Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-02-24

them are subjects for grave considera-
tion in Congress.
| The liquor trade journals admit the
gravity of the situation from their
standpoint and the Washington cor
respondents are sending out column
after column of gossip concerning the
possible action of the lawmakers or
the measures now before them.
Midas Criterion, a liquor publica.
ton, takes a gloomy view of the pos.
| sibilities, saying:
| The Hobson resolution
Is the final word. 1t Is futile to say
ons RTSe0t9n s% sW san nsvsp sue6 be w as
would destroy the legitimate liquor
business in this country. 1t Is awful
TO contemplate. but 1t seems to be
| just below the horizon
This is an admission such as would
have made any publication that dared
to venture it few years ago the
laughing stock of the country, but il
is not so regarded now.
The Washington correspondent OF
the Detroit Free Press, writes for his
paper:
The spread of the prohibition
sentiment in the United States. in
preston on leaders in Congress.
The events of that period. when
viewed In the light of the ambitious
program that the temperance advo-
Gates have set for themselves in
the immediate future, are causing
lot of serious thinking and some
anxiety on the part of members of
Congress who look beyond their
noses.
In fact many of tho leaders be-
!ieve the" already see the prohibi-
issue. They fear the time is near
ing when a constitutional amend
ment providing for national probi-
hilton will be submitted by Con-
gress to referendum of the States.
Sucn an amendment is now pend
ing In both the House and Senate,
and the promotion of it through
congrsss is the accomplishment
forces are looking most hopefully.
1t has long been a matter OF
comment In Washington that the
lslation can be. prevented in Con-
gress is by holding the bills in com
mittee and keeping them from the
When the average Congressman is
face to face with the liquor ques-
uon and a delegation of Woman's
CHRISTIAN Temperance Union, he
he will promptlv record his vote in
favor of the "drys."
1t is pretty safe to predict that this
course will not be followed this ses-
sion. In the first place the temper
ance cause has a strong advocate in
Secretary Bryan, who no doubt re-
members his own prohibition plank
and Is keeping a weather eye out for
squalls, and on the other hand the
watchful friends Of the amendment
will keep pressing for a vote on the
measure.
1t would be but fair to both the pro-
hibitlonists and their opponents to let
the amendment come to vote. The
temperance question is fast assuming
the proportions of national issue, If
1t has not already reached that stage.
The friends of prohibition declare that
sentiment is strongly in its favor. Its
enemies say this sentiment is largely
Imaginary or at most manufactured. -
Congressman who vote on such meas
ures very much as they believe q ma
tority of their constituents want them
to, should be given AN opportunity to
pass on the amendment. Smothering
popular legislation in committee is a
worn out practice that always gets
everybody connected with it into
trouble and delayed legislation Of
that character is nearly always more
drastic when finally enacted