Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-12-18
GERMANS SINK ELEVEN SHIPS IN NORTH EA
PROHIBITION DEBATE
WAKES WARM IN HOUSE
Agreement Reached for Vote
Late Monday-GomperS
Is Storm Center

WASHINGTON. Dee. with the
air tense, the house of representatives
shortly after IL O'Clock started de-
bate on the national prohibition amend
ment approved by the senate.
Final vote scheduled for p. m. was
confidently awaited by the anti-saloon
forces. II was regarded by both sides
as the preliminary to the bigger fight
in the forty-eight state legislatures, APP
prevail OF thirty-siX being necessary
to make this a dry nation.
Bitterness over organized labor's OPP
position to the amendment developed in
the opening speech for the "drys" by
Representative Webb. chairman OF the
house judiciary committee and co-au-
thor of the resolution.
Samuel Gompers never has and does
not represent organized labor on this
question The great body of American
labor realizes well the great benefit to
them of this amendment" said Webb.
The attack on Gompers was taken
up by Cooper. Ohio. at is a blood
faced lie," he shouted, ito say labor in
this country is opposed to prohibition.
Youngstown, Akron and Columbus, Ia
Dor centers in my state, voted dry at
the recent election. The state went wet
because of the ability of some prospec-
tors in Hamilton county to find things,
and at the last moment they found 1000
wet votes. Leave out Cincinnati and
Hamilton county. the wettest section of
the United States. and Ohio and the
labor centers in il were overwhelmingly
dry"
Gard, Ohio, opening for the opposi-
ton. sounded the keynote of the vets.
States rights and war harmony would
be injured by raising the national pro-
hibition issue in the various states at
this time. said Gard.
States Rights Issue
Representative Chandler, New York,
declared the amendment is the only one
ever prepared which attempted to dele
gate rights of the individual states to
the federal government.
NO real advocate of states rights
can vote for this amendment" he said.
Reviewing the existing constitution
al amendments, he pointed out every one
either "modifies, defines or interprets"
the original body of the constitution.
None he said, carry police powers be-
longing properly to the states.
Representative Dyer. of Missouri OPP
posing it, declared the issue nothing
more or less than whether congress
shall stand by "Dinwiddie and the Anti
saloon league. who think more of this
issue or whether America or Germany
shall win this great war"
AS the debate ran on, Representative
Barkley. of Kentucky, one. of the prohi-
bition leaders, claimed that a complete
canvass of the state delegations indi-
Gated adoption of the resolution by a
margin of fifteen votes over the neces-
sary two-thirds.
Many members made short speeches on
both sides of the question
Gompers. in A full page advertise
ment i'm local papers, had addressed an
open letter to Webb in defense of beers
and light wines.
One Democrat and one Republican
from each side were selected to control
the division of time in the debate: Webb
and oIstead for the drys and Gard and
Graham for the vets. This plan was
adopted after Republicans defeated an
attempt TO place a Democrat in charge
of the drys' time and a wet Republican
in control of the other half.
With the galleries crowded by item
perance advocates. Speaker Clark
warned against outbursts and asked
members for an orderly debate.
The drys predicted victory confidently.
They anticipated that the labor arsu-
ment would be insufficient to beat the
measure in view OF the ever-growing
anti-liquor sentiment of the nation.
Moreover. they said that with the
matter submitted back 20 the state leg
:slatures. they can still procure the
necessary number of ratifying votes
in the seven years allotted for that
purpose.
The vote was to be taken at p. m
Bryan came TO Washington today to
induce congressman to vote aye" on
the amendment. The Commoner" Wis
tied the white house this morning to
confer with the president
II think the states will ratfy this
amendment if the house passes it,"
Bryan said.
Both sides held consultations, lining
up their forces preliminary to the con-
vening of the house.
ProhibitioniStS conceded that the op-
position had gained some strength in
the last few days but expressed con-
nuence in the adoption Of the 'resolu-
ton by a narrow but safe margin.
Representative Randall, of California
predicted twenty more votes than were
necessary.
Opponents of the resolution gave no
figures but declared their belief that
the resolution would not be adopted.