The Washington herald., 1908-05-09

speaker cannon met his equals III de-
bate yesterday when a committee repre-
senting the Methodist Episcopal Church,
now assembled IN conference IN the city
OF baltimore. called 70 urge the House,
through the Speaker TO pass at this ses-
sion the Lttlefeld bill prohibiting the
shipment of intoxicating liquors IN inter-
state commerce into dry territory Gov,
Haniy. Of Indiana. and Gov. Hoch, OF
Kansas. famous as Chautauqua lecturers
and as political spellbinders. were at the
head Of the churchmen who talked with
Speaker Cannon
Gov. Hanly opened the session by in
forming the Speaker that the Methodist
Episcopal conference in Baltimore adopt
ed a resolution Thursday urging the House
TO give immediate consideration to the
Lttiefield bill The committee present was
sent over to Washington to impress upon
the national legislature the conviction
that Congress should pass an act prohib-
iting the shipment OF intoxicating liquors
into prohibited territory in any State. The
conference, Gov. Hanly said, represented
ten millions OF people.
| There seemed to be some doubt. Gov.
Hanly continued. as to the constitutional
ity Of the measure now pending. we
| hope this doubt" he added. will be re-
solved in behalf OF the people and the
public welfare" Gov Hoch stated that
Kansas, years ago, had passed a cousti-
tuuonal amendment prohibiting the man
ufacture OF liquors within its borders
For the past three years I have been
Up against this as a practical PROPOSE
/ ton, said Gov. Hoch. kansas cannot
make effective its law aimed at the manu-
faeture Of liquor without the aid OF the
Federal government
Governors Are Earnest.
Gov. Hanly and Gov Koch spoke with
great sarnestness. the former dispIaving
some irritation as the Speaker fred aues-
ions at him to bring out just what the
states had done to suppress the LIQUOR
traffic. Rev J. I. Murdoch. of pennsvl-
Vania; A. 3. Leonard, OF New York. and
Judge Charles a. Pollock. as well as the
two governors, closely interrogated the
Speaker as TO the intentions OF Congress
What have the States done to curb the
liquor trafio?" questioned the Sneaker
turning TO Gov. Hanly. he asked. HAS
your State. governor. passed law placing
an inhibition upon the shipment Of liquor
ders?" ''S ooA
IT has not" replied Gov. HaBIv sbow-
ing Just trace OF temper. but he
added, that hasn't anything TO do with
/ the question before u.s.
how many States have passed laws
! prohibiting the manufacture Of spirit,,o,,s
/ matt and vin0us lquors?" asked Sneaker
Oahhon' continuing his discourse.
Surprised by Three States
NJ. Cannon looked a little bit surprised
when he was informed instanter that
three States, Maine. Kansas. and North
Dakota, had such laws on their statute
books.
Again taking up the LlttIeaeld bin IT,
self the Speaker asked each Of the
twenty-five members of the committee
present who had read the provisions Of
the measure to raise his hand. I'D went
ten hands. only ten Of you have ex-
amined the bill"' exclaimed the Speaker.
/ who looked pleased without smiling.
! Speaker Cannon laid great stress upon
/ the report made by Senator Knox on the
/ I9Iuor bills pending in the Senate. The
/ conclusion was that the L.ttleneld bill
ana other Ike measures were unconstitu-
tionai, The Speaker called attention TO
/ the fact that Senator Knox had reported
/ a OIL which would in all possibility cor
rect the evil against which the churchnren
/ complained.
! This bill prohibits a common carrier en-
/ gagged In interstate commerce from being
the agent OF a vender or the purchaser
OF liquor shipped into dry State. II
/ also prohibited he said. the sending of
\ liquor &C. .. D" into "dry" States. II
apprehend," continued the Speaker, that
/ this would reach the trouble. Senator
/ Knox believes that IL is as far as the
/ Federal government has power 10 go in
! premises"
Puts Direct Question.
What we want to know" said DIT.
Leonard. is whether Congress has gone
TO the limit OF its powers. or intends to
go to the limit or its powers. in aiding
/ the States to suppress the Hquor trafic?'
4 have no doubt" said the Speaker.
measuring his words, that the Congress
| Of the United States is proceeding under
its oath. and that the membership thereof
viii register its viii along legal. correct,
and righteous lines"
Addressing the governors, as the repre-
sentatives Of the States, Mr.. Cannon ex-
planned; Remove the beam from your
own eye before you seek TO remove the
mote from the eye Of your neighhor. %
/ Turning 10 the churchmen, he said: BE
sure you're right then go ahead"
One OF the delegates, Judge Pollock. Of
| North Dakota, quoted from the decision
! OF the Supreme Court in an effort to
sustain the eOnstitutiOnality OF the Little
field bill. Speaker Cannon however said
he knew nothing of the decision in ques-
ton, and that he preferred to stand pat
| for the present on the report OF Senator
| Knox
At the conclusion Of the conference Mr..
Cannon shook hands all around. and the
| churchmen left, but whether satisfied or
not is beet shown by a statement given
to the press by one of their number. Will
lam II. Anderson, chairman of the legis-
lative committee Of the temperance society
of the Methodist Episcopal Church and
superintendent OF the Anti-Saloon League
Of Maryland
Mr.. Anderson said: '"rhe Methodist
Episcopal constituency has recognized
that Speaker Cannon is blocking this
legislation and that this bin would pass
overwhelmingly IL II were permitted 20
come 10 a vote In the House"
CONTRACT TO HIGH BIDDER.