The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1911-02-08

Oklahoma City. Okla, Feb. Tn
addition to being fined from $50 to
$500 and imprisonment from thirty
days to six months, persons CON
victed for keeping liquor about theit
place of business are to be disfran-
chised for five years, according to
an amendment adopted by the SEN
ate in committee of the whole, to
the amended prohibition law.
The purpose of the section is to
prevent pool halls, billiard parlors
or other places from dispensing liq-
uor, or from having the goods on
hand, and then set up claims for
their personal use of person or
persons conducting the business. The
amendment will also penalize bust
ness or professional man who has
liquor in his office rooms or desk,
although in good faith for his per
sonal consumption. Senator Goulding
wanted the section eliminated be-
cause he said it was fanatical, and
sought to restrict a person in iiber'
ties that every phase of ant-liquor
laws had heretofore recognized.
Senator Briggs construed the sec
ton as shifting the burden of proof
contrary TO all other forms of Grim
inal law, by making the defendant
prove himself innocent instead Of
the state proving him guilty. In
support of this Senator Thompson
said the people had voted in favor
twice OF statewide prohibition and
it was time they were given the ben
eft of strict enforcement. He did not
think this feature of the law would
be invoked at any time where 1t
was not proper to do so. Senator
Horton, chairman of the senate
committee reporting the bill, stated
that the section would only prevent
the sale Of liquor from places Of
business. Records of the transpor-
tation companies in my town, Altus,"
said the senator, show that places
under the guise of pool halls had
received as much as six carloads of
beer a month and when the propri-
etors were arrested they claimed on
the stand that it was for their per
sonal consumption"
Senator Briggs argued against the
section. He said that the state need
ed legislation not so much as 1t did
enforcement OF what there was, and
he asked the senate to stay within
the bounds of reason.
AS the section stood, he said the
business man would be at the prey
of enforcement officers who can
drink more liquor than bootleggers
can SELL
Senator Vandeventer registered
himself for the section, whereupon
Mr.. Briggs asked him why the matter
of possession could not be left with
juries to determine. and the former
argued that juries appeared to have
been influenced against this law and
refused to convict.
"Juries will sometimes enforce one
criminal law and allow another to
20 uninforced," said the senator
from Bartlesville. Liquor cases are
peculiar. You will find witnesses in
any other instance supporting the law
with the facts, but in the liquor cases
Witnesses will periure themselves
from start to finish.
What is to hinder you from going
into a bootlegging joint, purchasing
the liquor, and then going into court
and testifying as to that fact" in
quired Senator Briggs.
THAT has occurred in Bartes-
vile, and juries have turned the
| culprits loose responded Senator
/ Vandeventer I'VE should make the
law tighter for the condition in Ok
lahoma needs peculiarly strong scru-
tiny. There is no necessity of man
having whiskey in his office or place
of business If he happens to feel a
spell of sickness coming on he might
survive long enough to race home and
there save his life with few drinks. -
Senator Coffey was for the section,
because. he said, it would force obe-
dience to the law by the fellow who
trots in fine harness, and lives re-
specially, and who has heretofore
| been immune.
Motion to Strike, but Loses.
The Goulding motion to strike ou;
lost by vote of 10 to II. Senators
| Potter and Kendrick offered the
amendment. which added, for con-