The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-02-27
PURCELL HURLS
AFT RONT BACK
AT MINIS TIE R.
Exciting Scenes at En-
abling Act Hearing
at Capitol.
GRAVE CHARGE BY
REV. j. j. WICKER
Says All Who Oppose Jordan
Bill Do So for Money-Charn-
Der of Commerce Represen-
tatives Resent Insult-Pur-
cell Tears Hypocrite's
Mask From His Face"

There is no man IN the State OF
Virginia who opposes tho enabling act
except for tho money there Is in it
for him. The Chamber OF Commerce
members want TO make money at the
expense of the manhood of the State"
said Rev. ]. j. Wicker. of this city.
last night before tho Senate Commit
tee on Privileges and Elections Sell
dom in public meeting Is an in6i-
vidual forced to accept the replies
which were hurled in Mr. Wicker's
face. But for his cloth. 1t was felt,
the lie direct would have been visited
upon him. AS 1t was, without treusox
he accepted worse things.
Il did not expect" said Colonel John
B. Purcell. president OF the First Ma
tional Bank OF Richmond after living
virtuous life for sixty-three years In
this community. to come here and be
insulted. l shall tear from this mans
face the hypocrite's mask. That mask
shall not protect him from the re-
suits of his vile ineinuatione, which I
here hurl back in his teeth.
DenounoeH Wicker. M
NO gentleman" continued Colonel
Purcell, shaking his fist under air.
Wicker's nose. would have made tho
assault ne dared to make upon the
Chamber of Commerce OF Richmond.
do not propose to be insulted hera
before committee OF the General Az
sembly of Virginia by a man mover
saw before.
81 am sure. gentlemen of the com
mittee, that you will repudiate his re-
marks and treat them with the con-
tempt which he deserves"
The remarks OF the man who pre-
ceded Colonel Purcell" aaid John c.
Easley. OF R. B. chaff1n & Co., ARE a
personal affront to every member of
the Chamber OF Commerce and the
great interests which it represents.
When he said that no one opposes the
enabling act except for the money In
IT, so far as l am concerned, he uttered
a misstatement.
III what he has said Is a sample %
temperance. then for tina love of God
defend us from it,
The remarks of that person" said
William A. Moncure. ARE personally
offensive and insulting"
Earnest of Future.
Cheers and Kisses altarna ted In the
Senate chamber during the progress Of
the hearing. Dignified members OF the
Chamber of Commerce. after'a lifetims
In Richmond, We're faced by jcers and
boots. The Wicker Incident threatened
momentarily to become personal COM
bat. Threats OF political death vera
made against members who dare to
vote no" Altogether. 1t reminded
those who have sem other State pro
hibiton fights OF what may be expected.
III such q campaign.
Rev James Cannon said that the ac-
tion OF the Chamber OF Commerce was
taken only by its directors, and that
"a number of members" had said 20 him
during yesterday that they did not In
dorse It. In reply Mr.. Easlcy pointed
to the charter of the chamber, granted
by the Legislature. which expressly
gives the directors the right to do all
such other acts as appcrtain to the
Chamber of Commerce. AS TO the pro
test, MIR. Easley said there had been but
one, and evidently that man had beer
ashamed of 1t. Tor he had kicked on tn,
outside instead of 10 the officers.
Hearing Not Ended.
The hearing before the senate conf
nlittee on the Jordan bill will % con-
cluded tomorrow night. when ono hour
will he given TO each side, and the
case will then be submitted.
Half an hour was spent ut the out
set In discussing the IN sthod of proce
dure and by the committee In deciding
what il should do. Thomas Whitehead.
OF Lynchburg, said it looked as though
the opposition were playing for time.
He wanted a vote, and had rather fall
in that way than die by tha statute OF
limitation on March .. Senator Mapp.
Senator Lesncr and Or. Cannon all had
something to say Oh this line. Samuel
l.. Kelley said il seemed impossible for
the advocates of the bill TO speak with
out ma king insinuntions as to the on
position, and denied that he was killing
time
The committee. in executive session,
decided to give two hours TO each side,
half Of the time to he consumed last
night. The opposition did not use all
OF it's hour. and loses the remainder.
The advocates VIII have the close.
DIR. Cannon Begins.
Opening for the bill pr. Cannon said
no represented very large number OF
the best people in Virginia. 1t was. he
commended. primarily moral question
The Legislature. he thought, WAS pre-
sumed to represent the people of Vir-
Einia and he asked that to these peo-
pie the question of license be referred.
lie addressed himself for some time
TO the constitutional question involved.
Reading from the debates OF the Con
stitutional Convention. he showed how
DR.. Dunaway's proposition 70 refer tho
question to the people had been defeat.
cd John S. Barbour had said that II
was contrary 10 the principle OF local
elf-government hut did not say, ac-
cordlng to DR. Cannon. that 1t would be
unconstitutional 10 put 1t In the Com
stltutiop. Walter y, Watson Ind said
II would be unwiss. and thar ha pre-
forred local option laws Judge onariss
had said that questions had heen rails
ed as to these rights Nocal option 81
rightal. and that II were best to put lsf8