Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1914-03-18
MARCH 26 FOR
LIQUOR HEARING
County Judge Philpot Con-
tinues Case to That
Date.
STARTS GROUNDWORK
Agreement Is Reached for Petitioners
to Have Prima Facie Ca>e-TucS-
day Hearing Falls Flat.

eff at first you don't succeed, Tin
! reaching conclusion on the liquor
/ hearing petition), try, try again." is
time honored adage that we'll fits
! the Pine Bluff case, since yesterday
| there was a continuance OF the case
until March 26, one day after the Pri-
mary election is held.
The action Of yesterday came some
what as surprise, as many had
thought that the case would be taken
up and that it would be threshed out.
There had been rumors on the part
of the prohibitionists. OH Monday
night to the effect that there
would be no hearing on the petition,
and despite some contrary opinions,
the rumors appeared to have been
we'll founded.
In the light of past events many
persons have become thoroughly dis
gusted with the trend of affairs and
several were heard to remark the
burlesque on the former liquor hear
ing given last week by the Progressive
League Minstrels is more of reality
than the real affair.
Surprise Is Felt.
Owing to the fact that the grand
| Jury was in session and that the Cir
cult Court was occupying it's room,
Judge Philpot was compelled to open
| the hearing in his office. When the
case was first opened, and with his
opening statement that he wished to
! have an understanding with the at
| torneys as to the length of time which
would be consumed in the hearing
| it was thought by the persons crowd
| ing into the narrow confines OF the
| office that the hearing would be a
quick affair-at least that each side
would not consume over day or SO
in presenting evidence.
| Attorney w. B. 'Sorrells, represent
ing the prohibitionists, stated that he
| did not know just what time he would
require, that at the former hearing
there had been no attempt to delay
and that his side of the case would
present evidence as rapidly as pos
sible.
At this point Judge Philpot said
the hearing was not going to last as
long as the former hearing.
Doubt COnstitutionality
Attorney 6orrells stated that the
constitutionality of the Going Act,
under which the petition was pre-
scented is now in the hands of the
Supreme Court and that it will not
be long before there is decision
rendered, also that there is manda-
mus proceeding to come up before
| Judge Grace, and that the latter, II
not the former, would practically
decide, one way or other.
Judge Jones, representing the
liquor petitions, said he was firmly
of the opinion that the Going Act is
unconstitutional, but that it was de-
sired 10 have the matter before the
County Court now. Mr.. Sorrells
argeed with him to an extent con-
corning the Going Act, saying he was
somewhat of the opinion that the law
is unconstitutional.
Judge Jones said for his side of the
case all that was wanted was one day
for rebuttal proof and that would
close his side of the case.
Attorney Sorrells said that he did
not wish to hamper or delay the case,
but he did not wish to be limited as
to the length of time his side would
have.
Judge Philpot asked the prohibit
onist side how many witnesses they
had, and the reply was something be-
tween 800 or 400. The Court asked.
in a light vein, if 200 witnesses could
be heard per day, to make the prohi-
bition side last but two days, and the
attorneys for the prohibitionists said
if such was done there would have to
be lightning like testimony.
Postpone Case
Judge Philpot then announced that
| in view of the fact that there was not
an agreement to be reached on the
time limit OF the case, he would post