New-York tribune., 1918-03-13
Only Two Democrats
Oppose Passage of
Amendment
Bad Faith Charged
By Leader of Drys
Had Counted On 70 Votes
His Forces Accused
OF Bribery
[Stnf Correspondence1

[Staf Correspondence
ALBANY, March 12.-Hope of rati-
Acation of the Federal prohibition
amendment this year by the State Leg
;slature was lost to-day, when the AS
sembly adopted an amendment to tho
Hill-McNab ratification resolution by a
vote of S5 to 50. The amendment pro-
vides that the question shall be de-
cided by referendum.
This move by the Assembly came af-
ter day marked by spirited debate.
The amended Hill-McNab bill will come
before the Assembly for vote on Mon
day night.
The drys characterized the action as
a victory for the saloon and brewery
interests, and William H. Anderson,
state Superintendent of the Anti-Sa-
loon League, not only charged that the
Assembly had acted in bad faith, but
that there was something sinister in
its action. On this score he said:
mo member of the Legislature can
possibly escape meeting this question
next fall unless he concludes this is a
discreet and possibly profitable time
for him to retire from public life"
Drys Accused of Bribery
The use of the word "proftable" was
not explained by Mr.. Anderson. As
semhlyman Martin G.. McCue, one Of
the Tammany vets, offered an explana-
ton, and directly accused the drys of
bribery, to the intense Joy, vociferously
voiced, of the saloon men present.
SThe Anti-Saloon League was for q
referendum last year," said Mr. Nc
Cue, "but it is against it to-day. Then
it's leaders said they wanted to leave it
to the vote of the people, and we are
going to do that now. Intelligence,
right thinking and honesty are going to
prevail, and the men opposed to the
referendum now have bought sigma
lures in local option elections"
The brewers, distillers and saloon
keepers were present in the Assembly
while the vote was being taken and
during the hours of the long parlia-
mentary struggle which preceded it.,
and when the vote was announced the
liquor men shouted and whistled and
yelled their joy for several minutes,
ignoring the repeated banging of the
Speakers gavel for order. Then the
vets retired to the lobby, where they
joyously congratulated one another,
and the drys went mournfully on their
way.
Governor Whitman, when asked to-
what he thought of the result in the
Assembly, said:
Il am for the ratification of the Fed
eral prohibition amendment"
II the Legislature does not ratify
1t, and passes referendum. as seems
likely, will you veto it,"
Il am not in the habit of saying what
shall do with legislation before it
reaches me-"
Result Unexpected
The manner in which to-day's result
was accomplished is a mystery to the
crys. 1t is mystery to others up here.
me drys insisted that they had sew
enty-eight votes last Friday night,
enough to pass the Hill-McNab reso-
luti6n This morning, before the As
:emoiy met, the saloon men were tell
ing people here they knew that the
uIys had lost five men and were going
% % lose more. After the Assembly met
'he same people informed The Tribu re
correspondent that the drys had lost
Iour more and had only sixty-nine
votes, and this dwindled to sixty-four
hye hours later
me hrSt move Of the vets to-day was
an attempt to postpone action indef-
nr1,Miy on the Hill -McNab resolution.
inis attempt, started by Simon l.. Ad-
.si' OF Rochester, majority leader of
~ sne assembly, vas beaten by vote Of
.. Dr. Adler said Congress provided
ss<a, 10y the states had seven years in
tare mere need be no haste Explaining
nag srs motives further, he said:
p. ms Is great moral question.
an:. msie If room for honest differences Of
i..al i"nion on the proposition. The Legis-
afe OF 1919 can be-and if action
pv'' this proposition be postponed for
NH MI confederation Of that Legislature
~. ~, oe elected upon the definite propo-
rnss. .'oh Oh the approval Of this amend
gel that it would be an act Of
s..s'urtesy AZ 20 the voters Of the gtate
saa, n Az an assumption Of power and re-
skksas,io'iity which this Legislature
wssa vu'a not assume, if this Legislature
snss ssss 70 act upon this proposition and
sma,. vlDse !. It at this session. There is
thS'. Time for full consideration by
~. voters Of the state and the ex-
t.sion ~ of their wiz in the election
H. me next Legjslaturc, and the aucs-
t.n ~ TOO great, too far-rcaching, and
AZ important 10 warrant it's irnmedi-
''s confederation"
speaker Joins Debate
dsa.n asy AssembIymen roze by the
an~,h " Dc recognized and one after
xs. x'asf cried that Mr.. AdDcr's motion
thSx sn evasion Of the issue, and while
9p.s,vs vsrs speaking Thaddeus c. sweet.
a1sL TIM = ei the Assembly, left the ros-
'Dr ths nrst time since he has
continued on Last Page