Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-12-18
Vote Late Today Will De-
eide Fate of National Pro-
hibition Measure, Already
Passed by Senate; Debate
Is Spirited.
VETS HAVE GAINED
IN PAST FEW WEEKS

washington, ~. W., Lee. I.-Ine
house vote on the federal prohibition
amendment resolution set for 5
o'clock today, holds the center Of in
terest over war issues in congress.
Prohibition leaders are confident OF
the two-thirds majority necessary for
adoption.
AS presented to the house, the reso-
luton requires ratification by three
fourths of the states within seven
years. while the draft approved by
the senate last August hxes time
limit of six years for state action.
VETS SHOW RECENT GAIN.
Both sides held consultations lining
up their forces preliminary to the
convening OF the house. Prohibition.
lists conceded that the opposition had
gained some strength In the last few
days but expressed confidence in the
adoption of the resolution by mar.
row but safe margin. Representative
Randall of California predicted twenty
more votes than were necessary.
Opponents Of the resolution gave no
hsures but declared their belief the
resolution would not be adopted.
CROWD HEARS DEBATE.
Only about half the membership was
on the floor at tho rony sning t'rne.
hIf the eailertes were jsnrned. Nh rrs.
gtas a good deal OF sparr;ng orar con
troll OF the tina.for debate, which was
arranged hv eaual division.
Both vets and drys predicted VIC
tory at II a. M, wh-n the horse
launched into six hou~s' dehate. Con-
g-essnen emerged frona under VERT
table waves Of te'eererrs from back
horne" when they came into the house
chamber,
The debate was begun, arid -ound
of applause from the democratic side,
bv Chairman Webb of the judiciary
committee
Representative Gard ot Ohio lead
ing tia onrosit'on, declared the amend
r,ent p~orosed an invasion of the DO
lice power Of the states and threatens
the unanir7itv Of the American people
In winning the war. The great body
of Americans. he continued, want to
leave the whole matter just as 1t Is
now.
MANY JOIN ARGUMENT.
Representative Cooper OF Ohio,
speaking for the amendment, told
the house:
"You look into hat band or coat
to see if 1t bears the union label, but
you can look in vain into whisky bot
tie for union label"
Representative Dyer of Missouri, op-
posing the amendment. declared the
issue nothing more nor less than
whether congress shall stand by Din
wiidie and the Ant.saloon league, who
think more of this issue Of the wet and
dry than they do Of the issue OF
whether Germany or America shall
the great war"
PREDICT DRY VICTORY.
As the debate ran on, Representa-
tive Barkley of eKntucky, one of the
prohibition leaders, claimed that 4
complete canvass of the state delega-
tions indicated adoption of the reso-
luton by margin of Is votes over
the necessary two thirds.
At 3 o'clock Representative Webb
in charge of the prohibition fight pre-
dicted adoption of the amendment BY
from ten to twenty-five more than the
necessary votes. Representative Dyer
of Missouri, one of the. leaders against
it. claimed the prohibitionists would
lose by eight or ten votes.
BRYAN HEARS DEBATE.
William J. Bryan spent part of the
day in the house. Dozens of members
made short speeches, going over
familiar ground on which champions
of both sides have fought their battles
in the halls Of congress for many
years. The only new argument intro
duced was the war measure.