The daily times. [volume] (Wilson, N.C.) 1902-1936, 1919-07-10
DEBATE ON THE
PROH|B|TIONB|LL
Representative Pou of North
Carolina Opposed to Many
Provisions of Bill.
DEBATE FOR IL HOURS

Washington, July 9.-Following
futile attempts at filibustering by the
"wets'' the House adopted rule for
twelve hours debate on the Prohibi-
ton Enforcement measure. Consid-
Grafton of the bill will continue un-
der general debate perhaps until Fri
day when the real fight will be stag
ed by the 'twets" to force an amend
ment authorizing the President to
lift the war time ban on beer and
wines and asking a more liberal
definition of an "intoxicant.''
The attitude of the ''wets" to
fight the drastic features and to de-
lay consideration as much as possi-
BILE was shown in the debate on the
rule. Because of calls for quorums
and other dilatory methods the
House did not adopt the rule until
O'Clock, when Representative A. J.
Vo1sthead, Chairman of the Judi
ciary Committee, in charge of the
bill, began his explanation of the
measure. His speech was recital
of the main features of the bill as
embodied in the majority report
He announced that the committee
will strenuous1y object to any es-
sentia1 amendment, and is determin-
ed to pass bill to give adequate
laws for the effective enforcement of
prohibition under the wartime law
and the national constitutional
amendment effective next January.
While there was an absence of
more than I'll members, some of
whom are reported to be in Atlantic
City at the Elks' convention, the
"drys" received such an overwhe1m-
ing support on the rule and the pre-
vious question as to indicate that the
bill as reported would be accepted by
the House without a change disap-
proved by the prohibition leaders.
On the adoption of the rule the vote
was 225 to SO, and on the previous
question the "drys'' had still
greater majority. -4s ,-lzxs
The debate on the rule in dicated
that while some of the liberals in
tended to fight to the last ditch, the
struggle so far as the House is con-
cerned will be hopeless, as war time
prohibition and the national amend
ment resolution were both passed by
big majorities.
In presenting the rule, Representa-
tive Campbell, Chairman of the
Rules Committee, did not attempt to
discuss the purposes of the bill, but
contented himself with explaining
the necessity of passing the measure
without delay, in order to settle the
dispute waging in the courts on what
constitutes an 'intoxicant." Rep
resentative s. D. Fess Of Ohio sup
ported the rule, while Representa-
tive Cantrill, Kentucky and Repre-
sentative Pou Of North Carolina, op-
posed it. The latter raised strong
objections to the bill and surprised
the "drys" by his attitude, because
Of his long support of prohibition.
while I am a prohibitionist, and
never touch liquor myself. and have
always supported prohibition bills"
he said. ''I am opposed to many fea-
lures of this measure"
''In all the history Of this Govern
ment never has there been more
drastic, a more far-reaching. and, in
my humble judgment, more op-
pressive measure than this bill" adj
ded Mr.. Pou, who is ranking DEM
ocratic member Of the Rules Com
mittee. "I am told that in four or
five states there are more Illicit stills
than there were saloons in any one
time in the history of those States.
You had better go about this thing
in a reasonable way. In my judg-
ment the state Is the largest unit of
endorsements. There are communi-
ties where people have been educat-
ed from childhood to driak beer and