Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1918-02-07
PROHIBITION Fight
ISNOW On IN HOUSE
Drys and u cts will Probably ''Go
tc Mat Before Today is
Concluded
ANNEXATION CONFERENCE
Efforts Beiog Msde 10 Hold Meeting
Tonight 20 See i Two Sides Caa-
net Get Together On a Middle
Ground on pleasure

The battle 10 decide whether Mary
land shall ratiEy tho Federal Pr0hi-
bition Amendment is now ON in the
House. This afternoon the forces Of
Baltimore city and other units OF the
State are fighting against a minority
who are demanding that Maryland at
once arbitrarily ratify the national
prohibition amendment without q ref
erendum
The fight broke in the House short
~ after 1880 when prohibition was
called up and Fisher of Prince
Georges fled q minority report pro-
. posing the amendment that the sub
icct be referred to the voters.
Without mincing words Fisher
launched into an attack on William
jennings Bryan and the Anti-Saloon
League forces who are trying TO force
the measure through
Fellow Republicans" of the coun
ties" shouted Fisher, Il call on you
to tell me why we fought so hard to
come here and give Baltimore city an
nexation If we are going to stab her
in the back by putting over prohibi-
tion?"
Even the Baltimore and Anne Arun-
del countians could hardly refrain
from applause at this new point Of az
tack
Every indication was that the wet
forces would fght any efforts to adj
journ today before a test vote is ta-
ken ON the bin The dry forces seem
worried
Never has there been more activity
among The drys here than today Led
by Superintendent Crabbe Of the Anti
Saloon League, battalion Of minis
ters are buttonholing every delegate
who seems the least bit doubtful, or
who might be worked upon.
Despite Senator Harrison's express
ed fear OF last week that the Senate
might be drowned by Baltimore city's
whiekey and money there are no
brewers or distilers here on the
ground though there are small
group of men officially registered as
opponents Of the bill
On the other hand the drys have a
formidable arguing force, including
Rev DR. ; Fred Heisse. Rev DR.. c
NJ. Levister, ]. Bibb Mills, the leagues
legislative counsel, Rev -. Of Car
roll county. who was House chaplain
in Janusry and a number of others
These men grouped themselves in the
lobby OF the State House early today
and are directly appealing to all
members who seem fertile ground tc
stand up for the resolution. without
amendment or in other words TO jam
through the ratification without Civ
ing the people of the state an oppor-
tunity tc express their views on the
subject
A conference on annexation will
take place tonight. Just who wiz at
tend is not known, but it is a. fact
that the participants will include both
representatives of Baltimore ard OF
Anne Arundel counties and some Of
the most ardent friends Of extension
Of the city
The affair viii be entirely Of an in
formal nature and has been planned
/ as the outgrowth Of the proposal Of
the anti-annexationists Of yesterday
that joint legislative conference
committee be created to attempt to
work out amendments TO the Greater
Baltimore bin along taxation and
financial lines which would take "the
stings" out Of the measure While
none Of the annexationists viii COM
nit themselves on their attitude it is
known that some are willing to go a
part of the way on amendments which
might make the bill bit more favor
able to the affected counties provided
that guarantee IS first furnished
that sufficient votes viii be provided
by the opposition TO pass the bill on
( both sides in the amended form