Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-01-12
Senator ]. A, Mcdonald Brings
in Measure Making 1t Illegal
to Manufacture or Sell Spir-
ituous and Malt Liquors,
PRESENT AMENDMENT TO
PEOPLE IN NOVEMBER
Sweeping Provision Bars All
Forms of Alcohol Except for
Medicinal, Scientific and
Sacramento Uses.
(By II. l.. d. McAllistcr, Staff Corre-
spondent.)


Santa Fe, Jan. 1.-THE first .defi-
mite step towards statewide prohibi-
ton in New Mexico was taken by the
present legislature this afternoon
when Senator J. A. Mcdonald of So
corro county introduced in the senate
a resolution providing for an amend
ment to the constitution declaring
that after January l, 1913, the manu-
facture and sale of spirituous and
malt liquors shall be Illegal. The
resolution, which was introduced by
request, was ordered printed and
translated and referred to the com
mittee on constitutional amendments.
Senator Mcdonald offered to file
his resolution at the morning session
of the senate, but, at the request of
Senator Clark, who stated that the
the appointment of the standing
committees of the senate would un-
necessarily cucumber the files of the
chief clerk, it was withheld for the
time being. At the afternoon ses-
sion the first business transacted was
the appointment of committees, and
afterward, when the introduction of
resolutions was reached in the order
of business, Senator Mcdonald rein
troduced his measure.
Republicans In Earnest.
The fact that the senator from the
home county of H. o. Bursum was
selected as the member to fire the
opening gun in the prohibition fight
is considered significant as showing
the sincerity of the republicans in the
announcement of their intention to
put through a prohibition measure at
this session.
The Mcdonald amendment, while
simple in its terms, contains sweep
ing provisions for making the state
dry. 1t bars absolutely all forms of
medicinal and sacramental purposes,
and imposes heavy penalties for vio-
lation of the law.
Both house and senate adjourned
today until o'clock Monday after
noon, but at that time it is expected
that Senator Mcdonald will intro
duce bill supplementary to his
resolution introduced today which |
will provide the machinery for hold |
ing an election on statewide prohibi- |
ton and also fix the date of the cleo
ton. At the same time it is expected |
that Mr.. Barnes of Berpalillo county
Will introduce in the house a resolu-
ton and bill identical with those of
Senator Mcdonald, as the house COM
mittees will be appointed at that time |
The Tuesday after the first Monday |
in November has been decided upon |
as the date for holding the election.
The resolution introduced today is
the result of several days labor and
study by prohibitionists of both
political parties in an effort.to get to-
gether on measure that will be
satisfactory to the prohibitionists of
the state and will have as little trou-
BILE as possible in getting through the
senate and house. In drafting the
resolution the prohibitionists had ac-
cess to the prohibition laws of several
of the dry states and put into the
New Mexico amendment what they
considered the best provisions of all
these laws.
Committees i'm Senate.
Hardly second in importance to the
Of the prohibition reso-
luton was the appointment of the
committees Of the senate.
fernalillo county is well represented
on important committees, Senator
<aseman drawing an unusual allot-
ment of work of this character. AL
though not lawyer, Mr.. Kaseman
was made chairman of the commit
zee on judiciary, one of the most de-
sirable of all committee assignments.
he was also assigned chairman of
he committee on the revision of the
ournal and Is a member of the COM
nlttees on rules, finance, education.
irrigation and water rights, public
ands, mines and manufactures, con-
amendments, and printing ,
enrolled and engrossed bills.
AS the leader of the minority and ,
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