Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-04-06
GREAT CROWD At
OPTION HEARING
Temperance Forces Throng Capt.
tol and Overflow Into Capitol
Park
HOLD BIG MEETING THERE
Their Songs and Cheers Resound
Through Statehouse as Argu-
ment Proceeds

The greatest crowd ever gathered
for legislative hearing packed the
hall of the House of Representatives,
crowded the corridors leading To the
legislative chambers and overiioWed
INTO the park surrounding the State
Capitol for the hearing accorded by
the House law and order committee
on the Williams bill this afternoon
Nhlle the hearing was In progress an
overflow meeting was held outside and
the songs of the crowd were borne
through the open windows of The State
House.
Hours before the hearing began all
the room was taken UP and the SER
geant-at- arms was compelled to take
the official mace TO open "a way through
the crowd for committeeman.
Chairman George w. Williams, of
the law and order committee, pre-
sided and the members of the COM
mittee sat on the rostrum.
The speakers announced were:
For the Bill-The Rev. j. j. Curran
Wilkes-Barre: John 4. McSparran
master OF the State Grange; City
Treasurer William MoCoach. PhiladeI-
phia, and ex-Rcpresentative c. r.
Swift, Beaver.
Against the Bill-Congressman A. j.
8archfcld. Pittsburgh: DIR. S. G. Won
Bosse, Philadelphia: II. j. McGrath
PittsDurgh, and John O'Brien, Scran-
ton.
Crowd Sings America
me hearing began with singing oil
America! which started in the real
of the chamber and was quickly taker
up by the big crowd and sung to the
waving of hundred of small American
Hags. Many women were present
some tsanding on chairs. and they
Joined in the singing.
Every member of the. committee an.
swered to his name when the clerk
called the roll. One hour was al.
lotted to each side.
CONGRESSMAN Barchbeld was given :
n tsy. greeting when he was intro.
du ed as the first speaker He said
tina he spoke for the German-Amer
lean alliance and said his friends were
opposed to local option and prohibi.
tion, saying laws which could not be
enforced should not be enacted.
The congressman said that peoplt
in the liquor business should conduct
their business so as not to arouse lust
criticism and declared prohibition led
to- 'the very things ii sought to pre-.
vent. He said there should be com.
pensation for losses through law an6
denounced treating. The Brooks higl
license law was praised and declared
to have brought about the "orderlS
saloon" and that If any undesirable
fault of the neighborhood which die
not protest tothe courts.
Barchfleld in q Rage
The statements of the congressman
caused some outbursts by his friend.
and the local element lauhed at other.
until DR.. Barchfield said with consid
cradle feeling: This is the same kline
of gathering that sent old sore-eyet
women to be burned at the stake 2O(
years ago. / am an American, 6. sor
of Pennsylvania, proud of by birth.
right and demand free speech"
Every demonstration takes from
the time of speakers" interiecteC
Chairman Williams and the audienc,
subsidized.
Just as Father Curran was intro
duced the audience cheered and
waved flags and handkerchiefs. A
moment later Governor Brumbaugf
came in and took seat in the speak,
ers' platform, receiving a greetint
like that given to the clergyman.
Father Curran said local option wa,
agitating the whole State and that 4
local option came, work for thos,
Continued on Page 1871