Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-02-04

aware. opened the battle for the "wets."
Ramsey presented two bulky packages
OF petitions containing 'the signatures
OF 104.561 qualified voters OF Philadel-
phia, who opposes prohibition" Applause
greeted Ramsey when he declared I'VE
are not respons BILE for the action OF the
States which have ratified the amend
ment, but We are responsible for our
own actions here today.
II, too. am a Republican" said RAM
sey. and I glory in the record Of that
party which Mr. vickerman says has
been disgraced 80 far.
'Tt was our party which gave the
State Governor Sproul and made II pos
sible for Pennsylvania TO bear the lions
share over there
IL come from the County OF Delaware,
which gave Governor Sproul the great
est majority ever given in that county
and at the same election elected three
wet" members OF the House. 1t is for
you and me to decide this measure"
Ramsey read from the Declaration of
independence. He said he would not
go into the question of property loss.
but declared the greatest loss would be
ito the men who made this State great
the workingmen."
BE fair and vote on this resolution
as you think 1t your duty to vote,' he
pleaded.
This measure would take away rights
OF citizenship which our people have
enjoyed since 1776."
Great applause greeted the close OF
Ramsey's remarks
ShowaIter and Fowler Speak
Representative II. NJ. Showalter, of
Union. the next speaker for the 'drys,"
aid he agreed with Mr.. Ramsey that
every man was entitled to "the pursuit
of life. liberty and happiness"
Showalter added that n man was en-
titled ito the pursuit OF happiness only
so doing as 1t did not affect the rights Of
others"
Representative David Fowler. Labor
lie, of Lackawanna, was the next
speaker for the "wets."
when the funeral of John Barleycorn
takes place." said Fowler. at will also
be the funeral of thousands of trade
unions In Pennsylvania.
Fowler said he found in his travels
as union organizer more drunken
ness in the dry States of the South.
than in Pennsylvania"
Fowler said 1t was true the jais were
empty in dry" States because they had
shot all the police officials"
II want to tell you the liquor people
do not control me. I speak only in be-
half of organized labor.
You may have the right to censure
these people. but you have not the right
to rob them"
Fowler declared that it was no way
to begin a great period of reconstruc-
tion by tearing down great industry.
Labor is Not for Booze
Representative Robert L. Wallace.
of Lawrence. said this was the happiest
day in his career as a legislator.
IF this is the funera, of John Barley
corn, l will be present, not as a mourner,
but happy pallbearer," said Wallace.
Gentlemen" exclaimed Wallace, Ia
Dor in Pennsylvania is not fer booze.
l come from one of the greatest labor
ing districts in Pennsylvania, and my
district always sends a prohibitionist
to this Assembly"
During the address of Fowler, the
Representative from LaCkawanna said
when he went to the Philippines in 1898,
I'VE took our beer kegs with us"
Does the gentleman from Lacka-
wanna" Wallace asked. remember in
1898 that his home county went for
prohibition by giving DR.. Silas Swallow
a majority for Governor?"
Wallace threw at the liquor men the
charge that when the "drys" wanted a
referendum it was refused, but now
when 1t was not acceptable they were
only too willing to give 1t.
A pamphlet circulated by d. Clarence
Gibboney. of Philadelphia, drew forth
the ridicule of Wallace.
The height OF nonsense and an argu-
ment that is behind the times" is the
way Wallace characterized the Gibboney
pamphlet
"The laugh is on the man who clrcu-
lated this" said Wallace. and a hearty
laugh greeted the reading OF excerpts
from the Gibboney circular.
at is an unfair proposition TO ask
us to pass this resolution" declared
Representative William Devils. of Cam
bria, when there are more than 2,000,-
900 boys over there who have as much
right to have their say on this question
as you"
Davis dwelt on the destruction of
property rights in the passage of the
prohibition amendment.
Maiden Speech Draws Applause
Representative Charles G. Jordan, of
Lawrence a new member, made his
HalueH speech iof the iesOie''Oh'
Let us uphold our Governor" de-
clared Jordan. ''If we vote this reso-
luticn down We will put our Governor
in "a false light.
II intend to stand by the Governor
whenever he is right. 1t would be n
disaster TO desert the Governor in the
first great thing that the Governor has
advocated"
Jordan made the most spirited speech