The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-04-17
WILL WASHINGTON
Be A DRY TOWN
Prospect of Senator Gallinger's
Excise Law
JOKE ON THE REGULARS
Three Insurgents Can Throw House
Into Mysteries at Any Time-Dem-
ocratIe Outlook Is Bright
In Delaware
JOKE ON THE REGULARS

Washington, April 16-(Special.)-Wha
would you think of dry Washington?
Can you conceive it?
! II by any chance Senator Gallinger's
proposed excise law should pass Con-
gress, Washington would be so near dry
that a visitor from Georgia or Kansas
would feel perfectly at home.
Under its provisions no liquor may be
legally sold within 1000 feet of public
school house, owned or occupied as a
whole or in part by the District OF Col
umbia, public part of public play grounds,
any private school, college or university,
or any place of religious worship owned
or occupied as a whole or in part by a re-
lgious society or organization for reg
ular public worship measured Between
the nearest entrance to each by the
shortest course of travel between such
places of business and public school
house, public park. public playground or
any private school, college or university,
or place of religious worship; nor shall
any license be granted for any place con-
fronting the capitol grounds or the
connecting with any building OF buildings
owned or controlled by the United
States or the District of Columbia for
public purposes, or located directly OPP
posite any government reservation.
Just take your guide map of Washing
ton and figure out how many saloons
would be possible under this provision.
A few might squeeze in in the outskirts,
but the stranger would have to add the
cost of a car fare or two and the pay of
a guide to the price of his drink before
he could place his foot on the brass rail
and make known his wants to the man
| behind the bar.
1t is said that this section alone would
prevent the granting of licenses to any
of the hotels or clubs of Washington,
as they are all within 1000 feet of pub
lie park, public building. college or
church. The other provisions of the bill
are equally drastic and far-reaching. A
high police official is quoted as saying
that under this act every saloon In the
city of Washington could be closed forth
with.
Will Congress pass the bill? The an
swer is that Congress has a petit jury
beaten seven ways from the ace so far
as certainty of action is concerned.
1t is almost pitiful to see the state OF
mind to which their recent misfortunes
have reduced the Old Guard in the House
and some of the mean insurgents are
taking advantage of the condition of
Jumps which makes the regular to
have fun with them. Murdoch, Lenroot,
Norris, Stevenson and their chums
cause SILVER of dsmay to run up and
down the backbones of the followers OF
Uncle Joe most any time. For example:
The other afternoon Norris, Poindexter
and Murdoch met by accident at the
head of the main aisle, and Norris said;
Its lunch time; 1 want you fellows to
go down with e.
Thev stopped and talked about the
weather and the crop outlook in Kansas
and Nebraska, and the regulars perked
up The trio edged over toward the seat
occupied by Cary of Wisconsin, another
"insurgent" 1t was perfectly innocent
and accidental and Cary wasn't in the
conversation. Then they left the chamber
together. Instantly one of the Cannon
ileutenants hurried over to Cary.
Say, old man, what's up?" he asked
in perfect innocence.
What do you mean?' demanded Cary
in perfect innocence.
why, what were you and those chaps
figuring on before they went out? Spring
ing something?
cary saw it. "Oh, say" he protested.
you couldn't expect me to tell you, could
you? I'll just tip 1t to you straight that
something is going to drop, right away.
That's all I dare say; don't tell anybody
l said that much"
And he got up and left the chamber.
Three minutes afterward there was a
hurried consultation of leaders in the
coat room, a count of noses was taken
and a call of the House was ordered. to
get the regulars back ION the job" The
doors were locked and nobody allowed
to leave till the call had been finished
But Cary had escaped before it began,
and the insurgents sat In the cafe
laughing over the scare that it is so
shamefully easy to toss to the regulars
these times There wasn't even a thought
of starting anything.
ass~=
Nica Prasident John e Gardin of the