The Washington times., 1917-02-23

without having a voice in its passage.
At the crack of the whip we must
change our mode of living.
I'VE are a hospitable people and have
entertained many conventions here. but
they will not come here IL this bill Is
passed and makes ii unlawful for any
host to provide as much as a thimbleful
| of wine for guests. 1t will close the
town to conventions. 1t will close or
cripple the hotels.
Asks for Referendum.
We ask that a referendum be granted
here. such as has been granted all over
the country. ! agree that a large per
cent of the area Of this country is dry.
but it was made dry because the people
at the polls voted It dry and prohibition
was not arbitrarily thrust upon the peo-
pie. as is proposed in this bill"
Attorney Davis then called the atten-
ton Of the committee to what Ire con
sidered an imputation on the honor Of
the members of the District Commit
tee. "a want Of honor" he said. "a
Sinking OF duty. or worse"
| Charles c. Columbus, secretary OF
| the District Referendum Association,
pleaded for referendum because OF
the Importance of the bill to the peo-
pie of the District. He said the Re
tail Merchants Association would
would like to have the bad check and
| itinerant merchants bill acted upon
at this session OF Congress, but had
not asked the Rules Committee to
take these measures from the District
Committee. The prohibition hearing,
he said, has proceeded In an orderly
way.
Whatever you do" he said, 1--WE
urge you to provide for a referen-
dunn"
Congressman Barley closed the
hearing by reiterating his plea for
opportunity for action by the present
Congress.
e. W. Oyster Urges Vote.
f. w. Oyster, representing, he said,
600 members of various labor organ
izations of Washington, appeared be-
fore the District Committee and was
allowed fifteen minutes to present his
side of the question.
THE labor organizations have all
| Endorsed If-government," he said.
''Our plan is that the people of Wash
| ington elect five commissioners to
| Govern the city, and that the Presi-
dent of the United States appoint the
mayor. In this way the people If the
| United States would have half the
voice in the governing of the Nations
Capital and the residents Of WASH
| ington would have the other half.
Then we would have no more cry OF
taxation without representation. Con-
gress has the power to give us this
referendum. but we don't believe that
| il shopld be used on this question. II
should have been given to the people
long before
aWhy not use this bill as a fair test
of the referendum question" he was
asked.
Not q Fair Test.
at would not be fair test, for
more than half OF the people of the
community have been disfranchised.
| including the women and those who
vote at home and would not be al
lowed to vote here in Washington.
There are more than $4,000 people in
Washington who vote in their home
| States and could not vote on this ques-
| ton"
Mr.. Oyster attempted to refute the
argument that prohibition would
throw a large number OF people out
! of work.
cit is not So" he said. "for there is
no industry in the United States which
uses fewer employees for the amount
of money involved than the liquor in
dustry. These liquor plants could
soon be converted into useful fac
tories"
Congressman Fecht of Pennsylvania
took a shot at the Corby interests
in Washington by asking il yeast was
not a by-product of alcohol When
Mr.. oyster replied that it probably
uas che HonCressman told him II
was the intention of the committee to
clean out all alcohol. as well as the
drink. when it took any action. and
that it would also have to eliminate
all alcohol products.
Makes Personal Plea.
James Hugh Kelley. who said that
he was an editor. orator. traveller. and
writer. but that he spoke for no or