New-York tribune., 1918-02-27

New York, although scheduled to take
charge of the vets, as William S. An
Gerson, superintendent Of the Anti-Sa-
loon League, did for the drys, did not
appear before the committee.
Mr. Hirst had a speech prepared and
printed His speech, some four thou
sand words in length was marked for
release to-day at p. m. Copies of it
were mailed TO every newspaper in the
state. But although Mr.. Hirst was here
and in excellent health, for some rea-
son which he did not make public, he
did not speak.
Covert charges were made that some
of the gentlemen who opposed ratih-
cation were in the employ of the liquor
interests.
While conversations tonight with
members CT Legislature indicated
that they would not recede from their
privately expressed determination to
Kill the ratification resolution and put
through the Partial prohibition meas
ures. the hundreds of clergymcn and
members of the Wonlen's Christi
Temperance Union, who have been COOP
Grating with 1he Anti-Saloon League,
may bring sufficient pressure to bear
to force the Legislature to ratify the
resolution.
Fox Opens for "Wets''
Austen G. Fox, representing the State
Bar ASSOCIATION, was the first speaker
The association has gone on record
against ratification. MI. Fox said:
This Is the first time it has ever
been suggested that Congress and the
states have concurrent power to en-
force an article Of amendment. This
form is Objectionable and dangerous.
II we mean to give Congress power to
enforce prohibition, say so. If you
think 1T is wise to have state control
of prohibition, say that But do not
mix your authorities'
Samuel Gompers, who has been at
tackled by the anti-saloon people as an
ally of the brewers, branded the pro
hlbltionlsts as faddists and fanatics .'tc
whom no name is an object of respect ,
He said they stigmatzed the President
as "the big brewer of the United
States,' had maligned Cardinal Glib,
bons and llbelled our army in France
as rum soaked.
THE question involved is deeper than
the constitutional issues" said Mr.. Com
pers. "Drink should be subject to the
rules Of common sense, not of law. This
oppression by law of the normal habits
OF man is not only injurious but dan.
gerous. The exercise of the norma
rights of citizens is a constitutional
right. Because here and there small
numbers abuse that right is no reason
for denying to all.
Prohibition viii not root out the
evil of intemperance. No amount of law
viii bring about temperance IN the acts
and cond,'ct Of the mass of the pco.
pie"
Dangerous in War Time
He said it would be dangerous thing
to do with the country at war, adding;
81 cannot say that the situation il
Russia is due to prohibition, but any
how the situation there is as it is"
This last, which was spoken some
what haltingly, was greeted with roar:
OF laughter by the "drys." Mr.. Com
pers was visibly embarrassed, but final
ly proceeded, saying that this was {
time when prohibition and other issues
of It's kind should not be injected il
our lives, which. he said, should be
given up wholly to winning the war.
Everett p Wheeler, who was ant
still is violent sutfragst, fac
which was later made use of advan
tageously by the drys, followed tn,
labor leader.
"What amazcs me-" said the New
ofh laWNef, is lhat reIlglouS people
( become advocates of deprivng men o
Gods good gift of free choice"
And the derisve laughter which wa
to that which was meted out to Mr.
I Wheeler. He. too, was hustered TO,
while. Shaking his hand at the drys
! he shouted:
Yes, laugh, You are advocating ;
/ bill that would send Christ to prison
for changing water into wine for tn,
/ guests at the marriage feast. Ant
what he said about the Pharisces ca,
be said about you. Publcans and har
lots Will go into the kingdom of heaven
before YOU
Bailey Pays Own Way
had been invited to speak by a MAJ
whose name he did not mention. II,
said he would not even permit thi
man to pay his expenses. Hi,
argument was that prohibition was en-
/ tirely local question, which had n,
place in the Constitution.
Il don't like to hear clergymen, wht
exist in all parts Of the country, VIII,
speak of God as though He had beer
their playmate from boyhood up," h
continued. yet | would not ask tina
they Should be forbidden talking i,
this manner by constitutional enact
ment; | don't think woman shoult
ever drink glass of wine in publ,
nor smoke cigarette in any place
! Yet | would not make it a crime fo
her to do so.
at is thing that would leav.
TO the good sense of men and women
1t IS hardly a thing for legislators t.
meddle with. | Will submit to the Leg
slaturc decreeng that | wear clothes
but not what kind of clothes | shout,
wear
He SAID that settling questions @