The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1917-08-17
Splendid Addresses Against Liquor Traffic Are Made by
Senators in Debate on National Amendment
SENATOR SHERMANS STRONG APPEAL
Reasons For Soones Nation Were pressvey Presented Before
Vote Was Taken
VETS PRODUCE NO new ARGUMENTS

her own flesh and blood typifed
i'll her son be shielded from the
insidious but more deadly perils
of drunkenness and its kindred
evils. y. Her hand wrought
for him his tiny garments before
he was born. She bent above his
cradle on winter nights and
tucked him in to keep him safe
until the dawn. She watched over
him as he grew to understanding
and now putting off the garments
OF peace and wearing a soldiers
garb, he has passed beyond her
hand and eye. She has made the
supreme sacrifice that mothers
have always offered since man has
scourged the earth with his end
less wars. For all this she utters
none but words of loyalty and
hope. From the deadly vices thai
stain the soul and corrupt the
body she asks this government to
protect her son. Are the
rights of.spTope1ey 81. sssie.,. .oz.h- 6,
dumb, inarticulate woe OF ma
tons motherhood on the eve of
its Gethsemane?
Fighting for Democracy
Senator Johnson explained that in
submitting the proposed amendment
to the states the Senate would be act
ing in accordance with the principles
of popular government. He said:
To-day in presenting and
proposing constitutional amendment
we are but following our conception
of the fundamental principle of popu-
lar rule-popular rule, which has
been with us not mere empty
phrase, but which has been a basic
governmental idea written in our
state into our constitution. We are,
Mr.. President, but following this idea
and this principle of popular rule in
enabling the people of the nation,
when a considerable number ask that
privilege, to pass upon an important
matter of national legislation" :.
Senator Jones, one of the most
earnest and eloquent advocates of
national Prohibition in the Senate.
also expressed the idea that the peo-
pie should be given a chance to settle
this question.
In this connection he said.
II may be wrong, but, as I see it,
the real issue before the Senate now
is whether we as representatives of
the people will give them a chance
to express themselves upon a great
question in which they are vitally in
terested and upon which they alone
can act. In other words, Mr. Presi-
dent, the real question presented to
the Senate upon this joint resolution
is, Shall the people ruler
Senator Jones also exposed the
methods used to protect liquor in the
name of labor.
Long petitions alleged to be signed
by laboring men and alleged to rep-
resent the views of members of labor
organizations are presented to the
Senate protesting against Prohibit
tion," said the Senator A few days
ago two-page advertisement ap-
peared in the Washington Times, al
legged to represent over 100000
workingmen, protesting to the Presi-
dent and Congress against the pro-
posed prohibition of beer. This adj
vertisement was published without
any signature to vouch for its truth,
and, while purporting to speak for the
workingmen, il certainly was not paid
for by the workingmen. Who paid
for its printing? Who had it inserted
in the paper as an advertisement? Not
labor but the liquor interests. 1t is
interesting also to note that the num-
Der of labor unions alleged to be rep
resented on this petition is only AS,
out of total of $4,000 in the United
States. and yet it is claimed to repre-
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