Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-01-30

came the 44th State to ratify the fed
eral prohibition amendment when the
Senate tonight, by a vote of 27 to "a.
concurred in the McNab ratifying resou-
tion which was adopted by the Assembly
last week.
The entire democratic delegation Of %
voted as a unit against ratification and
were assisted by two republicans, Henry
NJ. Sage of Albany and Charles C. Lock-
wood of Kings, both of whom had re-
fused to be bound by the action of
republican caucus Monday night In max
Ing the question a party measure.
| Just before the adoption of the ratif-
cation resolution, the Senate. by vote
of 26 to %. defeated a motion of Senator
John !. Boylan, democrat, in New York
to substitute his bill, calling for an ad
visory referendum in place of the reso-
luton. Senator Peter Abeles, republican,
. Of the Bronx, was the 'only one of his
party to join with Senators Sage and
Lockwood in voting with the democratic
minority.
Adoption Of the resolution accomplished
after eight hours and 20 minutes of
debate and pickering over parliamentary
| technicalites. For a time 1t looked
though action might be deferred, Sena-
tor Loring NJ. Black, Jr.. a Brooklyn
democrat having raised a point of order
that the question of ratification was not
properly before the House. His conten-
ton was that the records of the 1919
Senate did not include the official certif
cation Of the action of Congress in sub
mitting the ratification amendment to
the State. The technical question was
raised by Senator Black during a speech
in denunciation of the resolution. At
once Majority Leader Walters and others
began an investigation to determine the
status Of the matter. Half dozen con-
ferences were held in committee rooms
and lobby. and the senators who remained
In the chamber to debate the bill talked
to empty seats, but to crowded galleries.
Later when the point of order was for
mally raised by Senator Black, a recess
was ordered when it was learned from
the clerk Of the Senate that there was
no certified copy of the action of Con-
gress at the desk When the Senate re-
convened, Lieut.. Governor Walker, the
presiding officer, ruled the point of order
we'll taken whereupon Senator George F.
Thompson, introducer of the ratification
resolution, moved to appeal from the de-
csion of the chair The motion was
Withdrawn a few minutes later after the
adoption of motion of Senator Adon
p. Brown of Madison, that Governor
Whitman's special ratification message
sent to the 1918 Legislature and contain
Ing certified copy of the amendment
proposed by Congress. be made a part
of the record of the 1919 Senate. This
cleared the way to a vote on the resolu
ton, although from time to time Sena-
tor Black renewed his objections.
Virtually all the debate con-
tributed by the observation-disclosures
r.
3orsensic battle with a lengthy denun-
citation of the proposition on constitu-
tional grounds.
Senator George F. Thompson the in
PRODUCER. Frederick NJ. Davenport Of
Oneida and John Knight of Wyoming
spoke for the measure. Senator Dav-
export said that the saloon had been
made a greedy profiteering institution
by the great brewing and distillng in
terests of the country.
I'VE have learned" he said, "as
result of the revelation in connection
with the war that some of the most
powerful influences behind the saloon
have been lending aid and comfort to
the enemies of the country. The propa-
ganda against our nation was prepar-
ed, revised and approved by the main
officers of brewing company"
Referring to the efforts of organ
ized labor to defer action on ratifica-
tion he said he could not understand
why labor should fight the battles Of
the brewers and distillers when the
brewers and distillers have given up
the fight"
He declared that there was no need of
referendum, as there had been what
he called "the best kind of referen-
dunn, a referendum in virtually every
assembly and Senate district last fall"
Senator Thompson argued that those
who now oppose ratification are simply
protesting against a provision of the
fundamental law which they had sworn
TO uphold. 1.-THE governor elected be-
cause of the activity of the rum inter-
ests and the inactivity of others has no
voice In this matter" he said SEN
ators Black and Dodge took him to task
for his reference to the governor, Black
declaring that there had been elected
"a man. and at a time when men are
needed"
Mrs. Smith. the Governors wife, and
her daughter Emily were interested spec
tators during this portion of the debate
Majority Leader Walters did not speak
for the resolution although on one Of the
roll calls he explained he believed its his
duty to abide by the caucus decision
Many of the democrats taunted the
republicans with having been lashed into
line by William II. Anderson, State su.
perintendent of the Anti-Saloon League
to whom one speaker referred as the
'leader Of the ex-Republican party"
mo. he is not the leader" commented
Senator Walker "he is the driver; hs
is the Simon Legree of the ex-Republicar
party"
Mr.. Anderson, who was in the front row
of the gallery with other representative,
of his own organization and the Women'l
Christian Temperance Union, Joined IL
the laughter that swept through tho
chamber
The action to-day of Frank l.. Polk act.
Ing secretary of state. informally pro
claiming ratification of the prohibition
amendment to the federal constitution IL
not yet binding, according to a statement
issued tonight by an executive committed
representing the Distillers Association OF
America at the close of two days con
ference here.
OF the AZ States whose legislatures have
(COntinued ON page fOur)