West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1881-02-23
the Amendment in the Senate.

Consideration of the Prohibitorv
Amendment having been made the
special order for Wednesday Febu-
airy 16, in the Senate the greater part
of that day and the following
was spent in discussing the matter.
Both Wheeling Dailies had accounts
of the proceedings. We give the
substance of the ntelligencer's re-
port.
The resolution provides: THAT the manu-
facture and sale Of intoxicating drinks are
forever prohibited in this State except for
medicinal, mechanical, and scientific purpo-
SeS, and that the Legislature shall enforce the
same by appropriate legislation" After the
reading of the resolution by the Clerk seVe-
raj Senators scrambled to their feet for rec
ignition, and Judge Brown being the success
1ul one asked Mr. Faulkner if he would not
agree to a further postponement of the reso-
luton. Mr.. Faulkner replied that he did not
think that a further pestponement would ac-
complish any good. The Senate had nothing
of special Importance to consider at present,
but it would be rushed with work later on
and the question might as well be decided now
one way or the other.
Judge Brown asked that the resolution be
postponed for one week, at least. He said
there was very important bill awaiting the
action of the Senate-The bill reg
ulating the Justices of the several counties
ana until the OLA was passed t1e people were
virtually without laws for their government.
He hoped, therefore, it would be the pleasure
of the Senate to agree to his motion to post
pone-
Mr. Wood 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, ne would move that
Judge Brown resisted the motion to indef-
nitely postpone, and warned the Senate if it
was postponed now there would come an
hnlIr thpTn NVnnId
of the question The people have petitioned
for the privilege of voting on this question
and we have no right to refuse them. The
petitions contain the names of as many
spectacle ond wealthy people as ever appear
ed on paper ever presented to this Legisla-
ture Let us not, therefore, shirk our duty in
this matter. AS for myself l am with the
people in this measure, and will stay with
them if the consideration of il sinks every
political party in the State.
Mr.. Dennis said he freely confessed that he
was q temperance man, and regretted the
evils of drunkenness as much as any Senator
on the floor, but he didn't propose to shirk
his duty
Judge Brown, interrupting: 81 wish to cor
rect the impression of the gentlemen, / did
not inSnuate that any Senator would refuse
to do his duty. What did Say, was Let us
not shirk our duty
Mr. Dennis continuing spoke in favor of
the motion to indefinitely postpone. 81 take
it that every Senator's mind is made up as to
how he will vote, and the prolongau1on of
the discussion on the measure is useless"
IT. S1nltn Salu ne ObIecteu W lIle lHuell-
mite postponement, because it cut off amend
ments to the resolution He thought it could
be so amended as to suit the friends of the
measure and meet with the appreciation Of
the Senate
to the resolution then took the floor and
made a long and exhaustive argument in IA
VOr of indefinite pOStponement. he assert
ed that one-half of the petitioners did not
know that the Constitution already provides
for the enactment of laws suppressing the
Iiulaor traffic The ladies signed the petit !
ti0ns because they objected to the saloons. |
Ther3 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 is already au-
thorized to pass laws suppressing the manu- |
failure and sale of intoxicating drinks: why, |
therefore, submit this question to the PEG.
pie.
example of the workings of prohibition |
law He said Maine was ahead OF all the
New England States in the NUMBER OF ul-
yorces granted. Now the temperance people
claim that drunk enness is the cause OF most
of the domestic wretchednesS IN the land
7 ,et us see how is it in Maine In 1873 there was
one divorce 70 every 1887 Inhabitants; IN
one to every 1850, ana IN NJ
nor selling West Virginia don't think the
r vau can prove to 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 / will favor the adoption OF the amend
ment. , i. ,.ot,oo h
monument temperance man In that state
has written letter to a gentleman on tne
aoor of this House in which 1t is stated that IN
one town of 70oO 1nhabltants ti.e toIn+tn,e
,f the law. Further, there are more speclsi