The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-07-23
HOT DEBATE
OVER LIQUOR
Congress Wrangles Over Pro-
hibition Measure For
Hours
LIQUOR MEN MAKE
BITTER FIGHT
LIQUOR MEN MAKE
Debate Reminds One of Old
Times in South Carolina Leg
islature.

Washington, July 17.-Prohibition
forces voted down in the house today
every attempt to eliminate drastic pro-
visions Of the general enforcement
bill, and while in full and absolute
control shut off debate at the word OF
their leader. despite the violent pro
test of the minority
When they had raced through the
war time enforcement portion Of the
bill and got into the constitutional
prohibition measure proper. there
were only 6S members on the floor
and so much confusion that a speak
er could not make himself heard. 1t
was I o'clock tonight when the long
roll call to obtain a quorum was
started, and members then had gone
home, after declaring there was no
good reason for trying to force
through a bill to take care of q Sit
ua.ion that would rot arise until
January.
Before the house got into a snarl
however, the prohibition faction had
fought off every attack on their bill.
An amendment to strike out the min
imum inc for those convicted of vlo-
lating the war time act. was fought
over and defeated, 6S to 81. This was
offered by Representative Eea*;s,
Republican.
Chairman Volstead Of the judiciary
committee and patron OF the bin. pre-
sented an amendment which was
adopted without debate and which
made the measure BIZ, more drastic
in that It added the word "manufac-
ture' to the many things u man was
not to do with liquor in his Office or
home.
For a brief moment late in the dag
the minority-dcscribed by the pro-
hihitionists aS-tlle vet ts-svang into
power, only to be thrown out b. o.
demand for tcllcrs. which meant an
accurate count on a vcte to amend
the bill so that a person cha:Se3
with viola ing q liquor selling injunc-
ton Nigh, demand and obtain trlai
by jury.
This II ton. offered by Representa-
tive Gard, Democrat. cf Ohio. and
warmly supported by Former Speaker
Clark, hal provoked an hours debate
which was bitter at times. when the
house pu: on the lid and started to
vote There was a noisy shout from
the ayes who appeared TO EaVe won.
Instantly there was a. demand for
division and after members had been
counted, the result was announced.
ayes 20; nays 66. The victc:y was not
expected, even By the vets. and they
realized they could not have won eX-
ccpt before the large number of alb
sentees q the other SIDE. While the
house was marching through the CEN
ter aisle to be counted after the de-
nand for tcilers had been made, calls
were sent out for prohibition mem
bers who came piling in in sufficient
numbers to beat the jury trial amend
ment by two votes.
After rounding up g. quorum the
house took up the constitutional pro
hibition enforcement bill, set down q
part two Of the measure, and defeat
ed, II to 35, an amendment by Repre-
sentative Igoe, Democrat, o. Missouri,
eliminating the definition Of intoxI-
.ants This was precisely what was
done the other day to the war TIM
act. and was in accord with e2pecta-
tons.
Although debate was limited to five
minutes fer each member it ran 81!
the way from the old fashioned at
tack on John Barleycorn" to poetry.
with a few words of near profanity
thrown in once by Former Speaker
Clark to put little punch in u storE
he related to show 'he importance
cf trial by jury in Injunction cases
Il remained. however, for Represen-
tative GoodyEoontz, Republican. OF
West Virginia. to cnlichton the house
rs to the extremes to which some
members of the judiciary committee
wanted to so in q far reaching b;!l.
Mr. Good ylinootz is I; member of the
committee and be started cut by. say
ing it was composed Of three groups
each with u different school o!
thought.
"Onc school" he said. wanted to
draw the bill so carclcssly chat il il
were enacted into law it I.o,lld carry
no force and effect and would be in
nocuous Another school was SO eX
treme that it wanted to bind the
whole thing up so as 70 pat crcr:E
man in munac1c$ so that he could not
move in any direction. Th" bin as
brought to us carried provisions tc
the effect that it wa3 unlawful tC
manufacture or scll'Grapc Juice or 70
manufa cture any Of these malt drinks
OF which there are hundreds sold IN
der different names and so that it
would be Illegal to manufacture or
sell llavorini, extracts. And ono man.
| believe. suggested toat we put tn
preachers under bond fer sacra1nen-
tai vines.
The bill as reported. he said, repro
scnted the third course and ateered
between the two extremes.
The house was proceeding rather
rapidly with consideration CT the bill
With Chairman VolSte3d preparing to