New-York tribune., 1918-03-20

Plan Shelued
By Assembly
Continued from page I

taking occasion during yesterdays dc
bate to crtcise the Governor.
The action of Senator Hill was de-
termined on after conference with
representatives Of the Anti-Saloon
League and The Womcn's Christian
conference a hurried canvass of the
Assembly showed that the Governors
message had not succeeded in convert
ing any of the vets.
Later William II. Anderson. superin-
tendent Of the Anti-Saloon League, de-
MED his organization consented to in
definite postponement, which is par
lamentary phraseology for leaving the
question to another Legislature.
"The Anti-Saloon League" said Mr..
Anderson. "did not consent to the in
definite postponement, because we did
not intend to become in any way re-
sponsiblc for any action which might
be misinterpreted. But under the
rules requiring two-thirds majority
to do anything else than bring the
matter up for final passage. and after
the Speaker had stabbed it last night
by his contemptuous reference to the
p
fragrant disregard of the fact that the
Governor mad no right to Interfere
until the Legislature had departed
from the constitutional track, there
was apparently no other way Of pre-
venting the passage Of the referendum.
eve wish to emphasize that it was
not ratification that was indefinitely
postponed, but it was the fraudulent
so-called referendum on ratification
that was killed.
Ratification is still very much alive.
If the Senate meets this issue sQuarely
tomorrow and passes ratification, as
VIC believe to be inevitable if he issue
is honestly faced, the Assembly will
then have for the first time chance
to vote on the actual merits of ratiti-
cation. Any Senator who claims to be
willing to vote for ratification in case
that is up on final passage, but votes
against bringing it up where he can
vote on the merits of the case, need
rot complain if the people interpret
that vote as lining MIN up With the
brewers"
But the drys-or most Of them
| do not believe that the Senate will act
favorably on the ratification resolution
In fact, many believe the issue is dead.
so far as this Legislature is concerned.
Mrs. Ella A. Boole, president of the
Woman's Christian Temperance Union
OF New York State, when asked if she
believed that the bone dry issue was
dead for the session, replied:
Maybe. 1t will come to life again
in the fall campaign. anyway. The
fact that thirty-cight cities are pre-
pairing for local option this year clear
ly shows the trend Of sentiment. There
VIC would have preferred to have the
ratification resolution voted on. but
rather than have the situation be
cloudcd by a referendum of the sort
provided for in the amended McNab
bill we are willing to have the respon-
sibility put on the men in the Senate
for the present session and go to the
voters with our fight in the fall"
And that prohibition is going to be
one of the big issues of the gubcrna-
torial campaign is conceded by all
sides here.
The original plan of the drys to day
was to postpone action in the sscmbly
for a week. Accordingly. wnen the
amended -McNab resolution was
reached on the calendar Mr.. McNab
moved to postpone.
lie said that in a week the Assembly,
men who were doubtful of the senti-
mcnt Of their districts could get in
touch with the people and acquaint
themselves sufficiently with the merits
OF the ratification to assure themselves
that it was the only sensible thing to
do.
Charles o. Pratt, Republican, of
Washington County. objected to any
delay, saying that there was no reason
why the Assembly should not vote at
once, to accept or to reject the ratif
cation proposal
He was followed by Martin G. McCue
Democrat, of New York, who took oc-
sion to hurl some hard language at the
head Of the Anti-Saloon League, n
favoritc pastimc with Mr.. McCuc.
This man." said Mr.. McCuc, "dis-
honest and immoral himself. and
branded as trcacherous from coast to
coast. thinks We are like him, and seeks
to COW and broWbcat weak and spine
lc>s Legislators. He can't browDcat OF
COW me"
Edmund Is. jerks. Of Broomc County
i5zred that any MAN VIII doccucY and
| iHCiUr the issue EutIulI,Iv cnulu H.,