The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1908-02-06
HGuse SRasses the Proposed Constitv,.
Observation-Disclosures of Prohibition
- = by Overwhelming Vote. IL -,
PAGE THREE

NV "
BY an overwhelming vots of, 81 70
u, the house passed. the pro-
:, hibition amendment introduced on
the first day Of the session, providing
that the question: of prohibition shall
be submitted to the voters OF Tho
state at the next general election, to
be ratified or rejected by them. The
adherence of the temperance cause
swept the lower house by storm this
morning end at the 'opportuue time,
took the prohibition amendment
from the table, whsre they had con-
signed IT two days ago, and run it
through with nine votes TO spare.
When the house convened this
morning representatives Of the Anti
Saloon League, laden with petitions
from every county IL the state,
sw6oned down upon The delegates
and requested them, to present the
petitions from their counties. In all
there were 2G,0S1 singers to the Pc
tttions introduced this. morning, the
petitioners asking that the house act
favorably upon the prohibition
amendment and submit the question
tr. the people ut the next general
election. ..- .:... e..
Immediately after the Introduction
OF petitions. Mr.. Duty, from. Ritchie
county; moved that the amendment
be taken from the table and the mo-
tian prevailed on n viva vote Mr..
Williams, or Nicholas, the author Of
the" le$ulutior, secured recognition
and made an appeal to the House to
wipe out the whlskcy traffic in tho
state. =. At the end Of his speech The
temperance lobby, crowding the rear
Of tho house, broke out with app
rlause which was quickly communi-
Gated toSthe< delegates favoring pro-
lflDttfon and: this applause greeted
those. sYiio spok insfavor Of The mcts-
ure. - ~ ss4!sS e. T., -. 49,: 49,, ~.
Delegate Spptimills Hall, Of Wetzcl
county one Of tho old limo demo-
Gratis, who served In the constitu-
ttonhs ,conventicnj of 1912 made, one
Of tho brayest speeches OF the day.
ne said there had been unseenly
and undue haste III this transaction.
Like Mr.. Preston, of GreenDrier, he
said that 1t was his desire that this
resolution which was to be included
III the organic law Of the state,
should have been referred to
The committee on judiciary,
There Is an element Of wrong in
This resolution" said Mr.. Hall, "the
cenfiscating as 1T were the millions
OF dollars invested in this business
under the fostering laws Of the state,
and to strike 1t down in such a. ruth
lcss>manner Is repugnan to MY ideas
OF honesty. know thai the liquor
traffic can be painted in various
"olors and the wrongs exposed to the
publfcj put even that does not per-
mt dishonesty in dealing with the
question! Like the gentleman from
kanaWha, favor strong local OPP
ton bill Holding these views, Mr..
Speaker it may SEEM puzzling the
way I-shall record/my vote. But
Mr.. Speaker, l have endeavored to
ind out the sentiment that exists in
my county on this question and have
written to good citizens throughout
The county. All OF them favor To-
cal option law, but under the. existing
circumstances have advised me to
vote IN favor Of the submission OF
the question to the people" He
was heartily cheered after his expla-
nation.
Mr.. Cooper, Of Wocd. nevol, Of
Wood: Jacobs, of Marion and Nu-
gent, Of Kanawha, offered explana-
tions Of their votes as they were
recorded voting In the affirmative.
AS Clerk Topping proceeded With
the roll call it was seen that the
prohibition forces had made largo
gains in t1s House ana many of
those who had favored the reference
Of tho bill to the judiciary, and had
voted with tho opponents Of che bill
Oh the preliminarie5, now cast their
strength with the advocates Of Tie
measure and voted for it's passage
OF the four Ohio county delegates,
three >wcrc opposed to the amend
mont on the voll cali, but afterwards
Maxwell changed his vote and voted
for it. Carskadon, of Mineral, also
change his vote and was recorded as
in favor of the amendment. The
final vote was 81 to IL, eight moro