The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-01-31

an audience which this afternoon
packed the floor and galleries of the
House chamber and which frequently
interrupted his address by yOcifeTous
applause. former Secretary of State
William Jennings Bryan made an ad-
dress in favor of the ratification OF
the national prohibition amendment
The first part OF his speech was de
voted to replying to the arguments
of William l.. MaTbury. Then
as he said he brushed aside
small matters and went into the sub
ject of prohibition from the bottom.
He called upon the Legislators not
10 be controlled by breWery-r
and saloon-ridden Baltimore city.
Governor Harrington Introduced
Mr.. Bryan and sat at his right during
the address, with G. W. CTabbe, SUI
perintendent of the Maryland Anti
saloon Lea que, at his left.
At the end of the speech of two
hours tn Governor announced that
Mr. Bryan would hold a reception in
the old Senate chamber, and a large
crowd met him there He took din
ner with Governor Harrington and
left for Washington later.
=
House Chamber at 3.15, preceded by
Governor Harrington and others, was
the signal for applause This was
renewed a few minutes later when
Superintendent Crabbe took his seat
at the Governors left. The Cover
nor was applauded when he rose to
introduce the speaker. which he did
in a very few words.
Il am fortunate in speaking tC
those who have heard the utmost
that can be said on the opposite side
of this question:" said Mr.. Bryan in
opening his address. Il am glad that
the address of Mr.. William L. Mar
bury has been called to my atten-
ton. If Mr.. Marbury were d man OF
only mediocre ability and character
you might say when you have heard
me, oh, but wait until man oil
real ability presents that side But
after you have heard Mr.. Marbury
and my answer the case is made up
Nothing more need be said.
In reading Mr.. MarbuTy's address
1 found three propositions. First
that the Legislature ought not
to ACT on the Federal amend
ment without a clear mandate
from the people; second, the kind OF
persons to be chosen for the Legis-
lature; third, that the people ought
10 speak in no uncertain terms. Mr.
Marbury did not say so, but another
argument is made that prohibition
has no proper place III the COnstitu-
ton.
Now, Mr.. Marbury treats this as
new question, whereas the evils OF
drink are as old as the human race
This referendum proposition is one
of delay. The criminal is always in
favor Of a continuance. I've never
known a man who knew he was
guilty who was ever ready for trial
and the saloon is fast reaching the
close of its criminal career. Besides
there is not man in this body who
was not elected with some reference
to this question"
Mr.. Bryan argued against any de
lay by Maryland, because it NIGH
cause the ratification to be delayed
for a year longer, which would bt
equivalent to presenting the brewer:
and distillers a gift of billion dol
lars. He continued: This attemp
to bend the Legislature by popular
referendum is contrary to the spirit
of the Constitution. SUPPOSE. fol
example, that a majority of the leg
islators from the various politica
units were elected as Prohib iliiunistts
and brewery and saloon-ridden Bal
timore overcame the county MAORI
ties by 10000 or 10000 in favor Of
the breweries and distillers and sa
looms of that liQuor-SOaked grea1
city.
They talk of States rights. Now
no man lives who is more devoted tc
States rights than l am, but l an
not willing to have that honorable
doctrine in a drunkard's grave"
Mississippi, said Mr.. Bryan, the
State which produced Jefferson Da'
Wis, was the first to ratify the Prohi-
bition amendment. Most of the
Senators and Congressman from the
South, the home of the States rights
doctrine, voted for the amendment
Concerning a referendum, Mr.. Bry-
an excoviated the liquor interests
for what he declared was their in
consistency in yelling for popular
rule when they have in Pennsylva-
MIA, Texas. Ohio and other States
sion of will.
On the constitutional argument,
Mr.. Bryan said:
L want to give a word of advice
to your Legislators. If you want to
vote against measure that you
know to be good, make the argu-
ment that it is unconstitutional, it
is most dignified and respectable OF
all such excuses. But, my friends,
the Constitution is not vested in
you, we have courts to decide such
questions. If you never vote ON any
question about which there may be
some who doubted its constitutional
ty, you would never know whether it
was constitutional or not That is
what courts are for. II you are GO
ing to vote against this ratification,
tell the truth about it, You cannon
deceive anybody,not even yourselves.
4 am not rejecting on legislators
| am speaking of them as they are. -
(laughter.)
Mr.. Bryan TOLD of the fight on
the Webb-kenyon law on the ground
that it was unconstitutional, and OF
how President Taft vetoed it on the
opinion of Attorney-General Wicker
sham. He declared he was sorry the
Acknowledgement was from New
York because there was always
some suspicion that man from New
York might have some other bias
than intense love for the Constitu-
ton. The Webb-KenyOn law. he
declared, had been passed and de-
clared valid by the United States SUI
preme Court.
The contention that if prohibition
were put into the Constitution the
action would be irreyocable, Mr.. Bry-