Evening journal., 1917-01-17
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY II, 1917.
DIsrRIcr OF COLUMBIA AND HOME RULE.

BfNIRifI OF COLUMBIA ANb HUME htLt.
sxyHEN the sheppard bill providing prohibition for
w the District OF Columbia up for consideration
the United States Senate several days ago. Colonel
Henry A. DUPONT senior Senator from Delaware spoke
and voted TOR amendment which provided that the
people OF the district should decide by referendum vote
whether tho District should remain "wet" go dry"
In the course Of the spirited debate the amendment
Senator dupont said;
Nr. President, ! am in favor Of the amendment OF
iered By the Senator from Alabama for the
which hn,e been given by the senator from Pennsyl-
ania (Mr. oliver and the senator from Georgia (ir.
HardwiclO. which wholly agree. and which under
the circumstances do not think IL is necessary to
peat. II hnt amendment prevails. shall gladly vote
Tor the bin. II II does not prevail shall be compelled
vote against the bi not because do not wholly ap-
prove and earnestly in favor OF the OF tenn
perance. but because ! am unwilling to impose upon
the people OF the District Of Columbia conditions which
10 not obtain In my State
That the attitude Of Senator dupont may be fully
understood deem wise to set forth the utterances
Of Senator oliver, Of Pennsylvania and Senator Hard
wick Of Georgia in support OF the referendum amond-
ment Senator oliver said;
Mr.. President for many years have been a strong
and consistent advocate OF allowing the various loca
ties IN my own state to decide each one for itself.
whether or not the sale OF intoxicating liquors should
be licensed in their midst and see no reason why
should wish TO allow that privilege TO the people OF
Pennsylvania and withhold Il from the people who
side in the Nations Capital
The liquor question is which comes home TO
every citizen and think it is that should be de-
cded by the citizens OF the locality. For that reason
expect 20 vote for the amendment submitted bv the
Senator from Alabama n that amendment IS rejected
as hope it will not be. expect to measure
a II has already passed in the Committee of the Whole
bama will prevail.
Senator Hardwick voiced his advocacy OF the amend
in these words:
Mr. President favor this and an other questions
fNr rrHrH.. nt.F-
Is OF the fundamentals Of glish liberty and there
Is no particular legislation any question. in my
opinion. OF enough Importance to authorize its sacr-
nee AT tne hands Of the parliamentary body OF Eng
's1-speaking people
am perfectly wing-yea. anxious-that the will
~ every Commonwealth In this Union on the liquor
question shall be carried into legal effect and II is my
purpose 10 do all In my power. FAR the Federal
Government has TO do with that question to accomplish
that result in every State and community IN the land
But like the Senator from Pennsylvania do not see
vhy ths principle does not apply TO the District
~ Columbia well 20 every State or Territory Of
he Union on a question OF this character
Senators may argue that under existing law and
under law that has been IN effect for than thirty
years. question has been submitted the District
u Columbia True; but the answer Is that for the
1rst eighty OF this government when the fathers
who wrote the Constitution who framed the very pro
vision TO which Senator's fond OF referring were
in life and in control the affairs OF this GOV
ernment tney thought i proper to commit 20 local au
thorities in the District OF Columbia the control Of H
local aud police questions
,Ir. President such referendum IS proposed her,
would be persuasive only upon Congress. The Senator
from MICHIGAN insisted that such referendum woul,
not be binding a subsequent Congress No: nor h
any other law pass any subject whatever bndinj
1n q future Congress.
There Is other powerful practical rea
why such questions ought to be submitted to tn
r Oh tho electorate OF each Commonwealth or OF eacl
immunity 20 be affected by laws Of this character
'eoanse unless the men IN the jury box prepare,
II sustain and enforce those laws IL is useless An,
ro.se tnan useless 70 enact them During all ia,
or this District the criminal and civil laws q
He blsllct OF Columbia have been enforced NV furie
~ nls bstric inhabitants here who sit in the oorr
rooms ana mete out justice according IN tl,e- io,s =
20 enr 'uence submit to this body that n ,Voui,
- u9eiess yea, more than useess-io mass 1avr n,
guesuoh IKE this unless the men whose nsr,es az
~ nose Jury boxes IN this District are nrenared - sr
49, @ slem mere mas always been local law enforce
Iheht mere hence the necessity for lxroU,, -
laws OF character be enforced or NOT h ~ ~l.
them. vi no'' uetore w
Despite these and other earnest Meas Tor ,o,, -,
government for the people OF the District ~ ~,,,
the referendum amendment to the shepnars nroh,,'
tion bill was defeated by vote OF AZ to az sono.
dupont and Salisbury Of this State both voted ~, :,
amendment Subsequently. when the final vote w.
taken on the Sheppard bill. the two Delaware senate
voted in opposition to the the object Of vybi
was to force prohibition the people OF the Dstri
in the face OF petition signed by $1,000 residents
the District. who asked for recognition Of the bor
rule principle through a specific provision for a refe
endum vote BY vote OF 55 to 80 that principle w
thrown into the discard by the Senate
That German raider has played havoc with Qua