The Washington times., 1917-02-19

which we have insistently, and some
times loudly, proclaimed to the chan
cellories OF every other nation on
earth.
DeprivatIon OF Rights.
"ThIs measure proposes. without the
consent or approval of those to be af-
fected. to deprive a large number of
American citizens OF certain personal
privileges which have been theirs to
use or reject since the nation came
into being. and for many years even
prior thereto. i say to you that no
matter how desirable a prohlbitivs
law may be-and surely I do not un-
derestimate its desirability. nor would
do anything but with my utmost
ability urge and aid the passage OF
such law, based upon that sort OF
justice which carried with IL the prom
Use OF permanence-great dangers lie
behind the methods by which IL IL at
tempted TO be enacted in this instance
"If the question of personal rights
the right OF the majority to first in
dicate to the law-making body its own
desires on the subject-was the only
one involved in this issue, I repeat
that that question in itself still would
be sufficient to justify a rejection Of
this proposal by this committee and
by the House of Representatives.
More Far-ReaehlnE.
"But there Is another and a moro
far-reaching issue involved in this
measure. 1t Is the question OF prop
erty Investments and property rights,
legally made and legally held.
"You are confronted with the ne
cessity Of an analysis of the entire
liquor business-what IL is. who are
engaged in II, and who legalized tt
II you are to act with knowledge, de-
liberation, and justice, and, as al
ready have said, by that action
greatly aid the real temperance move
ment that aims at ultimate and per-
manent and effective and honest aboli-
tion of the liquor traffic of the whole
United States.
"This bill plans permanently and
beyond redress virtually to confiseate
many hundreds OF thousands OF doll
lars worth Of property values, ana
OF property Investments, legally made
and legally held, without providing
for a penny OF compensation being
granted to those who made those In
vestments under the sanction, and
under the full protection Of the law.
Not Even Argued.
"It Is not even argued that VIOLA
tion Of the law by the one party, the
liquor men collectively, is the Justi--
ficatIon for an utter disregard Of
law and the principles and precepts
of justice by the other party, the peo-
pie collectively, acting through their
government.
"As a matter of fact, no argument
is offered, no excuse Is given no al
legged justification is put forward, in
Of this proposal deliber-
ately to deprive a certain class OF
American citizens-certain American
citizens engaged in a particular busI-
ness-of properties established, and
money invested, for the conduct Of .
business not only condoned, but &C
tually invited, by law"
NJ d. Rosenberg, general counsel
for the Retail Merchants Association,
was the only other speaker before the
today.
Mr.. Rosenberg emphasized the de-
mand OF previous speakers for ref
erendum. He said that while Con-
gress was the governing. lawmaking
body of the District, 1t could just as
well enact a law giving the residents
Of the District the right to vote on
the question as il could legislate not
to give them q voice.
The speaker declared business In
terests in the District would be mate
rally affected In disastrous way If
the bill were enacted without the ex-
preston of the opinion OF residents OF
the community on the question in
solved.