The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-02-21
By United Press

By United Press
The move to submit prohibition
to the nations voters became an
open race today.
Within few hours after con-
gress had sent the Blaine resolu-
ton to repeal the eighteenth
amendment to the states Monday
Legislative action was begun to set
up the necessary convention ma
chinery in widely scattered states.
In Washington the state depart
ment worked far into the night TO
send to the forty-eight Governors
official copies of the Blaine resO-
luton and the proposed amend
ment.
From New York to California,
and from Georgia to Washington,
legislators rushed to enact laws
which would permit the voters to
express their views on federal pro-
hibtion.
Governor Lehman of New York
sent a special message to the legis-
lature demanding that it move
swiftly to set up ratification ma
chinery He also asked the state
alcohol beverage commission to re-
port quickly on proposals to call
convention.
Georgia Fourth in South
In the legislature, New York DEM
ocrats and Republicans offered a
bill to call a convention April Is or
Is. Thus the Empire state sought
to WreSt from Wyoming the diStinc-
ton of being first to ratify the
amendment.
Wyoming already has enacted a
law providing for a convention.
In West Virginia plans mere made
to draft the necessary legislation.
Georgia became the first state of
the old south to act When Tesolu-
ton for state convention was Of
fered in the house and referred to
committee. Governor Blackwood of
NSouth Carolina said that states leg
islature would act Tuesday when
1t reconVeneS.
In the remaining eight states OF
the old south the outlook was less
happy from an anti prohibition
viewpoint. A survey by the United
Press indicated that in most of
them conventions would be called,
but the outcome seemed dubious.
States Rush Machinery
Three southern state legislatures
do not meet until next year. They
are Virginia, Louisiana and Missis-
Sipppi Modification legislation i'll
Arkansas. Tennessee, Alabama and
Georgia has not been successful This
session. The Florida legislature
meets in April. TenneSsee'S legiSla-
ture definitely is dry.
Governor Richie OF Maryland de-
cided to withhold action until the
state department has forwarded him
a copy of the Blaine resolution.
In Massachusetts Governor Ely
called on the legislature to provide
the convention machinery Cover
nor Schmeederman said he expected
Wisconsin to vote for ratification in
May.
Michigan's Governor Comstock
gave favorable consideration to
proposal to have the state legiS-
lature sit as a convention.
Governor Rolph of California
planned to ask the state legislature
to call ratification convention.
The Ohio senate votes Wednes-
day on a bill to hold a convention
election in November. The Mis-
souri, legislature has a similar
measure before it.
Early Vote Sought
In Kansas and Oklahoma pro-
poSalS for a convention faced severe
dry opposition which successfully
has voted down state modification
measures this year.
Colorado. Oregon, Minnesota and
Washington planned to seek an
early vote on resubmiSSion legiSla-
ton
In Rhode Island. which never rat
flied the eighteenth amendment.
plans were being made to allow
Governor Power to fix the date of
a convention.
The Pennsylvania legislature con-
sidered two bills calling a state con-
vention and prescribing methods of
electing delegates. One called for
thirty-three delegates elected at
large and one additional delegate
for each of the thirty-four congress
sional districts. The other called
for the election of a delegate from
each congressional district with no
provision for delegates at large.
-Four bills providing for repeal
conventions were introduced in the
New Jersey legislature. They will
be made special order of business
Monday. The bills differ mainly in
the number of delegates specified,
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