Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 July 1919 — DRYS IN HOUSE KNOCK OUT WETS [ARTICLE]

DRYS IN HOUSE KNOCK OUT WETS

Vote Down All Attempts to Amend the Liquor Measure. < MUCH CONFUSION ON FLOOR Onjy Sixty-Eight Members Present When Long Roll Call to Obtain Quorum Was Started at Seven X O'Ciook at Night. Washington, July 18. —Prohibition forces voted down in the house every attempt to eliminate drastic provisions of the general enforcement bill, and while In full and absolute control shut off debate at tha word of their leader despite the violent protest of the minority. When they had raced through the war-time enforcement portion of the three-pnrt bill and got into the constitutional prohibition measure there were only 68 members on the floor and so much confusion that a speaker could not make himself heard. It was seven o'clock at night when the long roll call to obtain a quorum was started, and members then had gone home, after declaring there was no good reason for trying to force through a bill to take care of a situation that would not arise until January.

Drys Win All Battles. Before the house got Into a snarl, however, the prohibition faction had fought off every attack on their bill. An amendment to strike out the minimum fine for those convicted of violating the war-time act, was fought over and defeated, 68 to 57. This was offered by Representative Reavis, Republican. Nebraska, a prohibition member of the judiciary committee. Chairman Volstead of the judiciary committee nnd patron of the bill, presented an amendment which was adopted without debate and which made the measure a bit more drastic In that it added the word “manufacture" to the many things a man may not do with liquor in his office or home. Wets In Saddle, but— For a brief moment late In the day the minority—described by the prohibitionists as the wets —swung into power, only to be thrown out by a demand for tellers, which meant an accurate count on a vote to amend the bill so that a person charged with violating a liquor selling injunction might demand and obtain a trial by jury. This motion, offered by Representative Gard, Democrat, Ohio, and warmly supported by former Speaker Clark, had provoked an hour’s debate which was bitter at times, when the house put on the lid and -started to vote. There was a noisy shout from the ayes, who appeared to have won. Instantly there was a demand for a division, and after members had been counted the result was announced —ayes, 70; nays, 66. ’ 8. O. S. Brings Back Drys. The victory was not expected, even by the wets, and they realized they could not have won except for the large number of absentees on the other side. While the house was marching through the center aisle to be counted after demand for tellers had been made, distress calls were sent out for prohibition members, who came piling In ip sufficient numbers to beat the jury trial amendment by two votes —78 to 76. —— Aftej jjjundlgg up a quorum the house took up the constitutional prohibition enforcement bill set down as part 2 of the measure, and defeated, 71 to 35, an amendment by Representative Igoe, Democrat, Missouri, eliminating the definition of intoxicants. This was precisely what was done the other day in the war-time act, and was in accord with expectations.