The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-03-07

sssr 1A0B. AZ, l<iHuEay O0FuoDs VINO
\ represents the dry county OF Louisa
IN The House Of Delegates says he is
sEINd he made the error" of voting
\ ngMfnst the Mapp prohibition bill. and
that he IS SO recorded in the Journal
"a the House At the same time lie
I eiasns that The Richmond virginian.
Hi its headlines indicating that he
failed in the attempt to change his
vote after having voted against tho
Mapp bill did him injustice because
III omitted the circumstances explain
3ng this vote We are under the i'm
pressscn that The Virginian did ex-
Main the circumstances quite fully and
I fairly In its report on the debate in
the House upon this measure and we
submit that the statement read TO
THE House on yesterday by Mr.. Cor
dcn falls far short Of improving his
/ pcsssion in the eyes of the people of
Nc. district and of The state. We
print the statement of MIR. Gordon IN
z1nll M u matter of courtesy and not
because OF any conviction of having
$xa<,ne the gentleman from Louisa any
Injustice Whatever injustice has
been done, he must himself take tire
Responsibility for
Mr.. Gordon represents dry dis
tract Iii the House. He has been sup
roeed to be dry man. and in the
hearing before the House Committee
III Moral and Social Welfare ne OK
pressed the hope that certain meas
ayrcs which he advocated would be
adopted and declared that 1t was his
purpose 10 vote for the Mapp bill. In
tire discussion of this measure on the
deor of the House he took 4 con-
xpscuous part, advocated various
amendments which those supporting
the bin felt would be most injurious
10 the measure. and then surprised
sthe House by casting his vote against
the bill only four other members
xpfed with him. and Mr.. i4eedy would
haze voted the same way had he not
been paired with a dry man who was
:ss,seni. All of these men who voted
as MIR. Gordon did were known ms
optonenIs Il, INC prohibition bill.
AIR Gordon, although voting on the
lossng side, sought TO have the House
RECONSIDER the vote by which the bill
vas passed and stated as his reason
that he had certain amendments
which he hoped the House might
adopt. which. in his judgment, would
make the bill more efficient and
satisfactory piece OF legislation. The
House refused TO reconsider, and
then Mr. Gordon made the very un-
usual request that he be permitted to
change his vote and that he be re-
corded az voting for the bill. OBJ
faction was promptly raised to this
prcceedure and the Speaker ruled cor
rectiy. but with reluctance. that tho
record having been made he could
not allow it 10 be changed and that
the vote Of the gentleman from Louisa
.Ouisj have 20 stand Oh the record
AfsAfNsT THE BILL.
Mr.. Gordon's statement on the
Aoor or the House. made as a matter
III personal explanation and based
unon what ne claimed an unintention-
i'll injustice on the part of The Viz
xfniau is an explanation that does not
expiaan lie says that IN the excite
mani the moment he voted mo
tRt1 9asf~ phi PCSF NJ 'ft'~ a. '~'f'-H
satderation in order that ne might nave
NE matter continued until Monday
SD confer with Senator Mapp in the
kspe 81 getting some slight modifica-
tfOns IN the Anal provisions Of the
iii. Ii was after this motion TO re-
consider had been lost that Mr.. Cor
xon asked 10 change his vote and be
x&corded In favor of the bill He now
xfeclares that he did not state when
4 A1king that his amendments might
10 considered whether he would vote
Z IN or against the blu. We have no
fSubt that Mr.. Gordon Is honest in
q Syfng that he did not make this
elaration. but he had so much 10
~ and 80 many things to say at so
so. FsftJ