Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-03-07
MARYLAND And
PROHIBITION
Baltimore's Demand For
Separate Vote May Be
Granted
CITY WILL GO TO LIMIT
Business of Legislature About to be
Tied Up, Causes Some Legislators
to Relent
E4.-41

Annapolis, March T. Two facts
stood out last night in connection
with the prohibition fight in the Leg,
/ islature. One is belief among we'll
informed men that the fight will end
within very few days-possibly
will end today-the other is a spread,
| ing opinion that Baltimore city will
be given separate vote.
It can be stated positively that
some Of the strong men in the Legls-
| lature who arc identified with the
| Temperance forces have made up their
minds that the tremendously import
ant work yet to be done by the Leg,
islature shall not be jeopardized by
an indefinite continuance Of the fight
over the Prohibition bill.
Consequently the more clear-head-
| ed men in the cmperance forces are
determined to bring the fight to a
close.
! In a measure, the disposition to
end the fight is responsible for the
opinion that the city will be given
separate vote. The only way the
fight can be ended now is by granting
a separate vote. The city people.
especially in the Senate, where de-
bate connot be shut off by moving and
carrying the previous question, are set
&, 4ic.!.t.rtn5il & he hiitdr erd against
State wide vote, be the consequence
cs what they may.
They feel that law by which Cal
vert and Garrett and Somerset ard
the other counties of the State could
force prohibition upon Baltimore
city not only is a menace to the fir.
ancial welfare Of the city, but is an
indefensihle invasion of the right Of
the city, such as the city never has
dreamed Of attempting against the
counties. And they feel that they
would ne justified by their constitu-
ents in going TO extreme lengths. by
flibustcr and otherwise. to protec!
the city. 1t might well be. i the
Statewide bill were insisted upon by
the prohibition leaders, that the city
men would stand out until the Legis.
laturc adjourlisd by constitutional
limitation.
In situation of this sort the pro
hibition leaders are confronted with
the question whether they had not
better give ground, even though hey
may have mapority in each branch
for Statewide bill. They would be
as embrassed as no one else if in
insisting upon forcing their own views
without change they made the seq
sion Of the Legislature failure. And
of course. the question becomes acute
when they face the danger that the
ADLER and more clear-headed Of their
supporters are disposed to break away
from their bill rather than be pal-
ties to such course.
Then the rcasonablencss of the
city's demand that it be given a ser
aratc vote is growing upon the dry
men from the counties. Although the
Baltimore city delegation has bee2
wet either wholly or by large ma
jorites for years, ii never has de-
MED Il county the right to vote upon
the liquor question when dry dele
CATION has been sent to Annapolis
and has asked for local option. In re-
turn the city has asked that it not
be required to vote locally until it
sent "dry" delegation here and
asked for vote. That was denied the
city. Next the city as::ed that, at
least. it be allowed to vote as unit.
that it not be exposed to danger that
the people of the counties would vote
it dry" in the face of a "wet" ma
jority in the city.
Fair-minded county men are find
ing it hard to give a reason for deny
ing the latter request.
Annapolis, Nd, March :. = The
Maryland State and District Of Col
umbia Federation of Labor at its
opening session here yesterday ad-
opted resolution putting itself on
record as opposed 10 the Statewide
Prohibition bill, now before the Leg
islature.