The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1912-1984, 1916-03-14
WHISKY RIDES
ROUGH SHOD
Over Temperance Members of House
Speaker Duffy's Henchman
Draws Gun on Harvey.


ness engendered by the liquor ques-
ton reached its climax in the House
of Representatives Monday afternoon
when the "dry" members, Infatuated
by the arbitrary rulings of Acting
Speaker Harry ]. Meyers, and the
methods used to enforce them, burst
forth in turbulent and unanimous re-
bellion, demanding the expulsion
from the floor of seven so-called as
sistants to the Sergeant-at-Arms, APP
pointed Saturday by Speaker H. C.
Duffy.
Scenes of turbulence were neacted
which completely eclipsed all for
mer disorder seen during this session.
and which are declared to be without
parallel in the history of the Ken
lucky Legislature.
Executive Marshal B. Williams.
one of the seven so-called assistant
Sergeants-at-Arms" drew a huge re-
volver on Representative w. B. Har-
vey, of Webster county, who had re-
fused to recognize his authority, but
was instantly seized. Rumors are
current that other guns were flashing
in the chamber, but they can not be
substantiated.
The galleries, crowded to their ut
most capacity. were in an uproar,
cheering the "dry" leaders at the top
of their lungs and kissing Acting
Speaker Meyers and the so-called as
SiStants to the Sergeant-at-Arms.
Tho 4,,ra,,1% Of oh ~
half an hour, subsidized slowly after
Meyers had consented to grant recog-
milton to a representative of the
|tdrys."
The storm was the outgrowth of
the refusal of the Rules Committee
TO bring out Senator Taylor's anti
shipment bill, which limits the
amount of liquor and beer that can
be shipped into dry territory. The
"drys," possessing a large majority
desired to make a motion to suspend
the rules and bring up this bill any
way. The czar-like methods employ
ed to prevent their making such a
motion led to the outbreak.
After gaining recognition by the
rebellion outlined, Representative
Grove moved that the Taylor bill be
taken from the orders of the day and
placed upon its passage. The motion
carried by vote of So to SO, but
Meyers ruled that a two-thirds vote
would be necessary. From this deci-
sion Representative Greene and Har-
vey appealed, but the chair was sus-
tanned by vote of 4S to A. Some of
the "dry" members. seemingly, did
not understand the proposition.
The riot Monday afternoon was the
climax of a day-long battle. The
first skirmish was fought at the open
ing of the afternoon session when
Representative Greene, of Carroll
county, was recognized on a point of
personal privilege.
Mr.. Greene, as member of the
Rules Committee, desired to disclaim
any responsibility for the refusal of
that committee to bring out the an
ti-shipment bill After making this
disclaimer. he began to make an at
tack on the Rules Committee.
Speaker Duffy, who was in the
chair at this time, ruled that Greene's
first disclaimer was sufficient to show
his position and that any further re-
marks from him would be out of or
der. Greene attempted to proceed,
but the Speaker ordered him to take
his seat.
Greene continued Notwithstanding
this Injunction. He declared that the
Rules Committee, appointed by the
Speaker, was packed against "dry"
legislation, and that it was the pur-
pose of that committee to kill the
shipment bill.
Representative Meyers sprang to
his feet to defend the Rules Commit
tee, denying that it was packed"
There was a heated altercaJIon be-
the former shook his fist at the lat
ter.
Mr.. Greene, who had remained
standing, moved that the bill be TAX
en- from its regular order and placed
on its passage Speaker Duffy held
the motion to be out of order on the
ground that he had recognized
Greene for different purpose.
Representative Hutchcraft, on a
point of personal privilege, declared
that the bill had never been brought
before the Rules Committee. He
charged Greene with simply desiring
to create a disturbance.
THAT'S untrue and you know it's
untrue" shouted Greene. Hutch
craft ignored the remark.
Representative Grove was recog-
nized, also on a point of personal
privilege. He moved that the bill be
taken from the orders of the day and
placed on its passage. This motion,
like that of Greene, was declared out
of order by Speaker Duffy.
At this juncture, Greene notified
the Speaker that he would appeal
from the chair. Several members of
both factions consulted with each
other and the appeal was not taken.
1t was announced that the Speaker
had agreed to recognize representa-
tive of the Drys later, who would
make the motion. Representative
Grove was to be the dry spokesman.
The matter was dropped, therefore
for some time. Several bills and res
olutions were passed. In the mean
time Mr.. Grove had made repeated
attempts to gain recognition but My
ers, who had been called to the chair,
refused to recognize him. Finally
Green again demanded to be heard
on a point of personal privilege. He
began an attack on the Speaker for
his refusal to recognize Dry men,
hers Acting Sneaker Movers de-