The border vidette., 1932-12-10
LAME DUCKS BLOCK PROHiBI-
TlON REPEAL

tue DenOCr6LlC l08O0rSOIO TO
force its party's outright prohi
ton repeal proposal through the
house failed today and dimmed
prospects of further action on
the issue in that branch during
the remainder of the short ses-
sion of congress.
The action was interpreted as
foreshadowing special session
of the new congress next spring,
soon after President elect Roose
velt is inauguratec, so that the
Democrats may carry out their
pledge for fat repeal.
Despite the defeat of the reso.
luton by the narrow margin Of
272 to 144-two thirds majority
being required for adoption-the
Democrats planned Immediate
attack on the problem of modify
ing the Volstead law. Speaker
Garner hopes beer bill will be
ready for action before the
Christmas holidays.
Today's gathering, tee first
aimee the campaign, was friend
lc, spirited and noisy, mounting
into an uproar as prohibitionists
cheered and galleries emptied
after Garner announced abrupt
~:
"Two-thirds not having voted
in the affirmative, the resolution
is lost"
blicans, whether they
voted for or against repeal, join.
ed in charging the Democrats
with unseemly haste. But it was
q Democrat, Huddleston of Ala
hama, who put bis complaint
most dramatically as be stood in
the aisle and said that If given
a decent opportunity," be would
support repeal.
But this is not a decent op
portunity," be shouted. "Mr.
Speaker, We who are about to-
die, salute you. Good Demo
Gratis who are devoted to -. the
proprieties of parliamentary
practice are being crucitied and
are being impaled here today
upon this legislative atrocity,
AS for me, I choose death"
Prohibitionists applauded Hud
dlestoD, but most of the days
applause joined in by galleries
crowded by smartly dressed wo
men seemed to go with the re.
pealists.
Eighty-one lame duck" mem
bers, not returned to the next
congress, and 33 Democrats re
elected in November. voted
against the measure. Sixty nine
defeated incumbents voted for
it. A shift of six votes from the
to the affirmative would
have sent the resolution to the
senate.
Altogether, 1853 Democrats,
103 Republicans and one Farmer
Labor voted for the measure; "A
Democrats and 100 Republicans
voted against it. Eleven of the
Democrats opposing it are Tame
ducks" while 20 are Repub blicans,
a total of 81.
Spectacular in its inception,
swiftness of action. and failure,
the Democratic effort will go
down in history of the first to
bring constitutional amendment
before a legislative branch of the
government under procedure
preventing any amendment and
curt failing debate to 40 minutes
It was the first test in congress
on fat repeal of the 18th amend
ment since it was voted into the
constitution 10 1917, although the
Beck L!nthicum submission pro
posal was defeated last spring
227 to 1877.
Speaker Garner was greeted
warmly as be vigorously walked
into the chamber promptly at IL
o'clock to open the house. The
galleries we're packed with prom
minent persons. even the seldom
used executive and diplomatic
sections, Senators and members
Of the cabinet were OF the floor
to watch.
Dispensing with the opening
formalities as quickly as possible
the vice president elect then dis
carded all custom by recognizing
Representative Rainey OF Illinois
party floor leader, to offer the re
solution.
Several Attempts were made to
extend debate time, but the vets
= Il