Evening journal., 1916-03-03
VETS Increase HOPE
As FIGHT IS WACED
New Amendment to Pro-
hibition Bill Offered TO
Prevent Baltimore
Going Dry
HOT TALK IN
BOTH THE HOUSES

ANNAPOLIS. Md. March S.-The
battle over the Prohibition bill was
waged furiously in both Houses last
night. The Baltimore city members
fought desperately to have the meas
uer amended to make 1t Statewide
local option, and the "wets' are more
hopeful. Strong, unseen forces were
at work against the bill. In the House
Delegate Lee, of Baltimore. withdrew
his amendment giving the city a sep
ate vote to permit Delegate Mcintosh,
of Baltimore county, to submit an
amendment for local option He eX-
plained that it was a compulsory
local option measure. which would
give the wet counties and Balti-
more city the right to vote as a unit
Tor local prohibition.
He read a letter from Attorney Gen
eral Ritchie giving an opinion that
The amendment would not destroy the
cOnstitutiOnality OF the regular bill,
but simply change it from a state
wide to a local option measure, af-
fccting only the wet spots in the
State Such measure. Delegate Nc
lntosh contended. offered the only
fair plan under which Baltimore city
should be asked TO act on prohibition
II had been suggested to- him, he
said. to introduce the optional bill
defeated two years ago by the House
but he was sure the present House
would not stand for such a measure
His amendment. he said made the
bill stronger than that of the last ses-
sion. but faircr in its provisions. Mi
nority Leader Metzerott insisted in
the original bill. declaring the local
option substitute was not what the
people wanted.
The House at II o'clock postponed
carly consideration OF the bill unit
next Tuesday. which the "wets" con-
slider good sign for Baltimore
The Senate adjourned without a vote
on the subject.
Delegate Tydings, OF Havre dc
Grace, a temperance man who has
kept salOonkeepers on the jump in
his county with high license laws and
The like, made a strong argument fOl
stice for Baltimore
want prohibition as much as any
dry man in this House." he said
but / have no rope around my neck
rnd ! am tied neither to the Anti-Sa.
loon League nor the so-called liquor
reople. and ] refuse to take prOhibi
tion at tho expense Of Justice n my
reOplc want a dry law for Hartford
county. I feel that I have the righ
70 demand that law OF you. And
think tho Baltimore city delegates
have the same right Not q MAJ
among them was elected with an,
other promise than to vote wet
In the Senate, Senator Norris spok
on bis amendment to permit Balti
more city to vote independently OF
prohibition. The counties on thi
Eastern Shore and in other parts o
the State which are now dry" ha,
been accorded the right to settle thi
question for themselves. he said. an,
il there was any virtue in local op
ton, Baltimore city should he per
mitted to be benefited by IT, III
detailed the heavy losses in revenu
sure to result should the city go dry
and appealed to the Senaors from tn,
counties to stand by Baltimore il
this fight as the city had yielded Il
the counties when they asked 70
local option. II the city were mad
dry, he said, it would be unde
greater expense in preserving tn
law, and the police would be KEEP
busy hunting "boot-leggersy and vic
latOrs of the law