The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-29
Have Been Especially Keen to Prevent Prohibition
 Vote at This Time
IS AN INTERESTING
 GAME OF POLITICS
Announcement Has Now Been Def initely Made That Proposition Will Not Be Voted Upon
 This Session
By c. F. STEW ART

Fly c. E. STEW 1HI
 Washington, June 2s.-(Special. )-Captain Hobson. the recognized leaoer in the movement in the House of Representa- lives for nationwide prohibition, Jeff Washington shortly after the question of a rule on his resolution making II privileged, was postponed by the rules committee till July l. Inasmuch as the rules committee announced at the time they postponed the question that 1t was their intention to report out this rule not later than July l, it was expected that there would be a hard struggle in the House during this armistice lining up adherents on both sides of the prop osition. It was supposed that Captain TN2bson would be in the thick of the fight leading his forces against the hosts of rum,>. but, such has not been the case.
 Now we are informed that no rule will be reported out by the committed This information comes from the prohibition leaders themselves, and inasmuch as 1t is recognized that they control the sit uation in the rules committee by one vote, it is quite likely if they have fully determined upon this course, that there will be no rule, and, consequently, , fhe Hobson resolution for a constitutions al amendment providing nationwide pro- hibition, which has struggled a decade all most in the back recesses of the judiciary committee for the right to get squarely before the people on the floor of the House having obtained this right-declines to exercise it.
 Developed Cold Feet
 It is to be presumed. it is said, that the prohibition leaders in the House who early in the fight developed cold feet have convinced the leaders of the move ment outside of Congress that it would not be good politics, or wise to bring the matter up in the House during this session.
 As long as the question was before the judiciary committed which body had established a reputation for calmly sit ting on any. and all such, propositions themselves, without giving the House a chance, there were groans of agony. de- mands, pleas, threats and petitions by = the carload to the judiciary committee to Need the >clanior of the people and put the question up to Congress. Much to the surprise of everybody the judiciary committee decided to pass the buck to s-the House, and promptly did it. The House made a wry face over this dose, but began making preparations to take its medicine. Taking a hasty survey of the situation the prohibition leaders saw that the House would dump their pet scheme into the lake even if the result were disastrous to a lot of the mem- bea's, and then it was decided that after all there was no hurry
 The charge is now that the "liquor in- terest Is forcing the issue. For years the "liquor interest" kept the question bot tied up in the judiciary. Now the 'liquor interest," has pushed it out into the open and is forcing the question before the House-accordns to the prohibition leaders
 The real truth of the situation is that neither side wants to vote on the ques- tion and both sides are trying in way to fool the country. It is a game of politics from start to finish. The pro- hibitionists don't want the question to come up because they see defeat not a number of congressman who might only for the amendment but also for vote for it. Those opposed to it don't want it to come up because they ara fearful of the results in their individual cases when it comes to reelection Both sides know full well that the other side is scared to death. and they are glad of it.
 Both Sides Are Shy
 Each side is trying its best to place all the responsibility on the other side It suited the prohbitonists fine for the whole. business to stay buried in the Judiciary committee, for as long as it was there it served every purpose and did absolutely no harm. It could be dragged up at any time, and awful hollow raised and great crowds of earn est and faithful citizens from all over the country drawn into Washington for big demonstration, speeches and peti- tions to the judiciary committee every body getting a lot of advertising out of the matter. and after that was over the question could be put to sleep again. and let alone till some more adyertis- ing and general publicity was needed But Uncle Henry Clayton came very near spiliing the beans. He turned the joke on the boys for once and that's the answer They got too far out on the limb and Uncle Henry sawed it of.
 Once out in the open as 1t is. the coun- try is going to force finally a vote in the House on prohibition. Congress and the leaders of the question in Congress, nave been bluffing them long enough, and the only excuse they have had to offer the country was that the judiciary committee had them tied to the mast II may pc sotten py al this session, al though it is not yet absolutely certain they will escape the issue. out in all events. everybody here knows full well that they have got to march right up and look the question in the face sooner or later. The dose is just as bitter to a lot of the boys who have been yelling before the judiciary committee for an op- portunity to vote on 1t as it is on those who have been praying the judiciary com miftee to hold tight to it little longer IL has been game of politics and it is about ripe. and that's all there is to it.
 The Handieanped Hapdob.La