Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-07-28
CALL LREFERENDUMS
FOR TEST 0NL|QU0R
Last Resort to Register Defeat of
Constitutions Prohibition
Amendment.
PROCEED IN FIFTEEN, STATES
Seek to Nullify Action of Legisla-
lures in Giving Assent to
National Dry Era.
BY j. FRED EssApY.


WASHINGTON, July GA single
chance remains for the defeat of con
stitutional prohibition in the United
States. and. while that chance is re-
mote, 1t is. nevertheless. being care
fully weighed. not only by the liquor
Interests OF the. country. but by the
prohibitionists themselves.
IL the action of ten State Legisla-
lures which ratified the eighteenth.
or prohibition; amendment to the Con-
popular referendums. the prohibition
gouin go into effect on, January i6 viii be
with to a liquor basis exccDt to such
an extent as State laws apply.
a,I!r,eady ,!, have been invoked in efes fiftesn n
ainsaent nsa States, five more than are
respective legislatures. W The The o safes tne
are Michigan, Ohio, Missouri. Arkansas.
Wayb Msw II Mexico M,ol Colorado. Nebraska.
Oklahoma; Oregon. Utah and Idaho.
The petitions have been thrown out
nr.a n three Of these States-that is. in
courts in these States to the United
states supreme Court.
Petitions In Seven States.
The necessary petitions have already
been filed in seven of the referendun
States, and in the others they are
being Se,n cireSlated Ws FOR the sisnatui-s IS of
Of names has been secured secured they v"Snf WilI
be presented to the proper officiais.
petiiions m ai such fos states it Is provided that
signed by a, fixed percentage or the
voters; ,st usually or s per cent. After
must be held at which the proposition n
contained in the referendum must be
On January %. OF this year. Acting
the fact that thirty-six spates Pafesa'msd had
Am1ne THOSE 'ne SLAMS
Guided ten whose Constitutions give
n Inc ,hs Tlsht Of referendum. An example
COURTS in that State have held tha, hal
tn. the resolution ratifying. the amend .
ne,I,,on mspt is h,, subject to eferendun a
election viii be held " In NnvembeT eea and an IT
me people OF the State do not concur
rated he ifi,en tho OF shs, which
improperly counted among the thirty
Six States in the Polk proclamation.
Requires Three-Fourthx Vote.
t,Iusps Up +, to tdat' date however. the LegisIa-
passed the ratifying resolution since cs
Three fourths Of the Sta,es Sta oeiamatlon or thilfr
SIX. must ratify before an amendment
becomes fess I. operative and the drys. there
,i ,heir credit. Rhode Island. Connec
ticut and New Jersey have not rati6ed
states the people Of ten Of the forty i've
,Si!tyye viii have iegaily fhen ratfaS GnlS
receive eaSuge' tbs and it having failed to
vote OF the forty-eight American Enm IS ;
ynHnw ,nf,1 weaitns, Yea the eighteenth amendment
The exact Situation I in orGanie tba ievsrs; law
sh9wn Ns9 BY Levy Mayer COUNSEL for ths rs
mary: io"lHs sum-
l. arkansas: 5000 names necessary
Permisstan reiisTHnd 5000 coo names fled May 10
endum refused by the Secretary of
state OF Arkansas, May 81.
= California: 34.434 names necessary
Ssar1 o seLerend; sa noS $1,000 names filed June IL
the county clerks and certified to the
Secretary Of State.
8. Colorado: 10000 names necessary
10 rererend; $4,000 filed June IS
Maine Falls In Line.
:. Maine: 10000 names necessary TO
fe5ereno; 10000 VIII be filed this week.
TO &C, referend; over 10000 will be filed
6. Missouri: $4,000 names necessary
this week nieu
Z. Nebraska: 10000 names necessary
10 referend; $4,000 filed July 10.
.. Nevada: 1857 names necessary to
referend: 1000 filed July e5.
8. New Mexico: 10000 names neces-
sary to referend: $4,000 filed June 10
Attorney-General not yet issued officiaI
ruling.
10. oklahoma 5000 names necessary
10 reterend: $4,000 filed June Is. Sec
retary of State on instructions from
Attorney-General has refused to nut
referendum proposition to ballot. Man
aamus proceedings are now pending in
y n sNtt.-
II. Ohio: $4,000 names necessary TO
referend; 100000 filed March J. Secre-
tary OF State accepted petition and
hled it. Drys enjoined him from put
turned down.
II. Washington: 22.657 names neces.
sary to referend. Mandamus proceed
ngs brought against Secretary of State
ballot title. Writ granted by Supreme
Court. Forty thousand names filed
June IL. Nerifcatio Of signatures by
secretary of State not yet completed.
Make Desperate Fight.
Ihis summary shows that the vets
nullify the proclamation is issued s"' by sy
secretary of State Polk, and while.
of-hand, it seems that theirs is an
almost hopeless fight. even though they
win IN the State courts and secure a
vote upon the State ratifying resolu-
tions, still the unexpected may happen
and fresh complication over this
measure arise
1t is further announced by Mr. Mayer
that In addition to the referendum
reasons which may form the basis of
an attack on tho eighteenth amend
ment. it will be contended in the
United States Supreme Court on con-
stitutional grounds" These constitu-
tional reasons are now being examin ed
and soon will be put into formal form
IT is intimated by. him that Rhode
Island will proceed under, the resoIu-