Le MeschaceÌbeÌ. [volume] ([Lucy] La.) 1853-1942, 1918-02-23
SUBMISSION PLAN
OPPOSED BY DRYS
DUTY OF LEGISLATURE TO PASS
ON RATIFICATION, SAYS
LAWYER.
MOVEMENT WILL BE SOUGHT
Declares IL Would BE Manifest Eva
sion of the Federal Constitution
Which Expressly Prescribe Meth
Cd OF Its Own Amendment.
! ShreyepOrt.

Shreveport
Information reaching the Shreve.
port headquarters of the Louisiana An.
ti-Saloen League indicates that the Ii
Quor interests of the state plan to pro
pose submission and ratification of the
federal pohibition amendment when
the Legislature meets in May. Some
of the legislators whose past af1lia-
tions and acts have shown them to be
anti-prohib at heart are urg-
ing that the question of indorsing ma
tfonal prohibition be submitted to the
people. The same forces opposed sub
mission of state prohibition in 1916.
Leading supporters of ratification say
that they believe, therefore, that their
demand for submission at this time
is inspired.
The Louisiana Anti-Saloon League
viii aght the movement for submis-
sion because its officers consider it in
oppcrtune. unnecessary and illegal.
They do not think a fair test of public
sentiment may be had at the polls un-
der existing conditions. Dr.. A. W.
Turner, state superintendent Of the
league wrote to and obtained from
Wayne B. Wheeler, general counsel of
that body. an opinion with reference
to the legality Of the submission plan.
Mr.. Wheeler wrote: Amy referen-
dun to the people would be unauthor-
ixed and have no effect upon the only
body whose duty it is to pass upon
this question. The submission of most
questions to court of straw votes TO
the people is contrary to public pol
icy. An unauthorized referendum or
plebiscite to the people on this Ques-
tion would carry with it none of the
safeguards Of a regular election.
Those opposed to prohibition would use
corrupt methods and large amounts of
money to defeat an Affirmative vote.
The concentrated corruption of the Ii
quor traffic of the nation would be TO
cussed on the state which resorted to
this method. 1t would be a manifest
evasion of the federal Constitution
which expressly prescribes the meth
cd Of its own amendment"
Mr.. Wheeler adds that it would re-
suit in an expensive campaign and
delay unnecessary adjustment of q
pressing problem. II the Legislature
were to dodge its responsibility 1t
might result in litigation and the final
outcome might be rejection when
adoption of the legal method would
have meant ratification.
Tt would not result in an honest ex-
preston Of opinion" " adds Mr.. Wheel
fuse to participate in the election on
the ground that it was unauthorized
and could have no legal effect whether
1t carried or was lost. =
r. P. Wood, president of the Com
vent police jury, IN conformity with
an act passed by the last Legislature
regarding dipping vats, appointed a
committee Of four members with full
power to have dipping vats construct
ed in different parts of the parish.
An Increase in salary Of thirty
three and one-third per cent for 1918
was asked By the Caddo Parish Teach
ers' Association at Shreveport.
The Beauregard parish council OF
defense has issued circular of warn
ing to farmers against buying and
planting preparations from strangers
On account of the fear of German ac-
tivity in distributing poison pollen.
Considerable excitement has been
occasioned at Monroe by reports that
driIlers at the Mountain and Gulf
well on the spyker lease have drilled
into oil sand.
The clinton exemption board mas
commenced examining the registered
subjects to draft. There are between
six and seven hundred to be *
amined.
The contract for the construction Of
forty dipping vats for the parish Of
AvoyeHles was let to G. A. Moore and
! {. Miles, Of Bunkie BY the police
jury
The farmers around Breaux Ridge
are taking advantage Of the spring
IKE weather and rushing into ground
an Immense planting oa Irish pota-
aa.