New-York tribune., 1906-05-03
LOCAL OPTION PASSED.
FIERCE ASSEMBLY FIGHT.
House Utmost IN Riot-Measure IN
Senate General Orders.
IBv TeIegraph 70 Tho TrIbuno.l ]


Albany May 2.-The bitterest fight OF the ses-
sion developed IN the Assembly to-day over the
Tully- Wainwright Local Option BILL The House
was almost riotous when sc was passed by a vote
of 81 70 80. IL was sent 20 the Senate imrnedi-
ateiy thereafter and IS now in general orders'
II the battle there IS fierce as in the Assembly
nnal adjournment of the Legislature tomorrow
win be made "on time' only by stopping the
clock.
Charges and counter charges OF lobby corrup-
ton and threats flew thick and fast round the
Assembly Chamber during the debate over the
bin. Assennblyman Cox. Of Erie. who has con-
tinualIy opposed the measure. said the methods
Of coercion employed by the agents Of the Anti
Saloon League were nothing short OF blacSmaiE
'grhey have threatened my reelection because
my convictions were not Of the ilk OF theirs" he
said. '1hey have demanded that vote for this
bin or they win wreck my reputation. They
have blaclzmailed members of this house who
will vote for this bill to-day, not because they
believe fn st. but because they afraid of this
great political organization that is supporting
it. call on my colleagues who have been bam-
boozled by this crowd 90 regain their self-respect
and manhood and down this bill now and for
ever"
Waving aloft a telegram which Mr.. Cox had
Just received. Assemblyrnan Wade demanded
The message came from a minister in Erie
County and called on Mr.. Cox to support the
bill IN Difference TO the wishes of three hum
dred Methodist voters.
''If these Anti-Saloon League agents were only
lobbyists. I might respect them,' Mr.. Wade de-
clared but unmasked they are only to be
censured for the methods they have tried TO
cover with the screen of morality"
In a frenzied speech he urged Mr.. Cox to send
the telegram to the District Attorney Of Erie
County
After having delivered his speech Mr.. Wade
voted fo- the bill, did Assemblyman Fish,
of Madison who also denounced the Anti-sa-
loon Leagues methods in scathing terms
Nr wainwright, who has labored faithfully to
get the bill through. despite the prejudice
against 1t, shouted that the ''moral lobby in
voked in its behalf was not half meretricious
as the lobby of the brewers and rumsellers
against it.
These gentlemen talk about a lobby!" he
cried. why, can show you lobby which has
worked early and late against this bill in the IN
terest Of the brewers and saloonkeepers lobby
which is in the sound Of my voice now. and he
nodded TO a group across the chamber, in which
stood one man registered in the Office Of the
Secretary OF State for appearances in excise af-
fairs. Paradise Park Jimmie Oliver imrnedi-
dlely CTatSu MS neck TO discover the lODDys he
looked long and earnestly.
Almost every rule of the House was invoked
by Assemblymen Schoenck and Cox in their eff
forts TO delay the vOte and at one time it looked
if they were going to succeed. So reckless
did the opponents Of the measure become that
the Speaker broke his desk pounding with the
gavel 90 queil the noise Assemblyman Oliver
would not be silent, and all business was sus-
pended while Speaker Wadswerth threatened to
call the sergeant nt-at-arms to put him in his seat
At times six or eight Assemblymen were shout
ing at once. The din had become intolerable
when the lights suddenly went out. After half
an hour quiet was restored and vote taken.
Among those who voted for the bill were sew
eral who announced that they might have voted
differently IL they were not certain that the
measure would be killed in the Senate commit
tee. Their hopes were blasted. however, for
Senator Tully, after failing to have it advanced
TO third reading, by a vote Of SS to 12 got it to
general Orders
The vote on the hill folloUyu.