DEFERRED, MARCH 30--PAGE 107.
MR. FLOYD said: Mr. Speaker, I am surprised that the gentleman from Delaware should offer this amendment, the practical result of which would be to defeat the end sought to be obtained by the temperance people.
The gentleman from Delaware had too much practical good sense not to see the inevitable effect of his amendment. Should this proposed amendment prevail it would not only be more than has been asked by those having the temperance work in hand, but it would ultimately defeat prohibition movement. There are two methods of defeating a measure. One is to oppose it fairly and squarely, and the other is to advocate it too much.
It is not an unusual method in parliamentary tactics for the opponents of a measure to seek to defeat it by pressing it beyond the point of practicability. I do not say that the gentleman from Delaware seeks to do so in this case, but I do affirm that the adoption of his amendment would have that effect. Mr. Huston's resolution contemplates just what the temperance people pray for in their petitions, and I am in favor of giving them what they ask. Gentlemen, let us not break this resolution down with riders, but let us meet the issue fairly. It is an important issue, and I am in favor of meeting it. I hope the amendment will not prevail.
