The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1914-06-26
FOBCING A VOTE
ON PROHIBITION
President Anxious for considera-
tion Of HobsOn Resolution
Before Election.

few days the house doubtless will be
forced to vote on the question Of ma
tionai prohibition. This became known
today when il was learned that Albert
s. Burleson, the postmaster general, ha 4
represented TO members, particularly
some Of the leaders, that President
Wilson is anxious to see vote on
this question before the fall elections.
Representative James G. Cantrill, Of
kentucky,a Democratic member of the
rules committee, at a late hour this
afternoon introduced resolution or
"rulen which makes consideration OF
tho Hohson national prohibition resolu-
tion Immediately in order and permits
ten hours of general debate.
Referred to Committee.
The Cantrill resolution was referred
to the rules committee, which will meet
tomorrow and probably report it favor
ably TO the house. When the vote on
the Hobson resolution itself will be
called could not be learned Repre-.
sentative Oscar w. Underwood, Demo.
cratic door leader says that il was his
understanding that the committee ON
rules was favorable to the Cantrill
rule. This has been the understand.
ing all along, especially when the prohi.
tion issue was live topic in the house
several weeks ago.
When national prohibition was being
talked about in the house before, there
was great opposition to its being
brought to vote Finally II was dis,
covered, after the situation had been
thoroughly canvassed, that the Hobsoh
resolution, which as a constitutional
amendment would require a two-thirds
vote, could not be carried. A poll Of
the membership made by the leaders
showed that the membership was about
evenly divided on the question. IVA.
There was some opposition to the
measure, even among Southerners from
dry States, ON the ground that an
alleged invasion of States rights was
being attempted. Later Mr.. Hobson
announced that he did not intend TO
press the resolution to a vote, and IL
was generally understood that this ac-
tion was inspired by the fear that the
resolution could not be adopted.
u New Situation Brought About.
Then a new situation was brought
about. With the prohibition interests
apparently not eager for a vote, il was
stated at the Capitol that the liquor
interests wanted a vote because they
saw chance 10 kill all prospects for
enactment Of the resolution for the
present. There was never an official
confirmation Of this fact, but New York
City members said that the brewers
were saying that vote should be taken
to embarrass the prohibition forces.
Democrats from Northern and West
ern States said they could not under.
stand what the President was thinking
about in permitting such a Troublesome
matter to be thrown into congress at
this crucial time, a few months before
the congressional elections. K.
One New York Democrat exclaimed:
''What does he want to dot Finish
the partyq'' X.
Scores Of Democrats come from dis
tries where their election is leopard.
lied, no matter which way they vote
on the prohibition question. This is
particularly true Of members from rural
districts. Such States as Ohio and In.
diana are particularly sensitive TO the
Importance of prohibition, The pros.
peetiye vote, II was said, may work a
complete metamorphosis in the Demo
cratic delegations from those States.
a b