The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-12-12
Crowded Galleries Applaud as
Alabama Congressman AS
sails His Colleague for Pro
Liquor Views.
Denies disappearing Views
and Challenges Him to Take
Floor and Make Good His
Statement---Powerful Speech
on Liquor Evil.

Especial to The Richmond yirginian.)
WASHINGTON, d. c.. Dec. lin
the course of a powerful speech on
the floor OF the house OF congress this
Hohson, of Alabama. came back at
Democratic Floor Leader oscar W. I'm
derwood and twice silenced him amidst
showers of applause from the galleries.
which were packed to sufrocation by
the admirers OF the hero of Santiago.
In the rejoinder attempted by Mr..
Underwood he was applauded alike by
sympathizers with the liquor traffic
from both the Republican and Demo-
cratic sides Of the floor. but the gall
ieries were so demonstratiye over MIR.
Hobsons words that Republican Floor
Leader Jas. II. Mann appealed to ths
chair to suppress .the denomination In
the gallery.
prohibittonists Busy.
Mr.. Hobson gave notice on yesterday
that at o'clock today he would move
an adjournment OF the house that he
might present the petitions of the w.
G. r. u. and others for the passage Of
a constitutional amendment prohibiting
the manufacture and sale of In
toxicating liquors In all of the States
Ald NliofttS u hHE dhipB AALci tt&tS
announcement the several State delega-
tons of the Anti-Saloon league held
State meetings from every State in
the union and waited in a body on their
respective delegations in congress re-
Questing them TO support the motion of
Congressman Hobson today. The con-
daring to venture a vote and dreading
hour of four an overwhelming majority
was pledged to the motion. but alert
IA. .x.A
daring to venture av ote and dreading
the open show wsfch the temperance
forces could make engineered an ar
rangYnent by which without objection
land without a test vote) Mr.. Hohsou
should have forty minutes in which to
present his cause. In anticipation OF
the speech of MIR, Hobson his friends
filled the galleries long before the time
for him to speak.
Effects of Liquor.
Mr.. Hohson spoke Of the poisonous
/ effect of alcohol on the physical, mental
and nervous system. declaring that his
statements. amazing as they might
sound to the uniformed, were facts,
not his opinions and facts demonstrated
by scientific tests and data--scientific
demonstrations which he would submit
In detail to the committee at a future
date and that he defied any question OF
either the scientific authority for tho
statements or of scientific contradic-
tons After briefly relating the de-
structive effects OF alcoholic toxic upon
the human race he declared war on the
traffic and tntimated political revolu-
lions. He said he regretted that one of
his colleagues. high in the counseis of
the Democratic party. and floor leader
of his party In this house. who now sits
face to face with me Naile am speak
ing. and who is supposed to be the
voice of that party OF which I am by
tradition, by inheritance and by choics
member. yielding to no man In my
loyalty and devotion TO i'll am sorry.
indeed, to see that he has publicly de-
clared that. II this prohibition question
is injected into the Democratic party
either prohibition will be ground into
powder or the Democratic party will
die"
Democracy VS.. Liquor.
Mr.. Hobson at this juncture paused
ominously and lifting his hands to
heaven dramatically exclaimed, 'sas
dearly as ! love this party. If the life
of the Democratic party can only sur
vive by subservience to the liquor traf-
fic It ought to die
Mr. Underwood slowly arose and in
a calm tone of voice requested an In
terruption, After Mr.. Hobson had
Yielded, he said: II regret that the
gentleman from Alabama has mis-
represented me on the floor OF this
house by quoting In part only what
said and misinterpreting that which
he quoted. and / think Ii would be
better If he would not inject our per-
sonal differences on the floor Of this
house"
Mr.. Hobson retorted that he had not
meant to misrepresent hts COLLEAGUE
nor to inject their personal dif-
ferences into the debate, but that In
regretted the utterances OF the leader
OF the party of which he was an humble
member, which, In his Judgment.
placed his party In compromising
position before the world. II he had
misinterpreted his colleague. he said.
he would yield him the floor to inter-
pref his own language-a challenge
which Mr.. Underwood said he would
accept at the proper time. but not
then. Now is the time when you are.
as you claim, misinterpreted to set
yourself right, exclaimed Mr.. Hobson.
and I yield to give you an opportunity.
but Mr.. Underwood was silent. and
after pause MFR. Hobson insisted.
whereupon Mr.. Underwood arose and
stated: You have held me up as q tool
of the liquor people and the trusts.
but / am not. l deny 1t. I never
took dollar from q trust or from tho
liquor people and I never will"
Hobson Retorts.
mo" said Mr.. Hobson, II do not
accuse you OF taking money. nor do
attack your personal character.
would not suffer anyone eise to attack
1t In my presence. but 1t Is a fact that
in Ala bama in your contest against ma
for the, senate every liquor dealer In
that State and every newspaper allied
with the liquor traffic. IL giving you.
without exception, their cordial aup-
port against me. You know now. AL
though you did not know It at the
time, that the trust contributed largely
to your campaign for the nomination.
for the presidency. You know. for u
proved 1t on this floor. Whoknows thaA
the liquor people are not contributing
to your campaign today2" AT thja