Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-12-12

jures his own cause in the estimation
of many of his own people. / hope for
the balance of the time that we are
engaged in a personal political con-
fiict, that he will let it be fought out
in the fields of politics, and let US de-
vote our time here to discussion of
public business without injecting into
it our personal differences"
Applause from the floor followed
Then Hobson declared that the per-
sonal issue had become a national
question. that the senatorial fight in
Alabama was such that 1.-The liquor
interests on one side and the moral
forces on the other had made it ma
tonal question"
Up to this time no attempt had
been made by the Chair to restrain
the enthusiasm of the galleries, pack
ed with delegates to the convention or
the Anti-Saloon League and the Wom-
ans Christian Temperance Union. me
crowds extended into long lines IN the
corridors outside and even those who
could not see but who could hear
Joined in demonstration as both
Mann and Underwood arose.
1.-THE rules of this House, said
Mann emphatically, have always been
that there should be no applause from
the galleries Those in the galleries
who are making these demonstrations
as good citizens should observe that
rule"
AS Mann pounded for order Hobson
turned TO the Chair to ask why, mas
much as the members on the floor had
tipp. the
rules cannot be extended to the galleries
just this once"
Quiet eventually was restored and I'M
derwood again spoke:
IT cannot sit here in silence" he said,
"and allow my colleague to assert that /
am the candidate of any interest with
out challenging his statement. l am not,
never have been and do not intend to be
the candidate of the liquor interests. l
never have received a doiiar from the
liquor interests, nor do l intend to receive
such. / have asked the people of my
state to elect me on other issues. He
may assert it if he wishes, but l chal-
lenge his statement that l am the can
didate of the liquor interests"
Hobson concluded his peeeh by declar-
ing he came with a petition sanctioned
by a majority of the American people
demanding a referendum on the liquor
question. The fight of the people for
this referendum was an earnest one, he
asserted. and men in public life had bet
ter realize it. Referring to Underwood as
a reactionary, he added:
IF there is man on this floor who
is afraid of danger" he said, he'd better
get to cover in the next few years.
When the Alabaman had taken his
seat, Bartholdt of Missouri suggested
that Hobson had packed the galleries
with a multitude of his adherents and
that he (Bartholdp could bring tive
million German-Americans to Washing
ton for intimidation, but he did not think
it was a healthy thing to do anything
of that sort" He attacked Hobson's ar
gument and said that 'sobriety and tenn
perance are not identical with prohibi-
ton" as Hobson had said. but that pro-
hibition us an attempt to make mar
sober by law"
THE Creator himself put temptation
in the Garden of Eden, and it's been here
ever since" concluded Bartholdt after
saying that the man he respected was
the one who could resist temptation.
abolish temptation! Why, you'd have
to abolish women!'
hibition delegates left the galleries