South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-05-06
CONGRESS MUST
VOTE ON QUESTION
Of PROHIBITION
Rep. HObSon's Resolution For
a Constitutional Amendment
is Reported Back to the
House by Committee.

WASHINGTON. May 6.-Rep. Hob
son OF Alabama. was the most IN
popular man IN the house Tuesday
when II became known that the house
judiciary committee had reported.
without recomm elldation. his resOlu-
ton for a constitutional amendment
providing nationwide prohibition.
With discussion OF this proposition
in the house and a roll call vote on
it's passage. members face an issue in
taetr campaigns next fall which they
fear more than all other issues.
ct could name 100 members in this
house" commented Rep. Covington
OF Maryland, who Will De placed on
the political tobOggan no matter which
way they vote on the question. They
will arouse the animosity and the ac-
tive hostility OF the men on the other
side Of the question"
The action of the committee Tues
day is the most important accomplish
ment in the history OF the national
prohibition movement in the United
States. which has been growing for
25 years For more than two years,
the advocates Of national prohibition
have concentrated their efforts on
getting the resolution past the com
mittees OF the house and senate.
Vote Will be Forced.
tt is believed that a vote will be
forced at this session of congress. A
special rule will be brought out to
hasten consideration OF the resOlu-
ton. The house leaders, on both the
majority and minority sides, privately
possible chance Of preventing vote
hafora the session ad1OUTuC
An effort will be made TO staVe 1t
off for a month and in all probability
this will be successful, as democrats
and republicans alike are interested
This will enable a majority of the
members Of the house to get their
nominating primaries out of the way
before they are compelled TO face a
showdown on national prohibition and
will leave them 10 be plagued by this
issue at the general election only.
The advocates Of national prohibit
ton have for months insisted that
once the resolution reached the floor
the victory was assured. Their OPP
pOnents have fought desperately to
keep il bottled up. Members or the
judiciary committee We're told that
record vote on the floor would spell
the certain defeat of a large number
OF those holding seats. no matter how
they voted. This was SO, it was eX-
planned. because sentiment on these
questions was so divided in their dis
tricts that il would be impossible TO
avoid offending a large and powerful
element.
Wilson Doesn't Act.
A powerful appeal was made that
the resolutions should he kept in COM
mittee until after the approaching
elections as matter of party eX-
pediency. Pres. Wilson was appealed
TO. but he refused to use his influence
10 keep the resolution in committee.
expressing the opinion that he would
not be justified in so doing
The action of the committee Tues
day changes the entire aspect of the
coming elections in many states. 1t
injects a new and ticklish issue. 1t
vii become particularly acute in
such states as Ohio, where the Anti
Saloon league has its headquarters,
and in Indiana and Illinois. In the
latter state, the women recently clos
ed 1000 saloons.
Announcement was made Tuesday
at the national executive headquar-
tiers OF the Anti-SalOOn league that
no candidate will he permitted to
"evade the issue" this program will be
put into effect also against candidates
for the senate, who for the first time
are 10 be elected by a direct vote of
the people.
Plans for pushing the national pro-
hibitiOn movement are to be determ-
ined next Thursday at Toledo. o. Rep.
Hobson. author of the resolution.
Tuesday arranged for a meeting there
with Perley 4. Baker. national SUI
ague. and Miss Mamie Gordon Of
taine, acting president OF the Ma
~tOnal Women's Christian Temperance
union.