The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-22
Under Special Rule Adopted
without q Roll Call.
DEMOCRATS ANXIOUS TO VOTE
Underwood Says They Are
Ready for the Issue.
A Record Poll Is Expected Be-
fore Adjournment Tonight.


rule which was adopted without roll
call the house began just after noon
today an eight hour debate on the Hob
son resolution to submit to the states
a constitutional amendment for nation
al prohibition. An aye and no vote Will
be reached tonight.
Charts before the speakers desk bore
prohibition slogans and draped along
the gallery over the speakers chair
was great strip of paper on which
were pasted printed names of sfgners
of prohibition petitions urging the
adoption of the constitutional amend
ment. There were thousands Of names
and the strip was $50 feet long.
rolling chorus of AYE" greeted the
question and the house then plunged
into one Of the most interesting if not
the most spectacular debate of recent
years.
The passage of the rule was cOnced-
ed by those who oppose the Hobson res
olution MANY of whom voted for the
rule to get the resolution out to a vote
Passage Of the resolution requires a
two thirds vote in the house today and
two-thirds vote later in the senate
before it is submitted to the states.
The passage of the rule was preced-
ed by a statement by Democratic Lead
er Underwood and scattering debate on
both sides. Mr. Underwood made 1t
clear that the. Democratic leadership
in the house was in favor of meeting
the issue with vote.
This is not a temperance question"
said he. 1T never has been. Prohi-
bition has not produced temperance in
the lands where it has been tried. I
regard this question as an attack on
the fundamental principle Of our gov
ernment. If it is allowed to go without
being met 1t will mislead many Of the
people Ifallowed to proceed without be-
ing combated the day may come when
1t may be a serious menace to princi-
pies of government which you and l
believe in. When the time comes to
face a great question there is but one
way to face 1t. That n in the open.
You cannot push it aside.
''If you are right you should have
the courage of your convictions and
stand for the right. Therefore, I say
to the members who like myself are
opposed to this resolution it is not only
your right but your duty to face this
question in the open and give the rea-
sons why we believe it should not be
written into the fundamental law Of the
land"
Hobson Leads Off.
The debate on the rule had been a
running, desultory fire. but with con-
sideration of the resolution itself the
real heavy artillery was unlimbered
Mr. Hobson led off with an earnest
and dramatic demand for it's passage.
He declared a state had a right to be
dry" that the liquor business was an
Interstate nuisance and that there
had been a serious conflict between fed
eral and state laws for protection of the
morals of the people. He portrayed the
devastating effect of liquor. "a habit
forming drug whose shackled victims,
he said. today numbered five millions.
1T shortens life and blights the Off
spring." he said "and brings hundreds
of thousands of men and women to
6runkards' graves each year: blights
the lives of people before they are
born
Representative Hobson referred to
the graphic charts portraying the
evils of the liquor traffic." and after
speaking only ten minutes himself be-
gan to yield the time to other members
who spoke in support OF his resolution:
Representative Connolly supported
the amendment. declaring prohibition
had been a success in Kansas. and Rep
resentative Morgan Of Oklahoma also
supported it, referring to prohibition in
his state
Representatives Decker. Tribble
Langley. Logue and Bell. California
made brief speeches in favor of the
amendment Representative Ferris OF
Oklahoma, made a vigorous plea fol
it. ''I am for national prohibition be-
cause I believe it will do most good,
said he. (Which tugs the stronger al
Your heartstrings. the churches thai
trying to save your boy or the liquor
interests that are trying to ruin him p
Underwood Speaks.
Mr.. Underwood then, speaking or
the resolution directly. opposed it
This is not moral ISSUE" he said
NO great progress in the worlds
morality was ever made at the point
OF the sword or with the force of gov
ernment behind it. We are here to-
day to consider a proposal as tc
whether certain police regulations
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