The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-01-19

Jones Of Washington. made the prin-
cipal speeches for suspension of the
rules. Many ether Senator's were
dff"n into the debate and expressed
thcir position on the general subject
OF prohibition. Some, like Stmrnhns.
Of North Carolina declared a will
insne$s. even desire. to vote on
the straight prohibition Issue. but on
posed Very strongly the suspension
~ the rules to secure IL. Some Others
like Lee, Of Maryland. thought the
Senate should allow a vote on the
issue, bat inUmated opposition To tina
Sheppard amendment. The situation
WAS decidedly mixed. and IL was not
possible L. know until the final vote
where the majority would lie
f1naa Debate.
In t1e debate on Monday Senator
SHEPPARD and Senator Gainngel. rnada
It 50 clear that further denial was
not attempted. that the Senate had
never hesitated to put a Legislative
rider on an appropriation bill when-
ever the majority desired so 10 do.
Sutherland. OF Utah. declared him.
self To he a believer in local option
aud ridiculed Statewide prohibition,
bat when called to account by
Thompson. Of Kansas. and Gronna.
81 Nor,sh Dakota was obliged Ia adj
nit that he believed prohiMtiou in
those States had been so effective
that he should probably vote for IL
were he resident OF either State
This admission o. effectiveness as
to those TWO States rather destroyed
tho force of his argument senator
Grenna. Of North Dakota. followed
with strong speech, and Senator
shields, Of Tennessee vigorously de-
Tended that state against the asper-
sion Of the Senator from Utah.
prolEt bile oifibition Ma inrity.
While defeated 9a the motion 10
suspend the rules yet ia view Of the
statements on the floor during the de-
bate II appeared that on "A straight
vote on prohibition 1or the District.
there would be an actual majority in
the Senate ~ from three To five.
Owing 10 the short time remain
ing during the present session Il is ex-
ceedinglv doubtful whether ANYTHING
further can i've done untii the next ses-
sion Euf this great battle has fixed
he eyes OF the whole nation on
Washington ard the face that there
is now present in Congress a probable
majority of both Senate ard House
who favor prohibition j. genuine
revelation of the wonderful develop
ment OF prohibition sentiment IN this
country
During the debate an Monday two
from the Commoner. signed
W j. Bryan, were exceedingly SIG
niflcaut Mr., Bryan had stated IN this
previous number Of the Commoner
that. while he would vote for national
prohibition he thought. perhaps. the
agitation was premature. In this tS-
sue he declares thar the fact that
ma ioritv OF the National House OF
REPRESENTATIVES favor submission IL
warning to the liquor traffic that It's
DAYS are numbered These editorials
are the strongest Mr. Bryan has ever
written.
Position of virginia Senators.
Both Virginia senators were strongly
In vora bio to the Sheppard amendment.
Senator Swanson took an active part
In the debate and voted to suspend the
rules. and Senator Martin. who re-
turned 20 the Senate on Monday.
nounoed that he was paired with
Senator Coff, Of West virginia other
wise he would also have voted ave.
dry Leaders Feel Encouraged.
Senator Sheppard and other leaders
of the prohibition night feel encouraged
by the developments In the debate and
i'm the voting to go forward in their
campaign 10 abolish liquor In the Ma
tional Capital
not definitely decided, but fl may be
motion "a discharge the district
committee from consideration OF one
OF the bills before that committee for
prohibition In the district or ii may
be decided to propose rider" TO one
OF the other appropriation bills.
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