The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-04-16
Bitter Denunciation of
Murtha and Gannser
Precedes Incident
CALLS HIS FOES
DIRTY RASCALS"
Overcome By Emotion,
Sinks SObbing Into
Seat
From a stan Correspondent.

LANSING. Mich. April H.
Weeping bitterly, and In a state OF
complete nervous collapse. Senator
Henry +. Straight. OF Coldwater.
was led from the senate chamber at
IL o'clock this morning. at the close
OF an imprisoned plea for his state
wide prohibition bill and bitter
attack upon Senators James Murtha,
of Detroit, and Augustus II. Gansser,
of Bay City. opponents AZ the mees'
ure. n
Senator Straight's breakdown was
dramatic In the extreme. coming as
Il did at the close OF a 30-minute
address in which ne had character
lied the liquor interests and their
supporters AS dirty rascals" and
mental defcients:" had fayed Muir.
tina as a man who would be respon-
sible II the statewide bill was de
feated either In the legislature or
by the people. and had denounced
Gansser as a man who though n
eacher In the Sabbath school. comes
here to further the interests of this
nefarious trafic in human lives, to
plead for the. dirtiest business on
Gods green earth
The break came when he was
overcome by his emotions In at
tempting TO repeat quotation
taught him by his father In his early
youth.
"The true glory OF nation"
he began. then stopped; his voice
broken and his eyes sufrused with
tears. He made second attempt
but broke down again. IL guess ]
can't say t." he said. with a ges-
ture OF despair, then sank into his
seat and began to sob.
Both friends and enemies rushed
TO his side and after administering
rcstoratives. led him from the room,
adjournment having been taken I'm
mediateiy, although II lacked Ave
minutes OF the time set.
The affair was the more deplor.
able In that Senator straight's con.
dition and the bitter remarks which
preceded Il threw pail over the
senators. who were TO leave within
few minutes for Charlotte where
they were to be guests of Lieut.
Gov. Luren ID. Dickinson at dinner
In his farm homo.
Senator Straight's speech was pro-
voked directly by the fact that the
senate had voted TO submit the
question In the spring of 1917 in
stead OF 1916, and indirectly by q
speech OF Senator Gansser, who
urged that the submission OF the
question be deferred until Novem-
Der, 1918. In order to allow saloon
men. brewers and others interested
In the business to dispose OF their
property. Adoption Of an amend
ment prohibiting the use of patent
medicines containing 20 per cent Of
alcohol, proposed by Senator Muir.
tina, also served az an irritant as. In
the belief OF Senator Straight. II
lessons the changes of the bill be.
ing approved by the electors.
Senator Gansser, a superinten.
dent OF q Sunday school. has plead.
cd here for fair play to the liquor In.
terests," began Senator Straight. Il
want TO ask him whether he prefers
to do his duty to the young. rather
than to serve the dirty rascsls which
would debauch them. Fair piayl
They've been given play. they've
been given play fair and In their
rotten souls have plotted together
how best they could take advantage
OF the privileges given them.
"He talks about the loss Of money
by the confscation Of property.
That's bosh. A saloonkeeper
when he receives his license knows
that II IL good for but one year: that
state, nation and city reserve the
right TO take II away from him. II
isn't question of fair play. It's a
question OF righteousness. that We