Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-08-01
SENATE VOTES TO-DAY
ON DRY AMENDMENT
Last Nights Prohibition Poll Shows
62 Ayes, "a Noes, With Seven
Members Absent.
BELIEVE VICTORY IS WON
First Ballot Will Be Taken This AZ
ternoon After Ten-Mlnute Speeches
Have Been Concluded-Spice In
jected by Kansas Senator.
BELIEVE VICTORY IS WON

! WASHINGTON. July 31.-The Senate
to-day practically wound up the dis
cussion of nationwide prohibition.
Tomorrow the upper branch will vote
on the amendment to make the nation
| dry.
! Practically all the Senator'S have
! made up their minds how they will
vote. The poll tonight by the "drys"
made this estimate:
| Aye. 60; no. %; absent. Z. Total SEN
ate vote, o.
or the absentees. four are said to be
for the amendment, one against 1t and
| two doubtful,
! Voting begins to- morrow afternoon
after -ten-minute speeches have con-
tinued all day. The Senate must vote
by two-thirds majority In favor of the
| amendment II the States are to have
the chance of considering it.
| Five Senators spoke to-day. AS ex-
pected. Senator Harding offered an
| agreed upon amendment providing that
the Sheppard amendment be inopera-
| tive. unless. by July I, 1929. three
quarters Of the States shall have rati-
| fled II. Senator Stone will offer an
| amendment tomorrow that breweries
| and distilleries be compensated for
ment prevails.
| OPPOSITION VOICED
BY SENATOR LODGE
Opposition was voiced to the amend
ment by Senator Lodge. who said:
Personally. believe every human
being would be better off IL he never
touched alcohol. But 1 cannot blind
myself to the facts.
II do not think the people are
yet prepared to accept with hearty
sympathy this extreme legislation. You
will destroy control of the liquor traf-
tic now exercised by the States. You
Will attempt the impossible task Of
compelling largo numbers Of unwil-
ling people to abandon a habit which
| they, however mistaken, entirely be-
lieve harmless and innocent. You will
have a law incapa BILE of enforcement
Enforcement will require 100000
men. You will have to search thous-
ands of houses. Men who now drink
beer or wine will turn to distilled
liquor. You cannot hope to prevent
smuggling liquor across our long from
tiers and immense coasts. huge ILL.,
cit trade would spring up.
II think, too. it is dangerous to take
away the police powers of the States.
Congress must be careful In encroach-
ing on States rights"
Senator Jones. OF Washington.
strong dry" introduced a political
note. by saying:
Prohibition has not been a party
question. but 1t will be, II Congress
does not give the people a chance to
vote on It, Unless you dispose of this
matter you will have 1t at the next po-
ltical conventions. The Republican
party must declare for 1t. in order to
win. Northern prohibition States cast
121 electoral votes. and OF these 100
are from normal Republican States
The Republican party must declare for
prohibition II it wants to hold the
woman vote in the West. And IL II
| cratic party must do the same"
SPICE Is INJECTED
BY KANSAS SENATOR
Spice was injected into the debate
by Senator Thompson. of Kansas. when
he asserted:
Congressman Jacob E. Nleeker,
sometimes sattrically alluded to as the
preacher Congressman but who has
fallen from grace. abused his special
privilege by inserting in the record a
statement by the breweries that was
bought and paid for.
The statement. which wantonly
abused and maliciously slandered the
people Of Kansas. was prepared by Paul
S. Conwell, an attorney OF Kansas City.
Mo. For this article which Mr. Meeker
clandestinely introduced, Conwell said
he was to have received 100 from the
breweries. but he only got $3.50"
Thompson was interrupted by Sena-
tor Overman. who protested as a mem
ber OF the Rules Committee against
tho attack on Meeker. Later the KAN
sas Senator withdrew his remarks.