Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-01-21
"DRYS" WIN POINT
in GUARDIANSHIP
Vickerman Reported Ger
tain to Head Committee
Handling Amendment
LESLIE SERVES NOTICE
Senator's Objection Apparent.
ly Overruled-Vares Get
Five Places

bD u stuU Correspondent
Harrisburg, Pa. Jan. 21.--in the first
clash between the wet" and "dry"
forces in the Leg stature victory is re-
ported to have perched on the banner
Of the "drys."
The trouble started over the tentative
selection OF representative John W.
vickerman. Of Allegheny. leader of the
"dry" forces in the House, for chairman
Of the Law and Order Committee.
Senator Max Leslie. Republican lead
er Of Allegheny County, is reported to
have served notice on the other leaders
that he would not stand for the stating
of EicKerman. who has never been
aligned politically with the Leslie
forces.
II is generally understood that the
wet" forces wanted the retention OF
Representative william c. Wagner,
wet of Allegheny. as chairman OF the
Law and order Committee.
Some higher authority however, de-
creed that the chairmanship should go
to Vickerman and It Is now considered
only head the committee. but that It
will contain majority of dry"
members.
The next fight on the amendment rati-
fication will be an attempt by the 'wet"
forces to divert the resolution from the
law and order committee to the COM
mittee on constitution reforms.
A certified copy OF the Federal prohi-
bition amendment was received from
Washington yesterday by Cyrus L.
Woods. Secretary OF the Commonwealth.
He will certify it to the Legislature as
soon as the committees are organized.
Representative Vicllerman held n con-
ference with Governor elect Sproul Ia st
night and, said he would call up the
resolution in the House today or to-
morrow.
The "drys" intended to introduce It in
the House last night Vickerman went
to the office OF the Secretary of the
Commonwealth for a copy of it, but
while he was gone the House adjourned.
DRY" eaders declare nnety-nine
| members of the House. exclusive of the
Philadelphia delegation. are pledged to
vote for the prohibition amendment. and
: twenty-five Of the forty-siX Senators.
The full quota of Senators is fifty, but
vacancies and absentees total four.
Another row has developed over the
assignment OF House committees.
Repres tatire Hugh Dawson, of
| Lackawanna, was slated for chairman
of the House Ways and Means COM
mi:tee. The Ware forces are reported to
have demanded that the post be given to
Philadelphian.
Dawson refuses to step aside and has
the backing OF group of powerful
leaders
The committee is one of the most inn
portant in the House
1t is believed the House appropria-
| tons craftsmanship will go to Repre-
| sentative William J. Mckaig, of Alle-
/ gheny
Representative James \. Walker, Ware
/ man from the Forty-eixth Ward, is said
! to be slated to head the committee on
! banks and banking Walker was after
| the House judiciary general committee
but is said to be satisfied with the place
assigned him.
: Two other Narc men who are said &c
/ be slated to head committees are Repre-.
sentative Edwin r, Cox and Charles G
A. Bald, Jr. Representative William J
Grady, of the Fifteenth Ward, is under.
stood to be the Panrose member from
Philadelphia who will head a committe ee
Representative W. Heber Diethrich, OF
Allegheny, is understood to be slated foi
chairman Of the House judiciary genera
committee.