The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-04-06
Unprecedented THRONE
IN house AS THE LOCAL
OPTION HEARING Starts



how meeting was in progress with
several thousand enthusiastic local
optionists cheering, presided over by
the Rev. DR.. shelton, of Pittsburgh.
The strains of the band from the out
side foated into the House and the
cold water folks smiled. As the clock
sounded : o'clock the crowd settled
down patiently to wait half an hour.
Option Speakers Announced
1t was announced that the speakers
for the local option bill would be Fa.
ther J. j. Curran, Wilkes Barre; James
NJ. Spanen, Lancaster, head of the
Changers; William McCoach, City
Treasurer, Philadelphia, and the Rev.
{. +. Swift, Beaver, head of the Local
Option League.
Against the bill it was announced
that the speakers would be Joseph E.
Q 'Brien, Scranton; Congressman A. ].
Barehfeld, Pittsburgh; the Rev. S. G.
Won Busse, Wilmington, Del, formerly
of Philadelphia, and Robert J. McGrath,
labor leader, of Pittsburgh.
The entrance of James Nulvihill,
head of the Liquor Dealers League,
who is directing the fight against the
bill, was a signal for cheers and ap-
plause among the antis, the first of the
day. The ants at this point made a
protest because their speakers had not
been provided with seats, but this was
soon adjusted and another wait ensued.
While waiting somebody in the gal
lery began to sing America. In an
instant the great crowd caught up the
e.. .~lx
shouting it and waving small American
flags. 1t was very inspiring scene
and seemed to put everybody in pa
triotic good humor. Loud applause
greeted the chorns.
The clerk to the committee at 2.25
called the roll of the committee, and
virtually all of the members responded,
one absentee being Shaaber, of Berks,
veteran of the Civil war, said to be
an opponent of the bill.
Antis Get Floor First
The first speaker was Congressman
A. j. Barchfeld, of Pittsburgh, who
was cheered to the echo as he arose
to speak in behalf of the German AL
lance, of Allegheny county, in oppo.
sitiou to the bill; for the State, and
for himself. The Cerman-American
Alliance, he said, is body of law
abiding American citizens with a
membership of $4,000, opposed to To-
cal option and prohibition in every
form because they hold such things
are a deprivation of the rights of iu-
dividuals which should remain invio-
liable. They believed in the enforce
ment of the law. They decry "treat-
ing and have abandoned it. Men
whose appetites must be eurbed are not
fit for citizenship in great republic,
prohibition does not prevent. In Maine
1t has been a gigantic humbug, he said,
and dn egregious failure.
'We are opposed to robbing men
without Just compensation, he said.
The present high income law meets
all demands. When the majority of a
community do not desire breweries the
county refuse to grant them. - loud
and derisive cheers and shout of
"Oh. y As the speaker went on he
was frequently interrupted by decisive
cries. He paused moment and then
said:
This is the same kind of feeling
that led TO the burning of old sore.
eyed women as witches at the stake in
the dark aees.n
This was greeted with vociferous
cheering, which increased as the
speaker said he was an American citi-
zen and had the right to free speech.
Then he went on to extol the Ger
man Americans and denounee the bill
because he said its passage would be
a blow aimed at the individual liberty
of every man.
1.-The spirit of intolerance is re-
pugnant to the spirit of the age" he
added. This local option measure in
fringes on the rights of man.
He then spoke of alleged vices in
the army resulting from the prohibi-
tion of the canteen, and said there is
hypocrisy wherever prohibition pre-
walls.
Father j. c. Curran, of Wilkes
Barre, was the next speaker and he ia
vored the bill. At the beginning of
Father Curran IS remarks this report
closed