The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-08-02
representatives to determine thil
question"
Says It's a Climatic Question.

says It's a Climatic Question.
Senator Weeks. then asserted that
| the proposition to "let the people
rule" is a grotesque one, and is ad-
said that climatic. racial and social
conditions vary so greatly that a
solution of the liquor question which
/ might apply to the smaller and more
! sparsely settled state would not ap-
/ ply with equal force to the larger
states. and especially to those states
i having cities with great populations.
| like Boston. New York, Philadelphia
| Baltimore. Detroit. Cleveland and st.
| Louis. He declared himself for To-
cal option. He said the police pow
| ers are inherent in the states He
characterized as one OF the serious
weaknesses of the Sheppard resolu-
ton and the amendment proposed to
1 be submitted. that 1t could, IL sub
| mitted. be brought to the attention
of legislatures time and again until
favorably acted upon.
! Senator Weeks quoted Secretary of
War Baker. in a contribution to the
Atlantic Monthly In July. 1915. based
on conclusions reached as mayor OF
Cleveland He quoted Mr. Baker as
saying that regulations wise enough
and moderate enough for the country
districts and small towns would be
violently descriptive of the settled
habits Of large city populations.
Senator Weeks spoke of the rights
of the individual. these rights. he
commended. being threatened under the
proposed amendment.
idle Dream Comes True,
Senator Beckham. of Kentucky
said that If a dozen or more years
ago anyone had predicted the adop-
ton by the United States senate. Of
a resolution submitting nation wide
prohibition by big majority he
would have been considered an idle
dreamer or, possibly. lunatic But
conditions have changed in recent
years. Senator Beckham pointed out
and the rapid and widespread growth
or sentiment favorable to prohibition
among the people OF the country is
one OF the interesting and remarkable
experience in our history. Senator
Beckham said along these lines:
This is not simply wartime
movement. The arguments in favor
OF prohibition have been accentuated
not created. by the world wide war
IT Is bad policy to waste wealth in
time OF peace 1t Is worse policy.
and may be a fatal policy. to waste IT
In time OF war ! should. Mr.. Presi-
dent. support this constitutional
amendment in time OF peace I can
do so with even greater earnestness at
this time when we are engaged in a
titanic war. and when all the ener-
giles and resources OF the nation and
the strength Of the people should be
conserved. hope to see this amend
ment receive the requisite number Of
votes. both In the senate and the
house"
House Votes.
Alcohol used as a beverage" said
Senator Peckham has been unmis-
takablv and unanswerably stamped by
the medical profession by other
scientists. by the best thought Of the
age. as a poison II has been shown
by overwhelming evidence that whom
so used ever in moderate quantities it
Is positive injury TO the human
system. No one can stand before IN
intelligent audience and defend the
existence of the saloon. That evil in
stitution Ia now recognized as one
without Il saving grace, and as the
chief breeding place of human mis-
fortunes and tragedies. Prohibition IL
not only a moral. hut also An economic
blessing to any state mat adopts II.
AS revenue producer the liquor bus
gives only small percent OF the
large sums II takes from the con-
sumers to the government, and Il
weakens the tax.paving powers of the
people among whom II Is tolerated"
johnson Votes Right.
Senator Johnson. OF California. pre-
faced his speech with the statement
that he would favor the submission
to the states for ratification or Sc
af a oxyNt
which was favored by any consider
able number of people. In this con-
nection he said he was strongly for
the prohibition resolution, and also
would .x4ste for the Harding six-year
Limitation amendment Senator John
son spoke Of the benefits which fol-
low prohibition law. judged by his
observations. and he mentioned Ore
gon as of the states which is pros .
pering and satisfied under a honedry
act
Senator Johnson went at consider
able length into the various phases of
the prohibition question, and. while
declaring himself in sympathy with
it. made II clear that regardless OF
ones views. any amendment pro-
posed. whether political. ethical or
moral II backed by any considerable
sentiment should be sent to the peo-
rle 1Cr Unat action. nat tns SeHti-
ment in favor OF the submission of
the prohibition amendment being sub
mitted Ia overwhelming, Senator
Johnso nasserted.
New Senator Votes Right.
Senator McNary. OF Oregon, who
but recently entered the senate. an
nounced his intention TO support the
resolution He said Oregon, after
some doubt on the subject. had
adopted partial prohibition. and that
ii had had no cause to regret this
step. Later. the senator said, Ore
gon, under bone-dry law. had
proved prohibition to be a blessing
and he believed. the senator sug-
gested. that II 1t were a good thing
for Oregon it should be good thing
for other Western as we'll as Eastern
states Senator McNary said prohi'
hition In Oregon had emptied jails
and made workingmen more pros
/ porous.
He submitted for the record tele-
grams from the governor of Oregon
and superintendent OF the Oregon
Anti-Seloon league, mayors OF cities
and editorials from newspapers. one
from the Portland reeonian. testify