The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-03-09
Reported Shift by Four
Senator's POrtends Liquor
Mems Defeat.
LAST HOPE FADING
Conceded Defeat in Assem-
bly,. but Thought Upper
House Safe.
WILL FIGHT FOR DELAY
But Legislative Leaders Op-
pose This and Vote Will Be
Taken Next Week.
WILL FIGHT FOR DELAY

Special Despatch 70 TgE Sun
Albany, March s.-The brewery and
1qior interests became alarmed here to-
right with the reported sudden change
q sentiment Of four Senators who had
teen counted upon az opposed TO the
lnli-McNab resolution ratifying the
Federal prohibition amendment.
The vets" had conceded the adoption
q the resolution in the Assembly, but
rntil to-day had considered that they
Lad the Senate as safe as Tammany
vote in the vest pocket of Charles F.
Murphy. They are now panic stricken.
Il is declared that they can depend on
Only % sure votes against the ratifica-
Ton amendment. The report even gained
galway here tonight that If Senator
Hon r Brown. the Republican leader
sni champion OF the "wets," finds he
cannot hold enough Senators to kill the
resolution he will not make fght
tsanst 1t when it comes 10 a vote.
a8 Votes Needed to Win.
There is one vacancy in the Senate
tia: Of Norris 8. Halliday of Utica, who
,'sgUed to enter the United States SER
'.ce. This leaves % votes either for the
ratification amendment or doubtful
Twenty-siX votes are needed to adopt it,
The doubtful ones do not number more
than three or four. and with dry senti-
nent gaining strength the temperance
Eor.es are confident these hesitaters will
h. swept to the anti-booze side.
An upstate legislator to-day ex-
I.essed what is becoming the prevailing
stitude when he said
I'm not for prohibition, but in my
district are ten dry towns. want to
"1ne back here next year. and It would
he political suicide for me to vote any
'her way than for the ratification yes0-
| !...1u.'
II tae Assembly II is practically GER.
''A that at least seventy-eight members
VI. vote for the resolution. not includ-
- the ten Socialists. The Socialists
while claiming that most OF them are
total ah&tainers. favor a referendum to
'e people. They are now trying to get
lie sentiment of their districts, and
whether they will vote for or against ths
'ltcation resolution will not be known
l1.il they hear from their constituents.
Next week the prohibition question
!:Jhaby will be fought out on the floors
. both houses. The fight is acknowl-
'Ised to be close and It is expected that
lie legislative halls will swarm with the
"hie rlbboned temperance advocates on
the one hand and the brewery and liquor
!Johyists on the other.
The dry" forces are taking great deal
'i encouragement out OF the signal vic
Toy OF Gov Whitman yesterday. when
lie forced the Senate into a position
where without opposition 1t conf. med
lis ten appointments to the new Farms
and Markets Council.
Whitman for Prohibition.
The C,oyerpor hoo bop,Dioond tho
dry cause right along and the anti
saloon people feel that his influence with
ne legislature is greater than ever.
!ner look upon the introduction yes
'erdaY by Senator Emerson and AS
s"anlyman Malone of a bill referring
'"e ratification amendment to vote
o. Tie people next fall as an effort OF
re part Of the VETS to spar for time.
a'Ia,ed by the realization that they
were losing strength. This bill. tho dry
advocates say. was offered merely to
give some wavering legislators an ex-
use for Withholding their support of the
lattcaton resolution.
The prohibition fight will start right
Oh Monday afternoon with n hearing on
''N two bills, drafted By the anti-Whit-
''dh Republican leaders. providing war
'metgency prohibition. excepting beers
ma wines, and amending the State Con-
f'l'ion by making the State dry"
me Anfi-Saloon League has opposed
l'eS1 measures calling them camouflage
'hq holding they were merely intro
o-'ed 10 turn attention away from the
nan Issue. The "dry" advocates will
pe at the hearing in force. and it was
announced to-day that the attendance
y expected to be so large that request
ias been made that 1t be held in the
assembly amber. 1t Is possible that
'he Emerson Malone referendum bill
t.so will be taken up at this hearing.
Ine Assembly Is scheduled to vote
4aesday morning on the ratification
resolution. Both houses yesterday
siopted resolution of Assemblymar
!l!pt Tuck"rman. Republican. Of New
ioTk' wet" calling on Congress &c
f'"a - tho Legislature a statement OF
le vote by which the Federal prohlbi'
"yl amendment was passed.
lie questions that the amendment had
Ne required number of votes. and says
at II the Information he asks Is not
''ftn'om.ng by Tuesday he will en-
nea|or TO delay the vote on the ratifica
,''n resolution Some OF the Assemb!
'eddeVS. however. assert they will moi
tland for further delay.
The test OF strength on the ratification
se"ut'on is expected In the Senate
.hursday. when Senator Wellington o
TOY. II is understood. will move to dis
charge the Committee on Taxation ant
Retrenchment from further considera
'oA ~ the measure His motion at leas
WI bring out a lineup on the question
''i' 'he ANAL vote probably will he taker
.inr ia