The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1907-02-05
Great Excitement Prevailed in
Upper House of Legislature
During Vote.
KIRKMAN AGAINST BILL
EXPLAINED THE STAND HE TOOK
WHEN GIVEN HIS VOTE
THOUGHT LOWER HOUSE WILL
KILL THE MEASURE.
(By Demas S. Coe.)

Indianapolis, Feb, AFTER de
bate which lasted for more than two
hours and i'm the presence of the larg-
est crowd of spectators that has grac
ed either branch of the general as
sembly since the sessions began, the
senate this afternoon passed the Mat.
tingly 81 900 liquor license bill by a
vote of % to IS.
The peculiar sight of whisky men.
brewers and prohibitionists arrayed
in one body against the bill was the
feature of the session. In fact it was
the opposition of the roh.bitionists
and the temperance people more than
that of the saloon men and the brew
ers that brought the nineteen votes
against it. Some of the brewers and
saloon men favored the high license
bill. The temperance element oppos-
ed 1t on the ground that the state
would simply give further recognition
to an evil and intended to enrich it's
treasury from such evil for the benefit
of the school fund. There were men
in the senate known for their tenn
perance qualities who voted against
the bill and there We're others whose
liberal views have characterized them
at least as not enemies to the saloons,
who voted for it, The situation was
a complex one and the speeches made
were of the most vigorous sort. Sena-
tor kirkman was one of the eighteen
who voted against the bill, declaring
that while he favored legislation that
would restrict the liquor traffic, he
thought that this measure would not
bring about such u result. He said
that there had been no decisive indi
cation from the constituency he repre-
sented in Wayne and Union counties
that such bill was wanted. He said
in concluding his speech that he be-
lieved the question of high license
was or which should be considered
by the people and if they wanted it
they should express themselves in
no uncertain way. And last of all,
said Senator Kirkman, Il cannot help
but believe that the 81 900 license
will oppress the saloon keeper who
is poor and work to the advantage of
the saloon keeper who is wealthy and
who will not be disturbed by the licen-
Sc in the fee
Temperance Leader Against Bill.
Senator Bower one of the recogniz-
ed temperance men in the senate Wig
orously opposed the bill and made an
eloquent appeal for it's defeat. Sena-
tors M9ttingly, Kimbrough and Thorn
as T. re made the chief speeches
Tor tns declaring that it would re-
suit in cling the number of saloons
and not only that but that it would
tend to place the saloons in the hands
OF men who likely would be careful
not to violate the law.
Senator Kittinger, of Anderson.
created much merriment by making
vigorous speech against the bill and
ending by saying that he would vote
for it. But l hope to Heaven" he
said. that the house will kill it dead
as door nail l think it is a graft
measure-a measure to raise money
for the school fund by taking from a
class of people to benefit another !
class. I will vote for it, however. so
that it cannot be charged that | am
in league with the liquor element"
Excitement During Roll Call.
When the roll call was in progress
the greatest excitement prevailed and
senators end newspaper men crowd
ed about the roll clerk to watch the
manner in which members were recor-
ded- Several senators explained their 1
votes and it was fifteen minutes be |
fore the roll could be completed af- |
ter the first name had been called I
When Lieutenant Governor Miller an
nounced the result, there was dem
onstration from the great crowd in 1
the way of loud clapping of hands and (
the chair was compelled TO rap re- (
peatedly for order.
There are opinions expressed on all |
sides that the house will get out it's 4
AK when the Mattingly bill reach +
es that body. The prohibition leaders
from all over the state are demging
members to kill the bill and as the
farmer element is predominating in /
the affairs OF the lower house il is
figured out that most of them viii
stand with the temperance forces and
will view the Mattingly bill as meas 4
nre that would simply perpetuate the /
saloon. rather than to cripple it, 1t I
Is said that both Representative Wal
ter Ratliff and Richard Elliott, rep
resenting Wayne county. have already
signified their intention to vote
against the Mattingly bill.
K X
Both house and senate rested this
forenoon and held afternoon sessions
only. There was much routine busi-
ness in both branches but the Mat
tingly liquor bill completely overshad-
owed everything else.
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