New-York tribune., 1918-03-21

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proposed amendment was not in reality
bone dry measure.
ut is we'll enough to find out exactly
what this amendment means," he con-
tinued.
"(a) 1t will not amount to anything
without legislation
"(b) Congress may give statutory
definition of Intoxicating liquors
which shall not cover beer and ale of
low alcoholic content.
"(c) Trafficking in wines is probably
not prohibited.
"(d) Wine for sacramcntal purposes
cannot be prohibited.
at has been stated publicly that this
prohibition would make impossible the
use of wine for sacramental purposes.
This is a misrepresentation There is
no accepted legal definition of the ex-
preston Intoxicating liquors There
is no definition of liquor that makes
it cover wines. Our Federal statutes
always in class by themselves as
wines Ale and beer are malt
liquors. Whiskey, brandy. gin. etc
are 'spirituous liquors.
"Without a statute to enforce the
prohibition the constitutional amend
ment would amount to nothing. There
is an illustration of this in our state
constitution, which provides: Nor
shall any other kind of gam
bling hereafter be authorized or al
lowed within this state This pro-
vision is not self-eXecutory and the
statutes passed do not cover private
form of gambling"
the crowded galleries broke into a
storm Of applause.
oming, ming, followed. He said that the
, amended measure urged the Senate tc
shirk its responsibility.
eve know to-day, as we'll as we viii
know a year from now," he said, "wha'
the sentiment of our districts is"
Ottinger Speaks for Vets
Albert Ottinger, Republican, of New
| York. was the first of the vets t
l speak. He characterized Senator Wei
t ington's argument as based on lega
: technicalities.
3 "What this proposed amendmen
I would do" he said, "is to transform
\ this nation of free men into natona
kindergarten We would be the help
:, less wards of free government"
!, Then he quoted the Bible to prov
n that drink was necessity to huma
), George T. Thompson, of Niagara, t
t observe that Shakespeare said that tn
d devil could cite Scripture for his pul
=. poses.
o Buffalo, was next recognized. He sal
s that the legal side of the question wa
r. outweghed by the human.
e "Two years ago.a man. a good hu:
band and father. in my district, Will
(, crazed with drink. killed a man. H
d is now paying the penalty of his crime
&c in Dannemora.
81 have here letters from his two Iii
r. tie daughters. One is nine years oil
and the other eleven. Their childis
'e voices, lsping with sorrow and sir
e cerity, can be heard in every wor'
I. Let me read one:
u "'Dear Senator-The letter my par
wrote to mamma has made US all vel
happy, and want to thank you, to
n You are a good man. Have you al
a. little girls? l hope you can send o,
And we will all be happy if you ser
10 him home to us. We all need him, ar
Mt sister and | do not have the prett
IN things we used to have. Every nigl
6, when | pray | will ask God to ble
you.
O. "'Yours very truly.
i'll "CATHERlNE.'
~ Many Listeners in Tears
to The Senator read the first few wor
is in his usual sonorous, deep bass voic
he But when he came to the line cha
Id you any little girls?" he dropped in
ed a rumbling, throaty whisper. Al
on when he finished many eyes around t.
r. chamber were wet.
on al am thinking of the miserable M
I'd, in nrisons and asylums as che result
he drink" he went on. 81 am thinking
the poor, unfortunate women walki
by the streets Of our big cities. l dol
by want that blood upon my soul
OF rather have my tongue torn out tn
yer vote for Il system that makes murdt
ilu ers and maniacs and outcast women
III Senator Walker then spoke. He
a.. ns gan by saying that it was unfair to c
'io saloonkeepers murderers and makers
criminals.
Senator Sage, also speaking agair
ew ratification, said that If the peol
err wanted prohibition they would ha
nd to pay for it. He said that it was
lde purely moral question and moral
ev could not be "legislated into pcopl
in Senator Robert +. Wagner. Den
ior cratic leader. said the proposed amer
is mcnt was only another step tows
The centralizing government.
in III am not against prohibition,'
of added, "but am against establish
constitutional limitations on pcrso