The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-02-17
SENATORS HAVE
HEATED DEBATE
ON PROHIBITION
Secret Caucus in Commercial
Club Building Leaves Matter
Far From Settled.
AT LEAST TWO LEAVE
MEETING IN TANTRUMS
WHETHER OR NOT COMPROMISE
is EFFECTED, CANNON MEAS
uRE is DOOMED.

AT an exciting meeting IN the rooms of
the Grand Army of the Republic at the
| Commercial club last evening twelve SEN
ators discussed the prohibition question
ana AT least nine of the twelve decided
against the Cannon bill The meeting vas
presumed 10 be caucus of the members
OF the senate on the Cannon bill The
cannon OIL, however. received little. IL
any discussion. the real question being a
compromise measure which would satfsf,-
both prOhibitionists and those who might
be termed administrationists.
The caucus was called quietly by the
members of the senate and the leaders Of
the Republican party. The leaders of the
movement asked for quarters at the Com
mercial club and were assigned the rooms
occupied by Colonel r. NJ. Sterrett execu-
tive director of the next G. A. r. encamp-
ment
The members Of the senate present at
this meeting were President Henry Gard
ner, Senator Rudolph KuChler chairman
OF the committee on manufactures and
commerce, which has under consideration
the Cannon bill, +. #. Hulauiski. John Y
smith, G. T. Marks. 5. !. StOkey. HersCheI
Bullen' IT, Jonu H. Seeley, Christopher
Burton, jr-. w n Williams, Carl A. Bal
ger. j. A Hyde. Before the meeting was
over. Senators Burton and Williams, both
OF whom had declared themselves unquali-
fiedly for prohibition. left, presumably
because they were not in harmony with
the proposed straddIe.
Arguments Are Vigorous.
BY a rule adopted at the caucus the
newspaper men were barred from attend
anCe. The tone of voice. however, as
sumed by the senators left no room for
doubt as to the subject under discussion
and the arguments were heard the length
of the building.
At a previous caucus a committee con-
sisting of Senators John y. Smith. Carl A.
Badger and J. A. Hyde was appointed to
draw III bill which would be a substi-
tute for the Cannon bill. This bill was
presented last evening at the caucus. IT
was strictly a local option bill, with the
county as the unit. The opposition to this
bill developed Immediately on its pres
entation and formed the chief topic for
discussion during the evening Several
of the senators advocated the precinct as
the unit. The result was that after more
than three hours Of debate no agreement
had been reached as to the terms of the
bill to be presented to the senate
No Compromise Today.
One thing is certain. however, no COM
promise measure will be presented in the
senate today. and no action will be taken
by the committee on manufactures ami
commerce until a bill is definitely IgTced
upon.
That the session Of the members Of the
senate in caucus last evening was some
what interesting was evidenced by the
faces of the senators as they left the
room in which the caucus was held. There
is every reason to believe that there was
so much friction among those who took
part in the caucus that definite action
was postponed and that another caucus
on the same subject will be held in q day
or two
Death for Cannon Bill Sure.
Whether or not the opposition 10 the
Cannon bill will agree on local option OF
a regulation bill. or whether the matter
will be fought out on the floor. is still
a matter Of conjecture. That the Can
non bill viii not pass the senate has
been conceded by the most ardent advO-
Gates Of prohibition. In addition 10 the
ten who stayed at the meeting last even
ing. Senators Sevy and Benner \. Smith
have declared against the Cannon bill.
so that there is no doubt that it will fail
to pass the senate.
The committee on manufactures and
commerce. to which the Cannon bill has
been referred. has not yet held a meet
ing and probably will not do so until the
measure has been agreed
upon. Then the cOnciliatOry bill viii be
reported favorably and the Cannon bill
viii be killed