The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-01-28
GLENN GIVEN A sETBACK

GLENN GIVEN A SETBACK
Caucus Action 40 Conskeued-That
the Democrats Should Have Acted
an They Did I'm the Face OF tho
0Il1ef EXECUTIVES Recommendation
the Subject OF Much Talk-His
Oyerzealousncss In the Cause Be
Influence.
Raleigh, January 22.-The action OF
the democratic caucus of the two
branches of the general assembly in
declining even to consider at this spe-
aial session a bill providing for immed-
ia.e state prohibition as urgently TO
commended by Governor Glenn In MS
message yesterday was one OF tne
p-.me topics of conversation in legis-
aa,ive circles this morning That the
compromise agreed upon, namely, 10
Consiacr a DILL leaving the question 10
a vote OF the people at the next gen.
eIal election, was wise and discreet
move none questioned. The only top
ic which excited the least degree or
interest was the stand Of Governor
OF the legislature n the light or ms
message. He came cut strongly for
the enactment of sweeping prohlDl-
tion law effective at once, taxing tne
advanced ground that such an act
would be the wisest and best ever
passed by any legislative boir. and
in less than twelve hours afCsr this
pronouncement the Two houses turned
it down and referred the settlement TO
the people Thi% they did in the face
of q stirring speech delivered by the
governor himself at mass meeting
of kizens, in which he urged thai
pressure be brought to bear upon the
legislature to enact a measure which
he himself had just reconmendea-
This was done, too, in the face of large
delegations of representative citizens
from all sections which filled the lob
bies and clamored for the enactment
of an immediate prohibition law.
BIG SURPRISE TO GLENN
1t is safe to say that Governor Glenn
was about the most surprised man In
the state when he was informed OF
this action Of the caucus. And there
were others who must have wondered
how the legislature could have acted
as 1t did in the light of all the 1ntiu-
cnCe and recognized power brought to
benr upon it. The states chief execu-
Tive had declared most urgently for
state prohibition; Senator simmons
had expressed the belief that it was
both wise and expedient; Ex-Governor
Jarvis had pronounced like views; as
had also Federal Judge J. .. Pritch-
ard. Chairman Hugh G ChatP am.
Former Chairman James H. Pou and
other leaders of the party And this
was further augmented by' the fact
that both houses were themselves
overwhelmingly for prohibition. Such
an array of talent has seldom been en-
Iisted in the advocacy of any cause
OVERDID HE THING.
The action of the caucus at first
glance seems incomprehensible. 1t
eanSbe explained only when viewed
frorh the standpoint of the legislators
themselves The sentiment Of the
majority was that this matter of great
lhNr csL pIluClple SuOulu DC iCII W d
vote of a people, the court of last
appeal, whose decision would be final
and impos sible Of contradiction or
dispute. The legislature is believed
by fair-mjnded men, not members Of
either branch, to have acted with dis
erection and judgment. The govern
Cr's participation in this prohibition
mass meeting in such a Jealous man
ner when the legislature had before
1t vital issues recommended by the
chief executive himself had something
to do with the action Of the caucus
The propriety of such a course was
called in question by some of the lead
ing members of the legislature, who
characterized it as beneath the dignity
of the first citizen of the state. That
it was the proper thing none will af-
firm. Sober-minded and intelligent
men say the governor made mistake
In thus throwing himself so vigorously
into the fight, while holding the office
and while such matters Of legislation
were pend.ng.-Special to the Charlotte
Observer.