Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1914-12-24
ONE Of the most interesting legislative

dayS ever known In the House OF Nepre-
sentatves was that OF Tuesday OF this
week. when the amendment TO the Con-
stitution of the United States providing
for national prohibition was debated and
voted upon. The vote was taken about
midnight, and resulted IN 1877 for the
amendment and lso against. Although
majority OF the members voted Tor tile
measure, it was lost, as a two-thirds ma
jorlly is necessary. The result was moi
unexpected by The temperance people.
Their victory Is in lhe iacl lhaI aIIef many
wears of hard wuTk lhey fOr The llISi lime
succeeded IN getting square vote on Inc
subject. Always heIeIOioIe The MAILER
has been killed III The House without
Coming TO vote. Now the issue has
been sQuArely MADE, and ooih sides know
how The congressman stand. The lem-
perance loIces non on tuesday on all
voles Thai required simple majority, ana
showed gredler SITengln Inan Inc liquor
forces believed possible.
The great ngnl Tor prohibition was led
by Congressman Rcnmono +. HooSon,
and ne managed the ngnl with cohSum-
male Skill ana couTase. la his opening
StSlemS al he Said:
he hQu. business is an inter State
NUISANCE. Liquor Is ndoli-ioIinlng uluS,
whose SndCkiSu VillllIIs numOeI o,VUO,UUO
peIsvnS. IL snvIIens lite dnu oiIshiS me
oIispnng anu oIInss hundreds VI lhous-
ANS ~ drunkdioS sIayeS each yeaI.
Mr.. HuUSon showed that more IMAM
60U0,0O0 persons had signed the pelllions
TO Congress 10 adopt lie amenumenl-
more Than ever before IN the history oil
the world had asked tor legislative en-
actment ConsresSmen Kelly, ol Penn
Syivania, AddmSon, vi GeuIsld, Rucker,
Of Missouri, an0 Other advocates OF pro-
hIolllon sp ke IN favor OF the measure.
The light Ior the liquor interests was
led by Congressman Unoer~ oOd, Inc
Democratic leader IL The HOUSE, ano Con-
gresham Mann, Republican lloor leader.
ihey were Uackru up by Congressman
Henry, OF Texas BarlholGt, OF Inc beer
dIslncl OF 81. LOUIS, VINO declared that ne
knew OF saloons here gentleman would
not hesitate 10 take his vile and oaush-
ters; Vollmer, OF Iowa; Gdllivan, OF
Massachusetts,, who said that prohloiton
increased insanity and who quoted Car
diual GIBBONS aS iavorlng The saloon be-
Cause prohibition would make hypocrlteS
anu vlolalors OF The law; Morrison, OF
Indiana, Helm, OF Alabama, and others.
Impartial reports oil the discussion de-
clare that The advocates OF the amend
ment MADE powerful presentation OF
their CAUSE, ana one observer SAID that II
the people OF the Country Gould have
heard their arguments there would have
been no question about tremendous
majority Tor temperance. The oppon-
enls OIL The measure made the best they
could OIL such all unrighteouS Cause by
pretending TO believe That the doctrine OF
States rights was involved and that there
would be loss in revenue that the coun-
try could not stand. The galleries were
packed from ten O'Clock in The morning
until midnight. when The final vote was
taken, principally oy enthusiastic adyo-
Gates oil The pruniolIlon Cause. Congress
man hooson Closed the debate, saying:
hlt M a
States of tins Nation have the right, as
well as the wisdom, 10 settle this ques-
lions OF national prohibiuon. We pro-
pose TO let the States themselves settle
it." Reply ng 10 speech OF Represen-
tative Helm, who had declared that Hob
son had been defeated by Underwood on
a prohibition issue IN the recent Senate
primary campaign IN Alabama, Mr.. Hob
son asserted thai Underwood did not
fight alone. that the liquor interests, Wall
Street and the administration forces "all
endeavoIed 10 beat HObSon."
Just before final vote was ordered on
the resolution MIR. HoOson made dra-
matte move. "Mr. Speaker" he said,
al wish 10 ask whether any member OF
this House who has a financial interest in
the question now pending, who owns
stock in distilleIieS or brewerieS, who
owns saloon or who has property leased
to liquor interests, can under the rules
vote on this question ?"
There was moment Of tense silence
as the significance OF the query made
itself felt Then Speaker Clark explain
ed that the precedents held that # a mem
Der was affected as one Of class the
rule would not prevent his voting, but
that such questions were usually lett TO
the member himself.
-Four OF the West Virginia Congressman.
Messrs. AVIS, Moss, Nicely and Suther-
land, voted for the amendment. The two
other members from this State, MeSsrs.
Brown and Hughes, were recorded as
absent and not voting, and neither was
paired for or against The resolution.
The strength SHOWN 0y Inc prohlollion
forces is tremendously encouraging TO the
temperance people. The issue has now
been opened, the tight begun. and the
victory Tor temperance a d bnely will
eventually b. won.
THERE is sort OF oTeok between Pres
ident Wilson and Certain Democratic Sen
ators over the question OF appointments,
and it may result in considerable trouble.
The President has not been willing to
turn over 10 the Senators the entire dis
position OF party patronage, and has made
appointments which have been contrary
to their recommendations in some cases.
These Senators seek revenge by refusing
to confirm such appointments, and as the