The Detroit times., 1915-03-08
Seantor Says Hudson
Opposed Statutory
Prohibition Bill
'MURTHA MAY
HEAD TICKET
DetrOiter May Oppose
Dickinson in 1916,
Say "Sharps"
From a stag Correspondent.


LANSING. Mich. March 6-Fol-
lowing publication of the statement
OF Grant Hudson. superintendent OF
the Michigan tiSaloon league. TO
the effect that he had not attempted
To call OF" introduction OF the state
vide prohibition bill at the present
session OF the legislature Senator
Henry (. Straight. OF Coldwater. IA
theT OF the measure. Informed news
Pc permen that the stories published
Immediately after the senator's pub
lac declaration OF his intentions were
absolutely correct.
The senator declared that. in the
three-hour conference In the odice
OF LieRtenant-Governo Dickinson on
the evening that Senator Straight
made ais public announcement, the
superintendent OF the so-called sa.
loon.fghting organization insisted re-
peatedly that the time was not ripe
for statutory prohibition. According
10 Senator Straight's version OF Mr..
Hudson's statements. the league
ould not oppose the statutory bill.
but preferred the submission OF a
constitutional amendment. Mr.. Hud-
son repeatedly urged the submission
OF the question in the form OF con.
stitutlonal amendment.
The leagues attitude Is furnishing
considerable capital for the "wets"
who point out that prohibition by
constitutional amendment could only
be submitted BY n two-thirds vote
OF both houses. and THAI so large
majority could not be obtained
Under any circumstances
After hts failure TO induce Sena.
tor Straight 10 adopt a rrlicy which
could not succeed under any circuni.
stances. Mr.. HUDSON issued a state
ment In which he said that the
league would support the bill.
In his statement Mr. Hudson de
clares that the leagues FIRST idea wac
TO obtain the passage OF statutory
prohibition measures without a ref.
erendum attached. This idea Is an
impractical as that OF obtaining pro.
hibition by constitutional amend.
ment. as many legislators are per.
fectly willing 10 submit the question
10 the people who would not vote
for prohibition IL the decision was
left In their hands absolutely.
Il am perfectly willing To vote TO
submit the matter TO the people. II
they want IL let them have II.
would. however. oppose, with every
means within my power. any at
tempt TO shove over prohibition
bill for which this legislature would
have TO stand responsible. never
have and never win oppose submis.
sion Of any question TO the people, /"
said one influential member OF the
lower house whom the "wets" have
been counting on TO support them.
"One OF two things IL wrong with
Hudson and his followers. Either
they don't want prohibition or they
are woefully ignorant of conditions
a. they exist In this legislature. .
think they'll have trouble enough In
getting this question before the peo-
pie without having 10 submit TO q
two-thirds vote regulation. know
they couldn't get q constitutional
amendment through this legislature
By any means, and I am equally con-
fdent that no provision for prohibi.
ton without a referendum could be
carried In either house. I'm not I'd
sure about the present measure.
however. wouldn't be surprised at
all II II should carry. certainly In the
senate and very likely In the house
as we'll"
Friends OF the Straight measure
are certain OF It's success. They
claim IL votes In the senate and so
IN the house. The senate figure is
undoubtedly correct. but many mem.
bers OF the house are. as one mem.
Der put IL. politically dry but per
sonally wet" Whether political ex.
pedieacy or personal opinion win
triumph with this class Is a matter
Of doubt. No one In the house is
saying much about II. but II is GER
tain that the real fight over the
measure will come In that body.
A determined effort TO amend the
measure out Of all resemblance to
its original self will be made In the
upper house, according to state
ments made BY Senator James Muir