Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-12-23
NO SENTIMENT IN VOTE
ON HOBSON RESOLUTION
Many Members of House Who Daily
Take a "wee Nippy" Supported
Measure While Ardent vDryss Fought
Il
By E. ". TOWNSEND


on party lines.
Then It was disclosed that two purposed
voting for Hobson's prohibition measure, two
against, so the division for the foursome was
made on that line
What will there be on the game besides
a ball a hole7" one asked
"The drinks, Of course" the other three
answered as one.
And the point OF that observation also lies
in the application Of It. When this long
dreaded trial of faith came upon members
there were men who daily take their more
or less wee nippy conspicuous in the op-
posing ranks Of those fighting with Hob
son, and equally oonspicuous in the oppos-
ing ranks were some Of the most determined
advocates Of prohibition in the House. In
deed the Hobson resolution failed because
It lacked the solid support Of members from
| dry" States.
Westerners We're Worried
That fine and clear-thnlzing man, Judge
Adamson, Of Georgia, who, perhaps as much
as any man in his State helped to make
Georgia dry" opposed the Hobson resolu-
tion because he believes and SO stated on the
floor recently that prohibition cannot be en-
forced except by local self-government.
cause of their general objection to the ex-
ercise Of Federal police power in the States.
But It has not been among our Southern
brethren that earthquakes of doubts and vol
canoes Of perturbation have created mental
agonles of late. It is the Western brother
from a State already dry or rapidly de-
veloping signs of an early intention to come
in out Of the wet who has been shaking with
the miseries. Truly rural districts do not
cause these sinking spells, but the member
with mixed district, partly urban, partly
rural with many foreigners in the towns
perhaps)--his visible sorrow is such that
strong men turn aside rather than face him.
Those who cannot avoid meeting him in
variably, after the rude manner of man try
ing to console ask him to take a drink
wonder why that is why do we not OBJ
serving that our friend is unhappy, offer to
buy him some ham and eggs? A soul is as
likely to be hungry thirsty; there is COM
fort in apples we'll as in ale.
Uncle Sans Double
Judge witherspoon, who hounced out of
the Naval Affairs Committee room because
the committee chairman allowed Gus Gard
ner to spice his speech with much sauciness
could draw wages as an artists model Of
Uncle Sam He looks so much like the late
Homer Davenport's Uncle Sam that 1 sus-
pect "Davvy" caught him in his notebook
Witherspoon, who comes from Mississippi
had been in the House a year before he ever
rose in his place" There was an item in the
navy appropriation bill for the restoration
and care OF the Annapolis collection of navy
battle flags. Some question was asked about
the item and Witherspoon rose to explain.
Presently with that Southern drawl, which
comes In its drawlngest condition out of
Mississippi he was saying things about the
glory Of the navy, the deeds its heroes had
done under those old battle hags, the peculiar
divinity Of the Stars and Stripes, which made
members sit up and take notice almost
gaspingly
No doubt about It, that was a beautiful
speech and the House on all sides cheered
1t. Fancy our amazement, them when this
same man turned out to be the most in
tense. bitter little-navy member in the whole
House. Witherspoon, upon all possible oc-
-casions, smokes a deep-dyed corncob pipe
One wonders why corncob-his district Is
safe for him.. u-
"John Sharp" Fought Duel
Senator John Sharp Williams passed his
young manhood as a student in Heidelberg,
Germany. John Sharp" as he is called by
his friends TO identify him, is the gentlest
and most affable of men; intellectually one
OF the most powerful Senators, but physically
almost feminine in his delicacy That is
why you are amazed TO learn that In his stu
dent days he fought a duel with pistols.
He was walking one winter night in
Heidelberg. with another student. a big
scotchman, when they approached a couple
of young onicers, who plainly intended to
make the civilians turn out of the narrow
sidewalk into the deep snow upon passing
them
This thing has got TO stop, so far as
am concerned" Williams said TO his COM
panion. Il not strong enough to knock
either OF them down, but perhaps by a sur
prise attack can tumble one of them into
the snowbanik."
Yen have dooi on yer hands, ye little
diviL" the Scot commented.
That's what I'm looking for" Williams
replied.
The surprise was a beautiful success, a
quick. sharp trip and one oficer tumbIed
head hrst into snowdrift.
"And even as he was struggling out OF
the drift" the Senator says. "he was fishlm.
his card out Of his pocket, refused 10
apologize and challenged We all exchanged
cards, according to HOyle, ana / deslgngted
hl9toi9 - 7IAA9 hSaPohS the CODE uu6l1 IN
Germany giving the challenger tbu choice or
weapona."
Why the American maze that choice may
never be known. Williams admits that he
couldn't hit a barn door with a pistol at
10 yards, yet tbs legend even unto this DAY
IN Heidelberg Is that when, upon the morn
Ing after the ahaIlengs. the two youngsters
faced each oeNsr upon q popular dueling
ground. the American laughed as he looked
into the mpzzls Of his opponents pistol"