The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-03-02
COMPROMISE REACHED .*ss,ss,,
ON PROHIBITION BILL
AMENDMENT Providing FOR
EELECTIOS IN WET co IN.
TIES PASSED.
Statewide Prohibition for Fifteen
Days-The Local optionists and
Prohibitonists Reach an
Agreement.


last night passed an amendment to
the prohibition bill-the compromise
proposed by Senator Christensen.
This amendment was framed up by
senators in conference during the dis
cussion on the bill.
The Christensen amendment which
passed provides, in brief:
Hold an election July Is in coun-
ties now having dispensaries to de-
termine whether they shall continue
the sale Of whiskey.
This would give prohibition for two
weeks under the opening provisions Of
the prohibition bill.
All counties voting to retain the
dispensaries will be under provisions
Of Carey-Cothran act.
After the passage Of this amend
ment at 11.25 o'clock, Senator Smith
spoke upon motion to Indefinitely
postpone the bill.
The discussion Of the prohibition
bill created much interest and there
were members Of the house, which
had adjourned, present in the senate
chamber, including Representatives
M. L. Smith and Richards, among the
prohibition leaders Of the house.
Messrs. Smith and Richards stated
that the house would not adopt the
amendment passed by the senate.
At 11.4O an adjournment was taken
until 10 o'clock today.
The Night Session.
Senator Smith, at the evening ses-
sion Of the senate, resumed his re-
marks upon the liquor question. lie
stated at the outset that he could not
agree to the proposition to take an I'M
mediate vote. He would not act upon
any one else's judgment except his
own.
Senator Smith reiterated his state
ment that no prohibition or referen-
dunn would be agreeable.
After Senator Smith had spoken
for 35 minutes there was some effort
to adjourn debate but this failed.
Senator Smith had the floor and con-
tinued to speak.
He said that this situation was
somewhat unusual, especially for the
senate. Senators were seen convers-
ing in the lobby, apparently trying to
reach some agreement. 1t IS under
stood that the Christensen amend
ments were agreeable to several OF the
local optionists, but the prohibition
side seemed for the most part to ra5n-
er wish to put their side OF the ques-
tion to the senate first and then II
this would not go, to consider these
amendments Of Mr.. Christensen.
Senator Smith stopped speaking at
8.45 o'clock and Senator Clifton OF
Sumter took the floor to speak upon
the bill.
He stated that he had no desire to
prevent a vote being reached and pro-
ceeded to speak as to Senator Otis
position, stating that the senator from
Cherokee had always changed to be
with the majority.
In the course Of his remarks Sena-
tor Clifton stated that the enforce
ment of prohibition law in this
State is not possible.
The memorial exercises in honor OF
the memory of the late Senator Nath-
an S. Gibson had been set for 9.oo
O'Clock bur a motion to reconsider
was made and the hour set for l.3O
Saturday. The charging Of the hour
for the memorial exercises left the
senate still considering the whiskey
bill with Senator Clifton holding the
floor.
Senator Clifton proceeded to urge
against a Statewide referendum and
against the larger counties saying
what shall be done IN the smalleI
counties.
Senator Clifton referred to Rev.
Jno. L. Harley's work in the prohlbl-
ton fight. He spoke of the chart
which had been drawn showing the
"wet" counties in black and the dry
counties IN white.
Senator Otis called attention that
this chart was prepared by the Wo-
mans Christian Temperance union
Senator Clifton claimed that prohl-
bition is political question-not a
moral question. He added that there
is no provision in the constitution for
anv referenduu On the whiskey ques-
tion. He would never agree for the
Piedmont section to vote Whlskey out
M, .x. Id boon