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

that alcohol was responsible for many
other crimes.
Local option under the bill will be
entrusted to the common people,
whom we love so much on election
day" said Mr.. Lanius. who remarked
that it would be the same people that
preceding speakers had referred to
as the "rabble," the mob" and the
crowds" He said that he would
rather be defeated for voting for the
bill than be reelected for voting
against it.
Local Option Big Issue
Answering Mr.. Kits Mr.. Lanius de-
clared he had not heard of the ques-
ton over the local option plank in the
Democratic platform until to-day. The
plank, he said, was the real issue in
the last campaign, and on it the can
didates went before the people. 1.-The
issue was local option and on it Vance
c. Mccormick was defeated" said he.
Mr. Lanius said that he was
pledged to the Democratic platform
and would stand by it. In closing he
warned that national prohibition was
coming.
Mr.. Stein, Allegheny, declared there
We're Just as honorable men in
the liquor business as among those
who trade their purity in politics in
the opening of his speech. The fact
that William Penn and Patrick Henry
/ recognized the liquor business was
brought out and then he contended
what he termed IAN unholy alliance
between scheming politicians and
misguided men of the cloth" for en-
actment of the bill. The Allegheny
man said the saloon was the poor
mans club and would flourish until
society provided something better in
! spite of "every fanatic and crank"
Later on Mr.. Stein said he would
rather go down in defeat than be-
come Governor of the Commonwealth
! through ingratitude and deceit"
Crowd Cheers and Kisses
| Mr.. Stein declared that If the Leg
| islature saw fit to abolish the business
of the distiller, the brewer and the
| liquor merchant, from whose traffic
it derives revenue, the Common
wealth should compensate them for
investments. Mr.. Stein then replied
| to Mr.. Lanius' remark about the
heroin bill, by saying that of 100 men
who use drugs 100 go to ruin, but of
| 100 who use liquor only three or four
/ are wrecked.
This caused mingled Kisses and
| cheers and Mr.. Stein remarked that
| people could get drunk on anger, zeal
! or excitement. The latter remarked
he hurled at the crowd in the rear.
| Wllllam II. w uSOnt GHlliu6lpIlld'
| chairman of the House rules commit
tee said he would discuss the bill in
the light of the present and not "thc
decayed past" He said the arguments
on abridgement of personal liberty by
the bill were fallacious. The right to
sell liquor under the Brooks high Ii
cense law is not vested right and
never has been. He took exceptions
to the contention that the Brooks law
is the best local option statute, saying
the granting of the privilege to sell
liquor for limited period is given to
! judges.
Mr.. Wilson said that of the Republi-
can platform was silent on local OPP
ton, the present Governor told the
state committee at its Pittsburgh
meeting that he stood for local option
and in his campaign reiterated his
stand. Mr. Mccormick was also fol
local option.
Senator Penrose. said he. polled
l492,326 votes in November when hC
ran without any declaration on loca
option, while DIR. Brumbaugh, who
stood for local option. polled 534, SOS
votes.
II agree with my friend from Erie
the people have spoken. Figures dc
not iie," said Mr.. Wilson.
Men of Courage Needed
The State needs men who are not
afraid to submit big questions like
local option TO the people said Mr.
Wilson. Irrespective of how he might
be regarded politically, he said, he was
willing TO submit his stand to The
100000 home loving people Of his dis
trict.
Mr. Roney. Philadelphia, who fol
lowed Mr. Wilson. said the question
was one for legislators best Judgment
lie said he was sorry to differ from
Mr.. Wilson. to whom he referred al
Big Bill, but felt that he could mo-
agree to-day.
Mr.. Roncy said the question o.
liquor should be, settled on broad