The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-12-15
ACTION A SURPRISE
TO ITS ADVOCATES:
Who Did Not Expect Action
SoSoon- -ToBe Dominant
Issue in Congress.

WASHINGTON, Dec. IA. - Nation.
wide prohibition took long stride
toward congressional consideration To-
day when the house Judiciary com.
mittee unexpectedly voted to recon-
mend adoption Of the resolution to5
submit a constitutional amendment
forbidding the manufacture and sale
liuuor for beverage purposes IN the
United States. Even the most enthu-
siastic champions of the amendment
had not expected favorable action SO
soon from the committee, which at the
last session voted to postpone Its con.
sideration indefinitely.
How far the resolution will progress
through the various legislative stages
of congress at this session Is probl5m.:
atical but administration leaders donot
that it will reach the senate In time,
for action at this session. Proh1bt
tion advocates are jubilant over tho
action of the committee, however. and
predict ultimate adoption OF the reSo-
luton and reference OF the amend
ment to the legislatures Of the various
states at a much earlier date tim
they heretofore had hoped for. A.
two-thirds majority In both houses 10
required.
Sheppard Bill In Senate.
Coincident with the committees
action on the amendment, the prom.
bition issue was brought directly to
the attention of the senate when tho
Sheppard bill to. prohibit the manutsct
ture and sale of liquor in the District
of Columbia became the unfinished
business to be kept before the senate.
until disposed Of As an amendment
to this bill Senator Underwood has
proposed a referendum to the male
voters Of the district. Senator Kern
of Indiana has added q proposal that
women also should participate In the;
referendum.
Sentiment in the senate for and;
against the referendum appears to b.
closely divided, with vote on tbs
subject expected within day or two.
Discussion of the Sheppard bill af:S
forded opportunity for comment on
the proposed amendment several sem
ators, among them Sheppard, Varda.s
the cause Of nationwide prohibition In
the near future.
Hardly anyone doubted tonight that!
prohibition will be dominant legis.s
lative issue before the new sfxty-hfth
congress if the constitutional amend.
ment does not reach vote this win:
ter. In the house before the amend
ment can be taken up for considers
1ion a special rule must be adopted
giving it right of way. Represents
tive Webb, chairman Of the judiciary.
committee, will ask for. such rule
early in January and endeavorI IN,
press the resolution to- an early
Seven Members Opposed.
Seven members Of the judiciaJ
committee voted against reporting the
prohibition amendment. They were
Gard of Ohio, Derr of Missouri, Igo Of
Missouri, Graham and Steele Of Penn.
sylvania, Walsh of Massachusetts,, and
Danforth of New York. =
Representative Eliza Williams OF II.
linois and Carlin of Virginia who were
opposed to the resolution at the last
session, voted this time to recommend
its adoption.
President Wilson was urged late
today by the Rev. Clarence T. Wilson;
representing the Methodist conference
board, to use his influence with con.
gress to prohibit the use Of the mails
for the sending Of liquor advertise
ments by unlicensed liquor dealers.
An effort is being made to have such
provision included in the current
postoffice bill.