Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-03-14
GOVERNOR MIXED
SAYS MIR. SPROUL
Delaware Senator Declares
Executive Is Mistaken; Firm
For Prohibition

senator w llllam I. SpTOul, VI DSi-
aware county, who was assailed by
Governor Martin G. Brumbaugh yes
terday on the ground that his decla-
ration for the prohibition amend
ment was not satisfactory declared
last night in Philadelphia that the
Governor was mistaken in his refer
ence to an alleged conversation aon
the subject of local option. The Sem
ator in his newspaper, the Chester
Times, came out yesterday with
strong editorial declaring for pro-
hibition and favoring the amend
ment, the statements made being
very positive.
When asked for a comment on the
Governors statement the Senator
said;
MY relations with Governor Brum-
baugh have never been such that we
would likely be exchanging condi-
dences. never had any conversa-
ton with him on this subject. l fear
he is mistaken in the time, the place
and conversation. The best answer to
his statement is my action, in taking
up the fight for members of the
Legislature here at home who will
vote for the ratification of the pro-
hibitory amendment"
Senator Sproul added, laughingly,
that lit seems strange that the Gov
ernor and his friend, Denny were
so anxious to keep him off the pro-
hibition band wagon and to keep it
for their own express benefit"
Before the Goverpor's statement
burned the wires from Harrisburg
the Chester Times, Senator Sprouts
paper, declared unequivocally for
the dry amendment and pledged its
support to a Delaware county dele
cation to the State Legislature who
would declare unreservedly for the
amendment.
The editorial in the Times was
as follows:
THE question of national prohi-
bition has received a great impetus
through the national patriotic up
lift occasioned by the participation
of this country in the great world
war. From a local issue it has be-
come n moral issue and from a
moral issue it has grown to be a
great economic and patriotic issue.
The submission of Congress to
the states of the national prohibi-
tory amendment for ratification has
made the question one of immedi-
ate importance from q political
standpoint. Many people who have
long believed that doing away with
strong drink was desirable now see
an opportunity of accomplishing
NErh ~
become n reality. All over the coun-
try there is a rapid increase in sem
timent for the prompt enactment of
the prohibitory amendment and, as
Senator Sproul said in his speech at
West Chester, it is in line with the
spirit of self-sacrifice, self denial
and self discipline to which the
American people have set themselves
in order to meet the present great
national crisis.
1T looks as though the vote of the
states upon the question would be
almost unanimous. Thirty-siX states,
or three-quarters of the whole num-
ber, are required. for the ratification
of the amendment and there seems
to be virtually no doubt that not only
this number of approving votes will
be secured, but that there will be
few, if any, reflections of the propo-
sition. ..
Whether Pennsylvania ratifies the
amendment or not, it will, without
question, become the law of the land
and there is no reason why Penn
sylvania should not ratify it. We be-
lieVe that the overwhel Ginning senti-
ment of the people of the state is
in favor of it's ratification. The
question will he settled by the next
Legislature, each house voting sep
arately upon it. A majority vote
in the House and Senate are required
to pass the amendment. In most,
if not all of the countries, there is
avery active effort being made to Sc
cure the election of members of the
Legislature who will vote favorably
upon this question. Even in the big
cities, the movement is gaining great
force and in Philadelphia probably
a majority of the members of the
House and Senate will be found upon