The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-12-12
Rules Of House Are
Shattered by Anti
Liquor Forces.
IN CONTROVERSY
WITH UNDERWOOD
Injection of Personal Politics
Brings Majority Leader to His
Feet With Reply That Stirs
Members to Enthusiasm.
Charge of Packed Gal
leries is Made.

Washington. December 11.-Shatter-
ing the rules of the House of Represen-
tativcs. champions OF prohibition. who
packed the galleries late o-day, broke
into uproarlous outbursts of applause
as Representative Richmond Pearson
Hobson. Of Alabama, pleaded for n res
olution which would submit Il consti-
tutional prohibition amendment to the
States.
The extraordinary demonstration con-
tinued unrestrained for many minutes,
as Mr. Hobson proceeded with his dra
matte discussion OF prohibition. and
was not checked until Mr.. lobson had
drawn into controversy his colleague.
Representative Underwood, now en-
gagged with him In Il race for the United
States senatorship from Alabama. The
injection OF personal politics brought
the majority leader TO his feet with Il
reply to Mr.. Hobson that precipitated
applause from the members on the
floor.
Republican Leader Mann demanded
that the rules of the House be observed,
and Representative Moon, of Tennessee,
who was in the chair admonished the
spectators. Quiet was restored tenn
porarily after Il voice from the gallery
shouted
Were American citizens"
utefers TO Underwood.
In the course of his speech, Mr.. Hob
son had said:
I'VE ought to have our party under
stand now while the war is on. that 1t
never was intended for an alliance with
the liquor interests. Yet, there is n
great Democrat, a great Alabamian,
who is present to-day. who recently
| announced-at least that Is the way l
| read in the reports-that IL prohibition
continues to be injected into the Dem
I ocratic politics, either prohibition
would be ground to dust or the Demo
cratic party must die. Let me tell YOU
| that if the Democratic party can only
! live by joining with the liquor inter-
ests to debauch the American people.
then in Gods name let it,
/ With arms waving and shaking his
/ head almost literally in the faces of
I Mr. Underwood. few feet away, Rlr.
| Hobson drew from the galleries pro-
longed cheering and even the stamping
of feet. Representative Underwood,
/ who had been quietly listening up to
this time. rose In his place. Cheers
and handclapping from Democratic and
Republican members on the floor greet
/ cd him.
II wish to say to the gentleman from
Alabama" Mr.. Underwood began. that
/ I regret exceedingly that in presenting
| the petition for the cause of prohibit
ton. he should have drawn into his
speech partial utterance OF mine that
misintcrprets my remarks. At some
other time and in the proper place
I will interpret my own remarks"
/ Mr.. Hobson replied that he had cor
rectly quoted Mr.. Underwood, suggest
T ing that the latter be given all the
/ time he wanted to interpret his re-
marks to the House. Mr.. Underwood
again rose
VIII Not Enter Into Dispute.
IT am not going to detain this House
now" he said. The gentleman from
/ Alabama has made a partial statement
] that did not reflect my views. ] do
not think that the floor of this House,
/ with public business before us is the
I proper place for the gentleman or my
/ self. TO drag our personal differences.
I occupy tho position of the leader Of
this party in this House and L cannot
| occupying that position, engage in
personal controversy with the gentle
] man from Alabama as 1T might work
/ injury TO the party.
when the gentleman attempts to In
| ject personal issue here, he Injuries
/ his own cause. l hope for the balance
/ of the time that we are engaged in Il
! personal political conflict that he will
! let 1t he fought out in field of politics."
Applause from the floor followed
! Then Mr. Hobson declared that the sem
atorial fight in Aablama WAS such that
/ the liquor interests on one side and
! the moral forces on the other, has made
! it a national question"
Up TO this time no attempt had been
made to restrain the enthusiasm of tho
| galleries packed with delegates to tho
| convention of the Anti-Saloon League
| and the Womcn's Christian Tempcran
! Union. There was another dcmonstra-
| tion as both Representative Mann and
| Representative Underwood arose.
THE rules of this House." said Mr.
| Mann cmphatically, always have been
that there should be no applause from
| the galleries.
| Representative Moon pounded order
/ Quiet eventually was restored and Mr.
! Underwood said:
/ Il cannot sit here in silence and al-
| low my colleagues to assert that am
! the candidate of any interest, with
| out challenging his statement. am
not. never have been. and do not intend
| Continued on Tenth Page)