The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-12-27
LOADS COMMIT Tee
AGAINST MEASURE
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Speaker Cannon Appoints Anti
Prohibition Men to Direct
District Affairs.
WILLIAMS .EM NJ HIN,
Several Men Inclined to Prohi-
ton Taken Off-Effccts Of
Changes.
WILLIAMS EM VI HIM
Times Dispatch Bureau.

~.
Washington. .. c., Dec. 2s.
Speaker Cannon and Representative
John Sharp Williams, between them,
have succeeded In getting Commit
tee on the District of Columbia which
will prove the despair OF every tenn
perance advocate. who has fondly
dreamed OF the day when no liquor
should be sold within the purlieus OF
the capital OF the nation. Speaker Can
non fixed the committee as we'll as the
most ardent advocate Of non-action on
the part OF legislatures In tie matter
OF prohibition or local option could
wish.
Mr.. Williams. whether by accident or
otherwise, has gone the Speaker one
better. probably; certainly he has done
as we'll as could have been expected
from representative from q State
where prohibition Is as strong as 1t is
Democrat on the committee. is the
author OF a straight prohibition bill
which he introduced at this session.
He had number OF strong prohibition
supporters on the committee last year,
but they have disappeared.
In the stead OF one OF them Mr.. VIII
liams appointed a Milwaukee Demo-
erat. and II there has ever been q
Democratic officeholde} or Republican,
cilHeF. ior tHhN HaLtdi, IN Mll"auRee
made famous by a Certain beer. he
Should make himself known. Mr. Will
l.ams appointed In the place Of another
of these Prohibltionlst-D Democrats a
new member from Pennsylvania. who Is
said to be a part owner OF q brewery
IN Bethlehem. where there is not and
never has been enough temperance to
encourage the ". c. T. u. to make a
badly-needed crusade.
Seriously. while it is not charged
that Mr. Williams Intentionally ap-
pointed these antitemperance members
OF the committee, surprise and regret
are expressed that he should have done
SO. The surprise is manifested by
those who remember Mr.. Williams's
leoursc in refusing to recommend Mr..
Sheriey. of Kentucky, to vacancy on
1.-THE Judiciary Committee last year. and
recommending Mr.. Webb. of North
!Carolina. instead. on the ground that
Mir. Sherley was opposed to the DollI-
tver-Hepburn bill. which sought to pro-
| hlbit the sending of liquor into local
option counties and States, while Mr..
Webb favored 1t. Mr.. Williams said
he thought 1t Democratic policy to ad-
lvocatc the bill. and therefore that II
would be unw'ise to appoint to the
committee to which 1t had been re.
ferred Democrat known to oppose It
MT. Nl!llamss friends are. therefore
| surprised that he should have ap.
| pointed to the Committee on the Dis
| trlct Of Columbia two Democrat.
known to oppose the various propose,
pieces OF temperance legislation nov
before that committee. The defeat o.
these bills in committee. which nov
appears TO be certain. will be due "a.
4 much to Democrats as to Republicans
1 1t Is fair to say that Mr.. Sims, o
1 Tennessee, the senior Democratic mem
|! Der OF the committee. was not con
4 suited by Mr.. Williams when the lat
ter displaced certain members with
others. So far as known Mr.. William.
did not consult with the senior minor
4 ity members OF any OF the COMMITTEES
In making his assignments to place,
under their leadership.
By the way, certain Democrats from
the South are pledginu themselves t.
vote against the bill introduced b!
/ Representative Lamb, of Virginia, pro
viding for submitting to the mall
citizens of the District of Columbia
lover ttwenty-one years of age. tn
question OF whether liquor shall be solt
in the District