New-York tribune., 1918-02-21
Foes
Will Fight His
Bone Dry Bill
Brown Says He Is for Tenn
perance; Governor for
Prohibition
IStaf Correspondence

-NlsDiA.\ i GU -V lC ilS Nv UttMCNu
Governor Whitman and his foes to-day
narrowed down to a lineup on the di-
rect primaries and prohibition. Elon
r. Brown. majority leader of the Sen
ate. and the recognized leader of the
anti-Whitman forces, announced he
was for temperance, but against pro-
hibiton. The Governor countered that
he was for prohibition in the state
and nation. And TO the prediction of
Senator Brown and his lieutcnants that
repeating the direct primaries, the
Governor said he would veto it,
movement 10 appease the farmers,
which, the Governors friends believe,
will be successful, was started last
night when Lieutenant Governor
Schoeneck conferred with representa-
tlves Of the farmers at Syracuse and
told them that any sincere objections
to any OF the members OF the Farms
and Markets Council would be consd-
cred by the Governor. He told the agra
rian leaders that the resolutions
adopted by the State Grange and two
other agricultural organizations re-
Gently had been iammed through at
the misrepresentation of disappointed
oticeseekers. These resolutions con-
demned the council in general terms.
There were three. and all were iden
tical in language When the first one
was adopted at Rochester, Senator
Brown and other anti-Whitman men
We're present as guests OF the agri
culturists.
Two Dry Bills in Senate
The prohibition question was brought
TO the fore to-day by the introduction
OF two measures in the Senate. They
Taxation and Retrenchment. One was
& proposed amendment to the state con-
stitution making the state bone dry
after September 20, 1920. The second
bill prohibits the sale Of all liquors. ex-
cept wines and beer and ale, after Sep
tember SO next, during the way and for
SIX months thereafter. Both measures
provide for the manufacture and sale Of
other liquors for medicinal. scientific
or sacramental purposes. The former.
before becoming Law. would have to be
PASSED BY two succeeding legislatures
and ratified b. the people at the polls.
"These bills" said Senator Brown.
were introduced as the result of con-
versations with Senators. They were of
the opinion that the only way to get the
sentiment Of the public on the Federal
endum."
Senator Brown said the proposed ref
erendum could be submitted to the vot-
crs after it had passed this and the
Legislature of 1919 at such an early
date that there could be no prospect of
delaying the effect of the Federal
amendment.
Speaking to the bill providing for the
sale OF wine and beer. the Senator said:
II believe in temperance, but do
not believe in prohibition, if FOR no
other reason than that prohibition does
not prohibit l believe in Limitation
and regulation of the liquor traffic.
reduced last year the number Of drink
ing places by about 5000 through MAX
ing amendments to the liquor law"
Governor Whitman. when he learned
what Senator Brown had said, declared
that he thought his position was clear
TO every one. Gas ! have repeatedly
said" continued the Governor ~ am
for prohibition in the state and nation.
| could not send in message to the
Legislature, urging them to ratify the
Federal amendment, because the Con-
stitution of the United States provides
that Federal amendments shall be rat
j liied by the legislatures of the various
states.
ut is purely Legislative function,
states have nothing whatever to do
with Federal amendments, save to
! tran smit them to the Legislature. That
did. But if I were in the Legislature
J would vote for the ratification of the
Federal amendment"
The ratification of the Federal
amendment is what the temperance and
church people arc fighting for They
are against submitting the question to
referendum, 9 move which they char
acterize as a play to the liquor inter
ests.
The hearings on these various liquor
bills Will be held Tuesday. The tenn
pcrancc forces will be marshallcd bv
William Jennings Bryan.
The direct primary repeal bill will be
Introduced Monday night. There was
a meeting to-day of the committee Of
nine Senators intrustcd with tho work
OF ironing out the bill. which has been
IN rough draft for moro than a fort
night. Two of the Republican mem
bars, Senators Charles w. Walton, of
Ulster, and James L. Towncr, Of Dutch
oss, holtcd. They informed the com,
mittec that they were against repeating