The Washington times., 1908-03-11
District Com mite e
Chairman Will Favor
Bill Giving People
Vote on Question.
Threat of Adjournment
QuelIS Tumult-S Shoe
maker Represents
5000 People.

OF Congress. according 10 strong indica- 4
tions OF sentiment given today by mem 4
bers OF the House District Committee /
IN the first public hearing granted on 4
the Sims b.u for prohibition.
In meeting that was characterized /
at one time by such disorder that /
Chairman Smith threatened 10 end the I
hearing II the demonstration znould be /
repeated, members Of the committee I
subjected A. +. Shoemaker. the Anti /
Saloon League attorney. 20 a gruelIng
cross-examinatiOE as 70 whether the .
people Of the District really wanted +.
prohibition and whether prohibition /
would improve conditions Throughout,
the city.
Before the hearing closed, Chairman
Smith announced that ne would be glad /
10 support measure allowing the peo-
pie 10 vote on whether prohibition /
should be the rule here.
'cPrOhibs" Won't Compromise.
Mr. Shoemaker and his followers aid
they wanted absolute prohibition. and
were not In a position to accept any
compromise legislation.
IJ was at this time that the tumult
and disorder arose.
Mr.. Shoemaker said Representative
Kahn OF California. don't you know
that the enforcement OF prohibition IN
Maine has promoted and increased law
lessness in that State?"
Before Mr.. Shoemaker could answer.
there came loud and repeated cries OF
NO. no. not at all.' from tho temper
ance people who filled the big commit
tee room IN hundreds This chorus was
augmented by cries from the liquor pe0-
PIE OK Yes, Yes"
Young Riot QuclIed.
The chairman was on his feet IN
moment his eyes blazing
I'VE can not tolerate such conduct. "
he declared.
And" put in Mr.. Campbell II it is
repeated, there viii be no further hear
ing"
This strled the tumult.
The speakers before the committee
were A. Z. Shoemaker. attorney for the
Anti-SalOou League: the Rev. S. Reese
Murray representing the Temperance
Crusaders, and Mrs. Clinton Smith,
president Of the WOman's Christian
/ Temperance Union, and Mrs. Margaret
Dye Ellis, OF the same organization.
Lawyer Opens Hearing.
Mr.. Shoemaker opened the proceed
/ ings with the statement that he repre-
sented a committee Of seven. which. in
turn. represented many temperance and
/ religious organizations Of the District
| of Columbia.
what we want passed he said. ais
/ the Sims bill prohibiting the liquor
| traffic In the District. Conditions are
bad here. The class OF saloons has de-
Perforated. and the daily sessions OF
our police court Sherr the results.
There are tco many beer gardens and
! wins resorts"
No Lobby, Says Shoemaker.
/ Representative Moore asked:
Mr. Shoemaker is there a lobby ia
( Washington which seeks to influence
merIbers OF Congress in regard TO this
bill by bringing influence TO bear on
them from. outside distr.cts?"
"Not that 1 know OF" said Mr.. Shoe
maker.
Members of the committee chimed in
/ with complaints about TIE letters and
/ petitions they had received regarding
/ prohibition At this point MattheV ~
/ O'Brien, of the prohibition movement,
/ sprang TO mis- feet with:
/ Yes I have Influenced this. I am the
/ Congressional representative Of the Ma
| tional Prohibition Ccrty, and I have
/ tried 10 get our friends throughout the
! country to make their wishes known 20
! Congress. In that sense, lobbying has
/ been done"
Represents $4,000 People.
How many people do you represent %
/ asked MIR. Moore.
About 5000" replied Mr.. Shoemaker.
And what is the population of the
District Of Columbian asked Mr. Nc
/ Gavin.
About 300 COO.
! Members OF the committee suggested
that T5 coo not being a ma iOritV of the
! population. should not expect 10 rule
J the 100000 but Mr. Shoemaker said the
! Prohibitionists number. in fact. many
more than 100000.
! Re9resen ntative Moore asked this dues-
ii DO YOU stand for prohibition abso-
lutely. or IS there in the minds of your
people any idea OF compromising on
the subject? Are you willing TO go
~ I've are opposed to the licensing Of
any saloons" replied Mr.. Shoemaker.
whether by high license or low IL
Don't YOU think" suggested Mr..
l Kabn. that the absolute prohibition of
the sale of liquor here VIII promote
Ilswiessness
"But liquor will be sold" continued
MI. Kahn.
Yes, sir
Then that is lawlessness," concluded
Mr. Kahn.
Here the disorder that had to be
.ouelled by Chairman Smith occurred.
what would be the effect of raising
the license tax TO 81. 600 or $2.090?" was
the next question put to Mr. Cmith.
1t would do a little good probably, %
J Continued on Page Tv,