Norwich bulletin., 1918-02-27
Prohibition Battle on
 in New York State
BRYAN IN ADVOCACY, eoMPERs
 IN OPPOSITION
FEDERAL AMENDMENT

Hearing Was Held Before Joint Lesis-
 lative Committees at Albany
 Gompers Claimed UneonstitutionaI-
 ity-Bryan Scored Liquor Dealers.
 Albany, N. r.. Feb. 2s.-For mora ttan five hours today, crowd larger than ever before was damned into lhe assembly chamber of the state capi- tol, heard men of international repu- tation argue for and against the rati- fication by the New York legislature of the federal prohibition amendment. William Jennings Bryan led the pro- hibition forces. His principal oppo- nent was Samuel Gompers, president of the American Federation of Labor, who was seconded by Former United States Senator Bailey of Texas. Be- sides these speakers there were many less widely known.
 No Indication of Result.
 The hearing was held before joint legislative committees to which the ratification resolution was referred upon its introduction early in Jan uary. At the close of the hearing no indication was given as to when the committeeman would decide whether I to report the resolution favorloly or unfavorably.
 ] Prohibition and it's relation to the 1 war was one of the principal argu- ments made by both sides. MT. Bry- an declared tbat it was vital to the adccess of the United States and it's allies that this country send men clean 1 in mind and body to the battle front. MT. Conpers asserted that in the pres ent crisis the people of the country rad enough to do in the fighting line i !}S opposing the central powers and t that their attention from this most !! important subject should not be di- !verted by any measure less vital. l Opponents of the ratification plan s:iinrnad up their oratorica1 campaigns ;jy the assertion that the federal s,=.1e,1tllnant was unconstitutional in that it would give both federal and istates concurrent jurisdiction in en- forcing the pro}ibitcTy clause. The reeolut;an's sponsors ware equally as ernp!?ati: ;n their declaration that the enforcement provisions contained in
 the amendment were legal and valid.
 Gonnrers in Opposition.
 Mr. Gonpers said that while he also considered the amendment unccnsticu tional he would speak of the more human siGa of the oppositlux as view l ed by organized labor. That body oi !, linen, he said, considered the atteEap , | to regulate their habits as a vioiaticf II lof personal liberty. .Organize labor The asserted, had desas naoresstbans taag ,other agency to make men ternperat. t. but they resented efforts to depriv' | them of their rights.
 , Prohibition by constitu tiona amendment is not only injurious br
 dangerous in the extrane," he de.
 clared "Constitut:ops are charters q | guaranteed rights. They are not doc uments of denied rights"
 ,J Cheers from the vets and lauSh
 from the d-ys greeted Mir. Gompers
 assertion of his belief that "tfe con
 ditions in Russia today are rrimaril,
 due to enforced prohibition"
 . Aren't we asking about enough z g German and Austrian and Italian te'i g low citizens" Mir. GomDeSs asked ''t
 be loyal and give their support to tEi
 government against the countries {" , their own birth CT the birth cf thei parents without injecting at tl1is tim , Ia question of regulating or prohibitini their normal habits?"
 Bryan Loudly Cheered.
 The former secretary of state wa a loudly cheered when given the floor e There was one cry from tie galler = of "Why did you quit the cabinet? ? T This he ignored. He began his tsi by declaring that the arguments or fered by opponents of ratificatic 8 were not real ones The real reaso a for opposition was financial, he de o clared.
 . Its the money back of this busi = ness that we have to fight" he as
 serted.
 "Efforts of the liquor and brewin
 interests to obtain referendum o n the subject he characterized as. mere = ly moves for delay. Replying to on = cf MT. Gompers' arguments, MT. Brya n said: .s-... --..-..,.-- -..-
 "Our distinguished labor leader la told you that wise men drafted tn d constitution and put in it no though 1t of prohibition. He also told you tha 1T once the constitution is amended t t, provide for prohibition it will be far : to change it back again. Well, for
 ttunately the wise men who drew U
 the fundamental law realized that E $ was a document to govern live an l. not dead men, and that therefore, the e provided that it could be changed. Fe IT Mir. Gompers implication that, ono @ prohibition is constitutionally adopte 'f it will remain forever. we of the dr
 forces thank him."
 Compensation of Liquor Dealers. ;. The question of compensation for "a quor dealers who might be deprive ,t of their means of livelihood, MT. Br1 - an said, should be settled on the san r basis as saloonkeepers compensate f
 the lives of men and women for. whoi
 moral and physical breaking dow # they are responsible. ,d -"Who are the elen behind this den I'd onstration here today to keep this rat fN 6cation resolution in committed? N 10 Bryan asked. "I'n tell you. They a , the men who would make drunkar, ' of every. soldier. and thus leave
 practically defenseless. We have g
 to win this. war. The only way ' g. can win is by supplying as. fast as , 'n are able men. whose brains are cle and whose nerves and, bodies a ,- strong. The, saloon does not make f 10 clear brains nor strong bodies" a- r -- l