The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-10
Believe Immediate Consider ation Plan Is Clever Coup to Bring About Defeat of Hobson Resolution
ROBSON ATTRIBUTES
 ACTION TO PLOT OF
 LIQUOR INTERESTS
Gives Out Statement Saying Success of Amendment Is Highly ImprOb- able, But That Prohibition Forces Will Go Through Fight
By c. F. STEWART

Washington, June 9.-(speciaf) scenting defeat upon the field that they themselves have chosen for battle, the advocates in the House of the HOb- son amendment for nationwide prohi- bition are in a panic today upon ascer- brought in for the immediate consid- eration of the amendment.
 They charge the opposition with put ting over a clever "coup" by forcing a vote at this session and thereby encom- passing the defeat of the measure. On the other hand those opposed to the amendment declare that if Captain Hob son and his supporters have a majority, as they claim, they can easily escape present consideration by the defeat of the rule, or they can set a day in next ses- sion to vote for the resolution, or they can refer the entire matter back to the judiciary committed.
 Hobson's Position
 Tn discussing the resolution, Captain Hobson its author said today: T am convinced that the opponents of prohibit tion believe that we cannot muster two- thirds of the House in support of the resolution and that they have planned to force the issue at this time in order to accomplish the defeat of the amendment. The news that a movement has been launched to press the issue to an almost immediate vote comes to me completely o,,ti tod l1of a vote would be taken at this session. There are adequate reasons why the real friends of the measure do not wish it to be voted upon at this session. In the first place, the treasure itself is not com plete. There are a few changes which should be made in it in order that certain difficulties with the present form be cleared away. l had informed the House leaders that I intended to propose the changes in proper time.
 Tn addition scores of members have come to me and said that they believed the issue ought not to be forced now out of real consideration for the success of the cause of prohibition. 1 assured that political embarrassments the eve of the forthcoming congressional elections might rob the prohibition ranks of some of those inclined to join us
 Coup of Interests
 "The conclusion has been forced upon me that the attempt to bring out a spe- cial rule by which to procure an early test of strength at this session is de- signed as coup of the liquor interests, launched only after the representatives of the liquor interests in Congress had assured themselves that two-thirds of the House would not vote for the amend ment''
 MT. Hobson was asked if it followed from his condemnation of the effort to bring his resolution to vote at this time that he would line up the opponents of the measure to block the move. He said That does not follow. We have not sought this test, but we never run away l believe that we will go through with the fight in the best form possible now that it has been thrust upon us
 Late this evening the resolution pro- vidng for a rule was introduced in the House and tomorrow will witness the first struggle over the question, if the propo- sition to bring out a rule is brought up There is a general "scurry' here by mem- bers fearful of the results of consid- eration of the question now and a frantic attempt is being made to suppress it, with little hope of success.