The Washington times., 1916-02-08
Retail Merchants Petition Con-
gress For Right to Vote on
the Question.
"SHEPPARD BILL UNFAIR"
Lively Debate Precipitated.
Measure Termed Inva.. m
Of Private Rights.

The Retail Merchants Association
will rlace In the hands Of every Con-
crossrpan and Senator n resolution re-
nuestiuc that before the provisions or
the Sheppard bill, providing absolute
prohibition for the District. are enact
cd into law the measure shall be sun
,nitted to- the residents for a refcren-
DUN.
At a special meeting last night at the
New Willard Hotel called expressly to
consider the Sheppard bill, the assoca-
tion by an almost unanimous vote
adorted the following resolution:
"Resolved. That the Retail Merchants
Association. assembled in special ses-
sion, hereby petitions the Congress of
the United States to consider the FOL
lowing:
we submit that it is unfair and in
equitable for the Congress OF the
United States to attempt to pass law
affecting prohibition or other fun
damentals Of the body polite Of this
community without first giving the
citizens of the District of Columbia
the right-which should be the priv
ilege Of every American citizen-to
vote by referendum or other legal and
desire a change in this or other laws
Of such vital interest to the citizens
hereof; and be it further
Resolved, That the secretary of
this association Is hereby directed to
formally present this resolution TO
the presiding officers of the Senate
and House of Representatives for
transmission to those bodies and pro-
vide each and every member of Con-
Eress with a copy of the same"
After Lively Debate.
This action. however. came only
after a lively debate at the conclusion
Of which the resolution, as originally
introduced by NJ. A. Leese. had been
materially amended at the instance
OF George Topham.
In Its original form the resolution no
only requested the referendum, bu
suggested that, if Congress did not Sc
ft to grant such a referendum. it shoul'
at least refrain from enacting pro
hibition legislation for the District un
Ill 1t shall have seen At to make pro
hibition national in scope. Referenc
was also made to the effect which pro
hbition would have upon the busines
interests OF the city.
Mr.. Topham contended that such
resolution would place the associatio
on record as opposing prohibition, an
bring severe criticism upon the OF
ganiZation.
Having carried his point with regar,
to the scope Of the resolution. Mr.. Top
ham endeaVOred to inject the subject o
equal suffrage into the meeting. II
offered resolution providing tina
should the referendum be allowed b.
tnnprGQa n n
age and over should have the sam
franchise rights as men.
4nr. Leese promptly moved an ad
]ournment. which motion prevailed.
Invasion of Rights.
NJ. D. Rosenberg. general counsel 70
the association. denounced the Shep
psrd bill as an invasion of the persona
rights OF the residents of the District
The enactment OF the law, he added
would result in at least a 80 per Ger
depreciation In property values. Thcl
Is no city in this country. Mr. Roser
berg continued. where there is so littl
drunkenness. He also praised the Ex
c!se BOARD.
A. Wade Wells, announcing that n,
would support prohibition. characterize,
the Shepard bill as unfair in that it Iii,
not submit the question to a yo:n n
the residents of the District.
Letters from Andrew Wilson, nrcsi
dent of the Anti Saloon League, and th
Pastors Federation asked that actio,
with regard to referendum, or tn
opposition to prohibition be deferrr,
until those bodies might present argu
ments. President r. p. Andrews an
nounced the receipt of a similar lette
from the Women's Christian Temper
ance Union. and added that he had re
ceived more than 100 other letters rela
tive to the referendum. some favorin
and some opposing.