Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-04-21
Kits Bitter Speech

kits Bitter Speech
Mr.. Kits, Erie. remarked so much
had been said, on this monotonous
question" that anything said now was
like graveyard wind" Members he
said had been haunted by 1t and he
desired to make an Grafton at the lay
ing of the ghost
II come here to represent my con-
stituents and not Martin G.. Brum-
baugh," said Mr.. Kits, who then de-
clared the local option movement was
political hysteria- inspired by the Gov
ernor of this State" He said the issue
was settled last November You know,
IT, l know 1t and the Governor knows
it. asserted he. Mr. kits then protest.
ed against ''clogging the wheels OF the
Legislature" with an issue decided by
the people who voted on the question
last Novem ber- Mr. Kits asserted that
144 men had been elected against local
option
The county unit was assailed by Mr.
Kits, who said II would give back
woods districts an unfair power The
Erie man voiced q protest against i'm
pressions given about conditions in
Pennsylvania by advocates Of local op-
ton and said that extreme cases had
been cited
for the State and he charged that the
manner OF objectins TO II had brought
about disresDeet for the Judiciary
Crowd Kisses Him
Sharp criticism of the attitude of the
throng that gathered here for the To-
cal option bill hearing on April was
made by Mr. kits. lie then said
the local option movement was a re-
Election of religious hysteria inspired
by Billy Sunday" When he charged
that Sunday was out for the almighty
dollar" his statement brought out a
storm of Kisses from the crowd
Ministers who had preached and
prayed for local option were denounc-
ed for the extreme stand they had
taken on the liquor issue by Mr.. Kits.
He made a plea for the compensation
idea to accompany local option and
said the business had been recognized
by the general assembly.
Called Y. NJ. c. A. "Rabble-
red to trust the liquor question to "the
wisdom of the broad-minded judi
ciary" than to 1.-The rabble of the Y
NJ C.. A., the women's clubs and the
Anti saloon League
Mr.. Kits denied that "any liberal
minded Democrat" was bound by the
Democratic State platform and said
fer to local option. He sharply criti-
cized the method of adopting the Dem
ocratic platform last year.
In closing the Erie man declared
members should stand up despite Co
ercion" or threats by the Executive to
stump districts of men who opposed
the bill.
Graham Speaks
Mr.. Graham, Philadelphia in a brief
speech declared he felt that the time
had come TO put the restrictions on the
sale of liquor the people demand to-
day. He remarked that the members
had their minds made up and that the |
best that could be done was to vote.
Mr. Boyer. PHILADELPHIA, said that
he intended to vote as his constituents |
desired and that he would be a weak |
ling IL he was led any other way.
Too Many Laws
Mr. Boyer spoke for personal lib
erty" saying that the local option is
persecution" lie declared that the
policy embodied in the bill brutal
ICES government and discredits the
church. Further on the Philadel
phia member asserted 1t is not the
function of the Legislature or the
trious and sober, but rather that of
the clergy. There is a tendency to
make too many laws said he,
and then remarked that time had
been consumed over local option
which should have been employed in
enacting important legislation.
Governor Brumb baugh's attitude in
behalf of the bill was assailed by Mr..
Boyer as Objectionable" and he said
that he questioned the propriety of
some of his efforts. During his
speech, Mr.. Beyer declared that it
was not for the Legislature to pass
too many restrictive laws and that
ian - 1GYsN ~ Ea to- II
tween the executive and legislative &.
branches of the government.
Men opposed to local option have .
firm opinions about the right of the
people to rule and the people ex-
pressed themselves at the last cleo |
tion, said he.
Mr. Beyers said that what the state |
needed was more religion and less |
politics, and, carrying out the refer |
endum idea in the local option bill, |
he said, the people could demand to |
vote on Sunday baseball moving pic |!
lures. vaccination and amusements on !
the Sabbath with as much justice as /
on the licensing of liquor.
Members Eat Lunch
During the speeches a number of |
the members had lunches brought in /
and sat at their desks munching sand |
wiches while the orators went on.
Shortly before l o'clock Mr.. Her
~
half of the bill, saying that he felt the |
question was so important that the |!
members would endure the debate to
the end The principle underlying
local option is nonpartisan and IL en- |
acted will restore popular rule. Mr.. |
Herman declared that in his opinion |
the time had come for the people to
have their way. The organized liquor
dealers. he said, had throttled the will
OF the people In years gone by.
Mr.. Ramsey. Delaware. said he felt
that no speech could change q vote
and called attention to the fact that
the Republican platform did not con-
tain any reference to local option. :.
Defends Liquor Lobby
The issue was carried into the No
vember election and the people having
ruled on 1t at that time it is not ques-
ton of popular rule now. He said that
il vote had been taken a week after
the session began there would have
been an overwhelming majority against
the bill. Since then there has been a
remarkable change for the measure
backed by the Governor. Members
must answer for their votes at home.
Mr.. Ramsey asked if it was any
worse for the liquor people to havesa
lobby than for the Governor of this
state to send his servants" out
through the state lobbying for the
bill.
The Delaware man called the at
tention of the house to the fact that
If a county went dry at an election
held under the bill the granting of
1iceOsaS would he in tba bapde of tI,o