Smyrna times., 1918-03-13
LEGISLATURE MEETS AND
REORGANIztS WITHOUT JAR
HERVEY p. HALL OF SMYRNA
ELECTED SPEAKER OF HOUSE
Geo. W. Cunning Reading Clerk of SEN
ate-GoVernor Townsend Appears
Personally and Makes Address

0eO' W. cunning nedOlnS SleTk OF Oen-
ate-GoVernor Townsend Appears
Personally and Makes Address
Delaware's general assembly, which |
opened in special session Monday at |
the call of Governor Townsend, will |
ratify the prohibition amendment. No
one at the capitol is willing to hazard
guess that the amendment will not
be indorsed. Even the vets have
given up hope. National leaders of
the AntiSaloon League, who went to
Dover ready for a hard fight, found
things so favorable that they went on
to more uncertain states. Governor
Townsend's message, delivered per-
sonally Monday afternoon to the joint
session of the house and senate,
clinched the attitude of the legisla-
tors. In a personal heart to-heart
talk from the rostrum in the house he
told them it is time the wet and dry
issue is cleared from Delaware state
affairs. He warned the wavering
that nation, a state, a community
and home are watching the action
of each of them. He presented the
amendment in a message which pledged
Delaware anew to the nation in whose
affairs it has taken an historic part.
He asked for wider legislative enact
ment to make Delaware's state activ-
tiles as effective as the individual
loyalty of her citizens.
Urges Liquor Taken Out of Politics
He proposed the ratification of the
prohibition amendment as a war
measure. He pointed out that they,
as all other Legislators for the last
decade, have had to face the wet and
dry issue at election. AT times it
has clouded other state matters. 1t
is time to dispose of it, he told them,
to clear the way for other state .ques-
tions. Now in the stress of the times,
he said: "It can we'll be considered a
war measure. Soon after the gov
ernor had finished reading his message
the wet forces put in their one weapon
for blocking the ratification of the DIR!
amendment. Representative William
H. Welch, of Milton, presented bill
to authorize a referendum vote on thC
question at the next election. 1t wal
referred to committee without discus
sion.
George W. Cunning Lands Senate JoI
Both Houses met shortly after nool
and by 3 O'Clock, with an hour fo
luncheon, had fully organized, ha
hearc the governor deliver his pre-
pared "war" message and then sud
denly adjourned. Instead of even
, general fight over the naming of leg
islative officers, etc., as many ha
. predicted. the whole proceeding wa
, so we'll CREASED in the Townsendia
way that nothing out of the ordinar
\ occurred in the Senate the same offiC
: ers being elected who had served {
the regular session last year, as fo
: lows: President pro tempore, John A
, Barnard; secretary, George W. Gur
ming, Smyrna; reading clerk, Williar
o Ball; presidents clerk, Frank Ha
q Davis; bill clerk, William Fl. Hn
!. lingsworth, attorney. William Hope
J. sergeant alarms, John E. Davidson
4 chaplain, Rev. Edwin Gardner; pag
n Floyd Hilyard.
q Hervey P. Hall Again Named Speak
II In the House the same organizatiC
!, as last year was effected with but tv
.r exceptions, john A. Walls heing ele
'e ted sergeant-a alarms in place of
r Roseby McMullen, and William
ID Connolly, Jr., was elected page
D. place of William Allen. The 9th
Id officers elected were as follow
as Speaker, Hervey P. Hall, Smyrn
secretary, William H. Poor; readi
clerk, William G. Janvier, speaker
Is clerk, Herman C. Taylor; chaplai
Rev. ]. T. Bailey; attorney, Jam
a' M. Tunnell; advisory counsel. Robe
G. Harmon.