The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-01-28
LONE DEMOCRAT
HOLDS TOP HAND
Morris Brings About Deadlock
in Joint Committee on
Liquor Question.
MUCH DIFFICULTY ABOUT
PLATFORM INTERPRETATION
Republican Members Stumped
Between Spoken Version and
Printed Declaration.

David H. Norris, the Democratic
leader in the house of representatives,
created deadlock in the joint commit
tee Of the senate and the house in the
discussion Of the liquor question on Fri
day morning and effectually blocked any
action that the committee proposed.
The Republicans were almost evenly
divided on the Interpretation of the Re-
publican platform, and the Democratic
member, by changing his vote at the
proper moment, was able to accomplish
the remarkable feat of preventing the
Republicans from interpreting their own
platform, Mr. Morris announced his
purpose in the committee and evidenced
keen delight at the discontinue Of ths
divided Republicans
Two test votes were taken and both
resulted in tie. Several long speeches
were made, but the deadlock was un-
broken. and the joint committee ad-
journed at noon without accomplishing
anything The votes taken were on the
question of whether or not the platform
provided for local option in the coun-
ties outside Of incorporated cities or
towns. or whether in this territory there
should be absolute prohibition. Seven
Republicans held that county territory
outside of incorporated cities should
for prohibition. Representative Morris
voted first with the local optionists, but
before the vote was announced he
switched to the prohibitionists and the
vote was tie.
Committee Is Split
When the meeting was called to order
at 10 o'clock Friday morning fifteen
of the sixteen members of the commit
tee were present. Representative Rus
sell, however, left before the first vote
was taken. Representativ Smith was
the other absent member of the joint
committee.
The members of the committee de-
cided to take up the work of prepar
ing the proposed liquor bill along the
line of the % skeleton - adopted. They
quickly struck a snag, however. on the
question Of "Where Liquor Nav Be
Sold'' On this rock they became hope
lessly divided.
The members of the committee, with
tive Morris decided to prepare this sec
ton of the proposed measure along the
line of the liquor plank In the Repub-
lican state platform. Then followed
guessing contest as to what was meant
by the state platform. The plank was
read from the Republican state platform
as follows:
Platform Declaration.
We therefore declare upon this Uhe
liquor) question as follows
1. In favor of a law prohibiting the
sale or other disposal OF Intoxicating
LIQUORS In any and all places outside OF
the limits OF the incorporated cities, ana
outside of the cities OF first. second and
third class shall constitute voting unit
for the determining OF the liquor ques-
ton.
within the limits of such incorporated
cities and the county units, as set forth
above, with appropriate PROVISIONS TOT
the submission TO the qualified voters
question as TO whether the sale OF any
such liquors within such cities or county
units shall be permitted or prohioiteu,
TO put this provision Into operation oy
appropriate laws within ninety days
after the adoption thereof.
g. In any such city or county unit.
where a majority OF the qualified electors
having voted upon such question shall
not declare for prohibition, We favor the
limiting and controlling OF TIE SAFE mta ama
thereof under high license arc strict
regulations
Smoot and the Plank.
The prohibitionists were somewhat IN
doubt as to the exact meaning Of the
state platform, but wero sure that IN
his "keynote' speech Senstor Smoo:
had declared for prohibition outside OF
the incorporated cities. Senator SeSy
said that many Of the campaign oca-
tors, especially those who appeared III
his section of the state had apparently
taken Senator Smoot' speech 1o- the
platform. Senator Badger wanted to
know what campaign orators Senator
Continued on Page Eleven.