Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1885-02-21
PROCEEDINGS OF THE LEGISLATURE


exhibit OF the State at New Orleans.
On Saturday, in the House, re.
solution was offered. and lost, that
the Judiciary Committee be instruct
ed to report bill prohibiting the
sale of liquors in this State.
Mr.. Lucas on this question made a
long speech, going into all branches
of the prohibition question. He said
the last Democratic platform had
taken adecided stand against sumpt-
uary legislation, and he compared
the votes received by Mr.. Cleveland
and st. John as indicating the rela-
tive strength of the ideas represent
ed by the two. He predicted that if
prohibition were adopted in this
State it would be the death knell OF
the West Virginia Democracy. and
shortly these pseudo reformers would
come demanding the gift of suffrage
for the women. Both these reforms
were demanded by the St. John
platform.
The prohibitory amendment reso-
luton was ordered to its third read
ing by vote of 4S to IL. The long
speeches on this question take up
too much of the valuable time of the
Legislature. The truth is the Leg
islature is afraid to submit the
amendment and is just as much
afraid not to submit it.
The members Of the West Virgil
MIA Legislature should have the
sympathy Of She public in their Ell
forts to get around, or over, or out
of the way of the prohlbitory amend
ment question. 1t came up in the
| House last Friday. The fine legisla-
/ tive conscience shone then to good
advantage. They spoke OF the un-
manliness of voting to submit the
amendment to the people, aud then
vote against it at the polls. Some
thought prohibition was the rock
upon which the Democratic ship of
this State would go to pieces. The
amendment is to prohibit the manu-
facture and sale of liquors in this
State, foreuer that is, to submit the
question to a vote of the people.
Several amendments were offered
and lost.
Mr.. Lucas of Jefferson, moved to
amend by striking out the word
"manufacture." On this proposition
Mr.. Dean spoke warmly, opposing
the proposed amendment. This, he
thought, was the gist of the resolu.
ton. The Legislature is now author
lied by the Constitution to prohibit
the sale, but not the manufacture of
inEoxicants, and this is what is chief
ly aimed at.
Mr.. Lucas supported the amend
ment. He SAID that of the liquor
made in West Virginia not one bar
rel in one hundred is sold or drank
in West Virginia. Mr.. Lucas read
an extract from Herbert Spencer,
condemning legislation by enthu-
siasts and fanatics.
Mr.. Dean said according to the
classification by this gentleman,
there were but two classes-enthu-
siasts and mossbacks.
Mr. Lucas responded In an anus
ing vein, telling some of his perso.
nal experiences in local option coun-
ties, his observation going TO show
that there was more liquor to be
found in these than in license coun-
ties. He again referred to the pro-
hibitionists as " enthusiasts" a title
which Mr.. Powell said he for one
gladly accepted. The significance
of the word, he said, was " God with
in us.u
The amendment offered by Mr..
Lucas was rejected by vote Of 16
to 40.
The ProhibitioniSts were disap-
pointed, and the public surprised by
the defeat of the prohibitory Amend
ment, Saturday, and the champions
OF the cause began casting about to
discover what had wrought the
change. The vote Oh Saturday was
Al for the amendment and 81 against.
the ayes being Messrs. Anderson,
Alexander, Arnold, Beard, Callison,
Campbell, Chambers, Davies, Davis
son, Dean, Dorr, Edwards, Ferguson,
Fisher, Fleming, ForJney, Givens,
Glover, Hayman, Hawvermale, Laid
ley, Marshall, McClung, McGill, Nc
Mechen. McWhorter, Miller, Parker,
Parks, Post, Powell, Poynter, Price,
Roach, Rock, RusmiseH, Sayre,
Smith, Stapleton, Taylor and Work
man.
The noes were: Messrs. Dennis
(Speaker), Chew, Crockett, David
son, Dyer, Gilkeson, Gilmore, Hay
mond, Hinkle, Jacob, Lucas, Nc
Conaughey, Morgan, Myles, Owings,
Oxley, Randolph, Richardson, Rob.
ertson, Thompson and White.
There were three absentees. or
these Mr.. Snodgrass was opposed to
prohibition. Mr.. Terrell and Mr..
Snyder voted for the amendment on
Friday.
Speaking of the measure. promi-
nent Democrat, said Saturday: 81
am told that kilograms were sent by
opponents of the amendment to Sen
ators Camden and Kenna to come
here at once, and defaat the meas
nre. This was on account of the
feeling of few Democrats, voiced
by Mr.. Lucas in the House the other
day, that to pass this resolution
would be to sign the death warrant
OF the Democracy in West Virginia.
The revenue argument is being press
ed by the opponents Of the measure.
They say to pass this amendment
would merely deprive the State of
the revenue now derived from the
liquor traffic.
The question of prohibition came
up again Monday in the House of
Delegates. The result of the vote