The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1914-12-31
HOBSoN RESOLUTION TO SUBMIT
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
TO STATE LEGISLATURES
is VOTED DOWN.
SUPPORTERS OF MEASURE
SATISFIED WITH RESULT
Declare Their Expectations Had Been
Fulfilled, as They Did Not Hope
for Two-thirds Vote at This
Time-RoiI Call Discloses
Heavy Attendance.

Washington, Dec. 24.-The Hobson
resolution to submit a constitutional
amendment for national prohibition TO
the state legislatures was defeated in
the house, 1877 members voting for and
1S9 against it. An affirmative vote OF
t~wo-thirds was required to adopt the
resolution.
Immediately after announcement OF
the vote the house adjourned, the
crowds witch had packed the galleries
throughout the prolonged debate dis
persing with mingled expressions of
regret and jubilation.
Prohibitionists Satisfied.
Prohibition leaders said that the ma
jority of the resolution had fulfilled
their expectations, as they had not
hoped for a two-thirds vote at this
time. Whether a similar resolution.
pending in the senate, submitted by
Senator Sheppard of Texas, would
reach a vote in the senate at this ses-
sion was not certain. Administration
leaders were inclined to believe, how
ever, that it would not, in view of the
action of the house.
Notwithstanding repeated public as
sertions that many members Of the
house would try to dodge a record
vote in the issue, the roll call dis
closed a heavy attendance. larger than
the average throughout the session.
On . e final vote, 3S9 votes were rec
orded. To have carried, the resolu-
ton would have required 25S affirma-
tive votes. 1t thus failed by 81 votes.
Party Lines Wiped Out.
Party lines were wiped out in the
struggle. Democratic Leader Under
wood and Republican Leader Mann
fought shoulder to shoulder at the
head Of the forces opposing the resolu-
ton and when the vote came of the
1877 standing for the resolution III
were Democrats, 6S were Republicans,
II were Progressives and 4 were In
dependent Republicans.
Texan Opposes Federal Spies.
The debate was under a special rule
which was adopted without a roll
call.
Representative Henry of Texas OPP
posed the amendment. He said that
during the debate preceding the pas.
sage of the Webb bill to prevent the
use of interstate commerce for the
evasion of state prohibition laws, pro
hibition leaders urged the retention
of the police powers by the various
states.
This question is one which must
be left to the individual state,' he
said, and ! venture to predict that
after this amendment is voted on here
today the question of prohibition will
not appear on the floor as a national
issue for twenty years. / love my
country, but ! will never support a
constitutional amendment that will
send a horde of Federal spies, satraps
and Intermediates into Texas"
Representative Hefflin Of Alabama
refersed to the success of state con.
troll of liquor traffic in Alabama and
argued vigorously against surrender.
ing to the Federal Government the re
served powers of the state.
Defends the Saloon.
Representative Bartholdt of Mis-
souri, defended the saloon as an insti
tuition, saying that he knew of sa.
looms where a gentleman would not
hesitate to take his wife and daugh.
ters."
Liquor Is charged with all the ills
to which humanity is heir" he said
The charge is not true"
He presented figures and authorities
designed to show hat other causes
were to blame for a large share OF
poverty and crime.
You cannot cure the demand for
drink by cutting off the supply he
said.
IF all the liquors in the country
were destroyed the demand would
force men to make their own spirit
uous liquors.
Representative Gordon of Ohio said:
The people of Ohio are better able
to settle the liquor question for them
selves than the people of all the other
states are able to settle 1t for Ohio
Representative Barchfield of Penn
sylvania opposed the amendment in q