Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-12-23

House today and a two thirds vote
later In the Senate before 1t is SUBJ
mitted to the states.
Underwood Opposed
Preceding the adoption Of the rule.
statement made 1t clear that the Dem
ocratic leadership in the House was in
favor of meeting the issue with a
vote.
This is not a temperance question"
said he, land never has been. Prohibi
ton has not produced temperance In
the lands where 1t has been tried. I
regard this question as an attack on
the fundamental principles Of our gov
eminent. II 1t is allowed to go on, with
out being met, 1t will mislead many
OF the people.
IF you are right You should have
stand for the fight. Wherefore, | say
to the members who Ike myself are
opposed to this resolution, it is not
only our right but our duty to face
this question in the open and give the
reasons why we believe 1t should not
be written into the fundamental law
OF the land"
The debate on the rule had been a
running desultory fire, but with con-
sideration of the resolution itself. the
real heavy artillery was uniimbered.
Rep. Hobson
Mr. EIohscY lea off with on aarpest
demand for its passage. He declared a
state had a right to be dry" that the
liquor business was an interstate
nuisance" and that there had never
been a serious conflict between feder-
al and state laws for protection Of the
morals Of the people.
He portrayed the devastating in
fluence Of liquor. "a habit forming
drug whose shackled victims" he said
today, numbered 100000 people. It
shortens life and blights the offspring"
he said, and brings hundreds Of thou
sands Of people to drunkards' graves
each year. 1t blights the lives Of peo-
pie before they are born"
Representative Hobson referred to
the graphic charts portraying the evils
Of the liquor traffic and after speaking
only 10 minutes himself, began to
yield time to other members who
spoke In support of his resolution
Representative Connolly supported
the amendment, declaring prohibition
had been a success in Kansas, and
Representative Morgan Of Oklahoma,
also supported it. referring to prohi-
bition in his state.
Representatives Decker, Tribble,
Langley, Logue and Bell tCal). made
brief speeches in favor Of the amend
ment.
Mr.. Underwood then, speaking on
the resolution, directly opposed 1t.
This is not a moral issue" he said.
mo great progress in the WORLDS
morality was ever made at the point
Of the sword or with the force Of gov
eminent behind 1t. We are here today
to consider q proposal as to whether
certain police regulations shall be
turned over to the federal government
instead of being allowed to remain In
the government Of various states,
where the founders Of the nation piac-
ed them. I believe a man should be as
temperate in his mental attitude as In
the treatment of his body"
He declared he favored county op-
ton and that the plan had worked In
Alabama.
81 cannot commit myself" he said.
ito a proposal to rob the individual
states Of police powers guaranteed
them under the Constitution"
Mr.. Underwood declared that the
principal Of national prohibition was
the very principal winch our iorern-
Tiers fought: the same principle OF
Capitalization that destroyed the an
Gent republics Of Greece and Rome"
sTn an idle hour" he continued
"there has grown up In this republic
faction which, clothed in the white
robe Of temperance for all men believe
in temperance-would tear down the
fabric Of this government and remove
the foundation stones Of our national
| existence"
Mr.. Underwood declared prohibition
would cost ss26 100000 in last revenue
and said that in Georgia. with state
wide prohibition there was as much
liquor consumed az in Alabama.
Bookkeeping. they say. 10 the greatest