Marble Hill press., 1914-04-09

the thrones Of Europe and to hold that
whatever the foreigner wants the
American should yield.
OF course the charge of lack Of
Americanism 10 ridiculous on tt face.
but the bitterness that has CONE Into
this repeal matter has been such that
ordinarily wen poised men lost their
courtesy and let their tempers get
the better Of them. President Wilson
in his message to congress told the
/ members that In his opinion the Law
exempting the American coasters from
tolls was q direct violation Of the
Hay-Pauncefote treaty with Great
Britain and he virtually said that this
cct.ntry could not AFFORD to be charged
with a breach Of faith.
Caused Some Bitterness.
II is rather a hard thing to say
perhaps, but seemingly It was . pleas
ant day for the senators and house
members who were opposed to the
president in this matter when Walter
| II, Page, our ambassador to Great
Britain, accepted an invitation to
speak before the members OF the
chamber OF commerce OF London. Mr,
Page, OF course 1t will be remembered.
was reported to have said things
| which gave the friends OF toll exerrp-
ton chance TO say that he was un-
American and that this country was
I kowtowing 10 Great Britain. MI
Page made his explanations and the
president accepted his word that moth
ing that he said was out o. the way
nor counter to the continuance OF COM
plete international smity. A good
many members of congress, however,
refused 70 accept Mr.. Pages explana-
ton and the bitterness OF the repeal
I fight has continued.
Liquor Question Big Issue
Senator Sheppard OF Texas says:
The tvo nationwide issues OF over
shadowiuS interest are federal prohi-
hilton Of the manufacture and sale OF
intoxicating liquor and woman sur
frage People may try TO minimize
the importance Of these TWO questions,
but they are here and they are going
to stay here until answered one way
or the other"
There are resolutions for sn amend.
ment 10 the Constitution Of the United
States 10 forbid the manufacture and
sale Of alcoholic liquors now IN
der consideration IN the judiciary COM
mtttees Of the senate and the house.
!. the resolutions ever are reported
into open house and senate so that
senators and representatives must SO
OF record, il is predicted that they
would get ST least majority ci the
votes, although, OF course, two-thlrcs
majority Is necessary 10 submit to the
States the proposed amendment to the
great document II congress should
adopt the resolution then the aues-
ticn OF drink or no drink would be
put up sQuarely 10 the states OF the
Union
II has become evident from the
writing Of recent editorials in the Jour
mails devoted 70 the interests of liQaor
making and liquor selling that
change has come recently In the tone,
manner and method Of pronounce
merts OF the editors. Il would seem
tha, the makers and sellers Of intcNt'
eating drinks think today that the
prohibition cause has been strength
e1ed considerably within the last ten
years
Cut Loose rrou, Past Methods.
The representatives Of the liquor In
terests today are asking the -anutac-
turers and dealers to cut loose from
the methods Of the past, when their
own organs declare they were in the
habit OF seeking support from political
elements In a community which in 3
way were generally considered to be
antagonistic to plans for general re-
form Today the representatives Of
the hGuor dealers take the position
that their business is legitimate one.
and that 1t must BE- treated as are 9th.
or legitimate business interests,
As things are, however. il seems 10
the Washington senators and repre-
sentatives that the prohibition cause
is making progress all over the coun-
try. and that sooner or later the con-
gress OF the United States In open
/ house" must meet the question of
whether or not 10 submit an amend
meut declaring liquor selling Illegal.
Come years ago nearly all the sena-
tors and representatives could have
voted against a resolution seeking a
prohibition amendment without run
ming any risks Of defeat In their
states and districts. A good many
representatives today. Of course. can
vote against such resolution with
out fear OF losing votes because in
their districts the majority opinion
probably Is il favor OF allowing the
liquor trafic to continue.
A vote against a constitutional
amendment today. however, probably
| would be fatal in political sense to
, a majority Of the men In the lower
house OF congress This may explain
why il is that it Is SO hard for the
friends Of a prohibition amendment to
induce the Committees to report the
resolution 10 the two houses.
Naturally enough. the doctrine OF
states rights lie being used as an OBJ
struction to the consideration OF the