The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1915-04-23


He leaped to his feet and called the
attention of the senate to The fact
that few days ago the petitions OF
10000 Sunday school children hung
on the walls of the senate, mutely
asking for the passage of the state
wide prohibition bill.
Mr.. Gansser," shouted Straight,
"says he is the superintendent of a
Sunday school in Bay City. 81 want
to ask him whether he is now stand
ing by the principles of Jesus Christ
or whether he is working for the in
terests of the liquor men.
"Where, Mr.. Gansser is your vaunt-
ed love for fair play now. Why with
hold fair play from the children of
the Sunday schools? You and every
man like you who has voted for these
amendments will be called to an &C
counting by the people of Michigan.
You men who have voted to change
the date of submission, thereby hop
ing to beat statewide prohibition are
ringing the deathknells of your politi-
cal service.
Senator Gansser asks for fair play
for the saloon men, l ask for fair
play for the chilren, for the men and
women Of Michigan. The saloon men
paid 100000 in license money in
Michigan last year, but they took $44,-
100000 out of the mouths Of babes and
wives. Three thousand men killed
their wives while under the influence
of liquor last year. Seven hundred
mothers, while intoxicated, strangled
their own babes. And you ask for
fair play for this demon"
Senator Straight talked for almost
an hour. The senate chamber was in
an uproar when he started to repeat
a prayer which he declared had been
his guide in life, faltered when half
way through it, and sank into his seat
in a collapse.
Will Submit by Initiative.
Following a conference by the dry
leaders the question was called to
the floor the next day and submitted.
1t was beaten by vote of 20 to 2.
Grant Hudson, superintendent of the
Ant-Saloon League, announced as soon
as the vote was taken that the league
would call a meeting of all prohibition
organizations in the state within 80
days and would play for the submis-
sion of the statewide prohibition
question by popular initiative. This
means that if the people pass the
amendment to the constitution no leg
islature in the future can change it
or resubmit it, and that any future ac-
ton would have to be taken by the
people.
1t also means that the measure
which will go before the people will
not be entangled with amendments
which will jeopardize it's chances,
that it will be drafted as the drys
want it, and that the question will be
fought out on a strictly statewide
prohibition ground.
The general concensus of opinion
is that the drys outgeneraled the vets
when they turned on them and de-
feated the bill. With the initiative
they can submit the question exactly
as they see fit and in the meantime
they have gained in popular appeal to
the public through the battle made
against their bill by the vets.
Rate Bills Chances.
The chances for the passage of the
rate bill appear to have grown bright
er during the past week.
A few daysago leaders in the house
were declaring that there was abso-
lutely no chance for the bill to pass
at this session. They offered good
proof of their assertion, and it was
generally believed that the railroads
would have to struggle along without
any hope from the legislature at this
session.
Now, however, things have changed,
and they have been brought to the
rtoe oh; 1, he 10
mental bill introduced by Rep. James
Henry.
Rep. Henry's bill makes the sliding
fare bill which is under consideration
a temporary measure and states that
it shall apply only until the next leg
islature meets. During the two years
which must elapse before that period
if he would have a commission ap-
pointed by the governor to investi-
gate the conditions Of the railroads
and report to the legislature during
the session of 1917.
The bill provides that the members
of the commission shall include
farmer, a business man, a practical
railroad man and other representa-
tives of Michigan industries. Their
duties we'll be to make a full and
complete investigation Of the roads,
to formulate data upon which the
next legislature can work, and in short
to show whether the railroads are
really as hard up as they say they
are.
The railroads have consented to
this and say they will lend every aid
possible. They promise to throw open
their books and their offices and to
abide by the decision of the com
mission.
The worst feature of the sliding
rate bill is that it was amended in
the senate so that all upper PENN
sula roads are allowed to charge q
straight fare of three cents mile.
This amendment may result in kill
ing the bill. 1t is certainly point
which will create much debate.
Closing Up Business.
The legislature is now turning into
the home stretch and preparing for
the big dash for the wire on April