The Washington times., 1915-01-13
SENATE MAY VOTE ON
PROHIBITION TODAY
Drys Declare They Will Win II
Straight-Out Vote on Issue
Is Obtained.
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aContinued from First PaseD
eept by a two-thirds vote. This point
will be submitted to Vice President
Marshall.
lie Is expected to submit II to the
Senate. 4 prolonged discussion on
the parliamentary proposition may
result Under the circumstances Sen
ators this afternoon said 1t was i'm
possible to tell when y vote woull
be reached.
Senators who favor the separate
measure say the alleged Lwo-thirds
requirement is untensble. They say it
was cooked up merely to block a
test on the merits Of the prohibition
question.
The plan to raise the point that n
two.thirds vote Is required to sus-
pend the rules 10 only one of the man
hibition will resort. They have other
plans up their sleeve. They will make
every effort TO block the separate
measuroon a pointof order.
lrc say that the desperation Of the op-
pshents OF prohibition In trying to pre-
vent "A straight out vote Is the best in
dicatton that they are fearful the pro-
hipitton cause viii prevail II there Is q
real test Of strength in the Senate.
Sheppard Is Confident.
Senator Sheppard said this afternoon
he believed his measure would carry.
II do not believe they will be able
to sidctrack IL or TO carry out any ma
neuver to prevent 4 test vote naid Sen
ator Sheppard II think It will pass.
After conference among the opponents
of prohibition last night It was decided
that Senator Hardwick should present a
substitute for tho Sheppard plan for a
referendum TO the people Of the District.
II was at first said that Senator Blair
Lee of Maryland would present this. but
Senator Lee said today he would not
present 1t, but would support it.
1T is a cardinal principle Of our GOV.
ernment that the people should rule.
said Senator Lee. Il expect to support
the plan for q referendum
II was expected that the Sheppard
motion to suspend the rule would come
up soon after l. o'clock today. but this
was prevented because the Cumnins
resolution, relating to Mexican affairs,
came up in it's regular order and caused
long discusSon. This held back the
Senator Luke Lea. of Tennessee. who
was absent yesterday. returned u Ia"
Senate today.
Senator Lea is . strong adherent OF
pFonibltIon ana MS presence brlntE IN
a valuable recruit for the hackers Of
the Sheppard prohibition measure. Sen
ator Lea upon looking over the situa-
ton expressed the belief il waa close.
"Drys" Count On House.
The prohibition question is before tho
Senate in the form Of Senator Shep
parGs motion to suspend the rules ir
order to allow O vote on his amenduicn,
to make the District dry after Novcm
Der 1. 1916. The Sheppard motion ia:
been favorably reported from the Rule.
Committee. has gone to the calendar
and. in accordance with notice siver
py Senator sheppard. will be called W
today.
If the senate adopts the amendment
the House also will adopt it. say dry
leaders.
1t will no urged by friends Of the
Sheppard plan that 40 referendum Is
possible because OF the lack OF cleo
| ton machinery and that a referendum
would prove farce. Senator Let
would apply the Maryland election ma
chinery to the proposed referendum.
hibition in the District BY support er!
Of the Sheppard plan Is that Virgins
* about to 80, dry and that to ieav'
the District Of Columbia wet woulc
cause the National Capital t. be soush
by a larsc part OF Eirginia's popuia
tion for their liquor purchases.