Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-04-07
WIN OR LOSE, FIGHT
FOR LOCAL OPTION IS
To BE CONTINUED
Organization Has Been Formed to
Battle For Temperance in
Pennsylvania
TWO MORE VOTES DRY"
Vickerman. of Allegheny County.
Says Vote May Be Delayed
Two Weeks

That the Williams local option bill
will be disposed of in the House of
Representative within the next two
weeks; that permanent organization
has been formed to carry on the fight
for local option no matter what the
result in the Legislature may be; that
Allegheny county is likely to have six
votes for the Williams bill instead of
four, and that he and County Com
sioner j. Denny O'Neil will have an
hours conference with Governor Mar
tin G. Brumbaugh 'to-day on the bill
were few of the important announce
inentS made to-day by Representative
j. w. Nickerman, of Allegheny coun-
ty, who is active in behalf of the bill
Mr.. Nickcrman is the friend and
confidant of the Governor and has
been in the forefront of the fight to
give counties the right to say whether
they want liquor sold within their
boundaries and he carries weight in
the House. Any announcements from
him are given close attention by the
other members.
Win or Lose. Fight Goes On
Regardless of what happens to the
Williams bill in the legislature. the
fight has already been outlined for
the next two years and we intend to
go into the counties and give the Vot-
ers the chance, in a clear cut issue. to
determine whether they want to see
local option or the representatives Of
the opposition in the Legislature of
1914 on Monday night the Republi-
can State local option committee was
formed
Mr.. O'Neil was chosen chairman
and | was elected treasurer The
monster gathering of yesterday and
last night were for the purpose of
lIindling the fires of enthusiasm that
will carry this fight through success
fully the next time it comes before
the people-either as to local option
, members or in an election to carry out
the local option law. Mr. O'Neil and
myself have a conference with Cover
nor Brum baugh to-day. our plans
VIII be outlined at that meeting and
the Governors suggestions solicited.
This fight is on and will be on in
pennsylvania until all the people have
definitely determined their attitude on
the sale of liquor in the subdivisions
of the State where they live" said Mr.,
Nickerman.
When asked regarding the time it
Will take to consider the bill in com
mittee and in the House Mr.. Wicker
man said: There was to have been a
meeting of the law and order commit
tee this afternon but on account of the
appropriations committee going to
Pittsburgh it will hardly be held until
next week. Whether the bill will be
reported out then | can not say but
the chances are that Il will. That is
what causes me to think that the bill
will be through the House within two
weeks from to-day. The child labor
bill passed to-day and the workmen's
compensation measures will be out of
the House soon. That will clear the
decks for the local option bill On the
outcome of the vote 1 will say that it
will be close"
Representative Nickerman discussed
the gatherings of yesterday and COM
menting on the attitude and speech of
Senator George r. Oliver at the big
demonstration in the Chestnut street
auditorium, said:
Senator divers speech has done
much for the cause of local option.
His speech was to the point, full of
straight from the shoulder talk and
was big stand for big man to take.
The reception accorded him and the
way in which his points were cheered
and applauded showed him that the
people of Pennsylvania are aroused. -
Commissioner O'Neil said TO-DAY
that he had nothing to add lie de-
clared that the demonstrations of yes
terday had more than accomplished
their purposes.