The Washington herald., 1916-12-16

for a vote Monday. He sought unanimous
consent
Senator Jones, OF Washington, a friend
of the bill, objected. Mr.. Jones said the
Smoot bill and the amendments should
be printed. He intimated he wanted to
throw a little light on the referendum
proposed by Senator Underwood.
And SO the course Of the Sheppard bill
grew rougher every minute, because II
Senator Jones espouses the referendum
feature, and the initiative, referendum
and recall are indigenous to that part of
the republic in which he lives, he and
his colleagues may have some observa-
tions to make which will incline many
Senators to hold fast to the referendum
idea
If they do that. the Sheppard bill is in
a peculiar position. Already it has
woman suffrage hitched to 1t, due to the
kindness Of the majority leader, Senator
Kern, Of Indiana.
It Is well known to the Senators that
many residents of the District desire
that the liquor question be referred to
them for settlement They resent the at
tituds assumed by Congress that they
can be legislated into being good by 500
temporary sojourners.
Moreover, they point out that the refer
endum Is good Democratic doctrine and
that the Sixty-fourth Is a Democratic
Congress. They refer to President Will
sons position on woman suffrage, in
which, though he believes in it, he con-
tends the States have the right to settle
internal affairs as they see 1T
White House Says Nothing.
The proreferendum folks say Mr.. Will
son might assume that position on the
prohibition bill, II II comes to him with
out the referendum, but the White House
has not uttered peep as to what 1t
thinks.
One Of the newest champions of the ref
erendum is a new Senator. James e.
Watson. Of Indiana. He believes the peo-
pie have a right to vote and as he was
supported by the dry element In In
diana he may find It necessary to vote
for the Sheppard BILL
The referendum is a bitter pill for the
Dry District" crowd to swallow. II
was suggested yesterday that if the ref
erendum idea continues to grow 4 may
be necessary for the unalloyed prohibi-
tionists in the Senate to vote against it.
This would be delicate and hard to ex-
plain to the voters in the States where
state wide prohibition is law.
But the reverse of the proposition is
alarming.
What would the country do with Mr..
Bryan's prohibition issue II it received q
defeat in the Capital City Of the nation ?'
is asked.
Might Sink own Ship.
Indeed this question looms so large that
it was limited yesterday that If the refer
endum forces continue to grow and null
tiply to the point where they can sway
the vote, the real prohibitionists may
turn In and defeat their own bill
It is argued that rather a dead Shep-
pard bill than a wet District dampened
by an avalanche of pro-liquor first voters
Some of the "Prohis'' assumed, how
ever, that If the women Of the District
are permitted to vote, the ''drys' can
win. More astute politicians looked over
the election returns and opined that
women and men seem to think along the
same lines in about the same proportion.
But meanwhile the war continues and
Immediately after the morning hour to-
day Mr.. Sheppard will call up his bill and
another round against the demon rum
will be fought.
Representative C. H. Randall. of Cali
fornia, made a pass at him yesterday by
introducing a bill barring all newspapers
magazines and other publications con-
tanning booze advertising from the
United States mails