The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1911-01-18
(From The Oklahoman)

With dramatic suddennesS ana We
hemence the house of representa-
tives arose almost en- masse Tues
day afternoon denounced as unconsti-
tutional, un-American and contrary to
that great and ancient right of fair
trial by jury, that portion of the
administration" prohibition enforce
ment bill proposing to give the gov
ernor power to suspend all county
officers neglecting, failing or refus
ing to enforce the prohibitory laws.
When the attack had sufficiently
quieted to allow vote, that section
was stricken from the bill by heavy
majority. The emasculated bill was
then allowed to pass to final roll
call.
The portion of the bill thus killed
embodied the suggestion of Governor
Haskell in his final messags and
the suggestion of Governor Cruce in
his first message to the legislature.
1t was the only section of the bill
making harder conditions for the
bootleggers and their friends, and
with it out the bill remains only a
shell, so far as any additional aid
to prohibitory law enforcement is
concerned, except the provision max
ing the punishment of the habitual
violator, one who has been convicted
twice before, not less than imprison-
ment for one year nor more than
five.
The other important provisions of
the bill, as passed to engrossment
abolished the state dispensary, abel
ished the office of sRte enforcement
attorney and the enforcement de-
partment, and porvides for the de-
struction of confiscation.
The authors of the bill, Represent
atives Anthony and Webb (and Sen
ator Thompson) lodged a motion to
reconsider the vote, killing the vital
section, and hope to get more fa-
vorable action on final roll call. but
if the temper of the house continues
as it was Tuesday this hope will
be in vain.
Attack Unexpected.
The attack on the bill was unex-
Dected. It's friends had pushed through
without important amendment the
first ten sections, and only two, of
remained to be consid-
cred. 1t semed that the bill must
go through as it came out of the pro-
hibition enforcement committee. But
when the vital section was reached,
Pryor lodged a motion to strike the
stcion out.
Even then friends of the measure
lid not recognize the impending dan
ger to the bill, and were impatient to
get the Pryor motion out of the
way so that it could be passed
before adjournment, as o'clock was
lear. Peery, however, started the
onslaught, in a warm speech, claim
ng the right of every man for trial
n courts and not before an executive |
officer. Webb, one of the authors of
he bill, defended it in a short talk: !
lie said that the bill had the con-
'uTence of Governor Cruce; that
t had met his approval and that
he governor was willing to bear the
responsibilities it would impose.
Maxey of Pottawatomie followed
With one of the best speeches he
las made in the three years that he
las been in the legislature He eyi.
ently had felt and thought deeply
Ipon the subject, and several times
n the course of his remarks he was
pplauded by his brother legislators.
lie said that he was for the enforce
nent bin, and for prohibition en-
orcement; but that he was opposed
to such an unconsti-
utional proposition as the one in
olved in section II.
Every man has a right to a trial
Y jury" he said This bill violates
he spirit of our constitution, of
our system of jurisprudence; is
and pervertive."
Conditions Pictured.
He pictured conditions when coun-