New-York tribune., 1918-03-28
Death Threat and Other
Letters Force Senator En-
erson to Change Sides
Plans New Campaign
VIII Ask Senate at ALBANY to
Reconnnit Measure TO His
Committee
[Staf Co1respond

ALBANY, March 27-Next Tuesday
the "drys' Will make a fresh drive in
the Senate to secure ratification Of the
proposed amendment to the Federal
Constitution. And one OF the erstwhile
leaders of the "wets.' Senator James A.
Emerson, chairman of the Committee
on Taxation and Retrenchment, viii
lead the "drys.'
Senator Emerson, who for years has
withstood the Anti-Saloon League lead
ers, explained his conversion to the
Tribune correspondent tonight.
Ny constituents have been writing
me to help the prohibition cause and
have received hundreds Of letters from
them" said Senator Emerson. They
are all for it."
And one letter the Senator received
was an anonymous death threat from
New York, which read:
Senator Emcrson You are respon-
sible for the wine and beer bill. If
1t passes you viii never introduce an
other bill. II this bill passes you are
doomed to death.
"P S.-No chance to MISS
Plan to Revive Bill
Senator Emerson has promised the
Fdrys' that he VIII move to recommit
the amended Hill-McNab ratification
resolution to his committee, and there
Try to restore il to its original form
and prefix ii with q Few strengthening
preambIes. The bill is now N general
orders in the Senate, the graveyard
o. dead measures, and provides for an
advisory referendum.
1t was made a referendum by the
"wets," led by Senator Emerson, and
until his recent conversion he bitterly
original form The strengthening
clauses which Senator Emerson pro-
poses to add to the bill, when he has it
recommitted to his committee, declare
that ratification is necessary to con-
serve the material resources of the
state, to increase the efficiency of its
people and as patriotic war measure.
The "wets" predict that neither Sen
ator Emerson nor any one else can re-
vive ratification. Senator Emerson is
non-committal. The "drys,' with SEN
four-two short of q ma jority. Leaders
Of the "drys" in both houses declare
that only another miracle. such as
Senator E,merson's conversion, can re-
vive ratification.
Talks with legislative leaders to-day
indicate that ratification is dead this
year. These men expressed the belief
that all prohibition measures, with the
possible exception Of the light wine
and beer bill, are dead. They believe
that measure has little chance The
Anti-Sa Oon League. after some of It's
leaders indorsed the Bill, went on rec
ord officially against it when they
found they We're sighting for the same
cause with the brewers and wine grow
ers.
The Democrats and distillers and
saloon men are solidly against it, 1t
has few real friends in the Legislature.
The resolution providing for bone
dry amendment to the state constitu-
ton has been placed in the same class
with the advisory referendum by the
drys-that of camoufiage legislation.
Senator Fears Trouble
IF this Legislature kills ratifca-
ton" said Senator William II. Hill,
leader Of the 'drys' in the upper
House, 1T VIII come to life next fall TO
plague it. 1t is an issue that viii not
be downed"
And the wet legislators admit that
this is so, and some OF them from the
rural districts express the fear that
their political lives will terminate with
the present Legislature unless ratihca-
tion is revived.