.
pie have petitioned for the privilege Of
voting on this question and we have no
right to refuse them. The petitions con.
tain the names Of as many respectable and
wealthy people as ever appeared on paper
ever presented to this Legislature. Let
US not, Therefore, shirk our duty in this
matter. AS Tor myself l am with the
people In this measure, and will stay
with them II the consideration Of 1t sinks
every political party In the State.
Mr.. Dennis said he freely confessed that
he was temperance man, and regretted
the evils OF drunkenness as much as any
Senator on the floor, but he didn't pro-
pose 10 shirk his duty
Judge Brown, interrupting: ~ wish to
correct the impression oil the gentleman,
did not insinuate that any Senator would
refuse to do his duty What | did say was:
Let lis not shlrk our duty" 1872,
Mr.. Dennis continuing spoke In favor OF
the motion TO indefinitely postpone. 81
take II that every Senator's mind is made
up as to how he will vote, and the pro-
longatlon Of the discussion on the measure
is useless"
Mr.. Smith said he objected to the indeA.
mite postponement because It cut off
amendments 10 the resolution. He thought
II could be 80 amended as to suit the
friends OF the measure and meet with the
appreciation Of the Senate.
Mr.. Faulkner, the leader OF the opposi.
ton to the resolution, then took the floor
and made long and exhaustive argument
in favor OF indefinite postponement. He
asserted that one.halt Of the petitioners
did not know that the Constitution al.
ready provides for the enactment OF laws
suppressing the liquor traffic. The ladies
signed the petitions because they objected
TO the saloons. There are already laws on
our Statute books regulating these places,
but ! doubt II they were aware Of the fact
when they signed the petitions. The
Legislature Ia already authorized to pass
laws suppressing the manufacture and
sale Of intoxicating drinks, why, there. |
fore, submit this question TO the people.
Mr.. Faulkner then referred to Maine as
an example Of the workings Of prohibi. |
ton law. He said Maine was ahead Of all
the New England States in the number Of
divorces granted. Now the temperance |
people claim that drunkenness Is the
cause OF most OF the domestic wretched.
ness In the land. Let us see how It Ia In |
Maine. In 1878 there was one divorce 10 |
every 1857 inhabitants; In Massachusetts |
one to every $500, and In liquor selling
West Virginia l don't think the proper.
ton would quite be one 10 6,000 Now II
yotl can prove 10 me that the passage Of
this amendment will benefit the people
make the men stronger and the women
healthier, and the State more prosperous
then l will favor the adoption OF the
amendment.
How does prohibition work in Mainel
A prominent temperance man In that
State has written letter TO gentleman
on the floor Of this House In which 1t is
stated that In one town OF 1000 inhabl.
tants there are forty places where liquor 10
sold In violation oil the law. Further,
there are more special United States
licenses taken out in Maine than In whisky
selling West Virginia. /
Mr.. Faulkner said that question resolved
itself into three propositions; Prohibition,
Local Option and License. He quoted
Senator Thurman, Of Ohio, is support Of
his assertion that local option in Ohio was
a failure. Also the remarks Of a man
named Dullield, In relation 10 Michigan
Now, In my own county there lie a dis.
tillery that turns out e,g40 gallons Of liquor
d day, but not five cents worth Of III
sold in West Virginia. The prodact is
shipped 10 baltimore and Philadelphia.
Yni thia atnhnhnarL would ahnllah thia