National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-03-20
THE PROHIBITION ISSUE.
THE FIGHT TO BE MADE IN VIRGINIA
THIS FALL.

Local option Elections and Legal
Opinion on Licenses 80 Mr.. Blniue's
Gift Coupon Taxpayers to be Boy
Cottcd--The X. of L,-Other Matters.
RICHMOND, VA, March 10.-The question
Of whisky or no whisky, which is TO be
decided in this state in few months, is
just beginning to excite the people. The
temperance people Of the state will be fully
organized in two months, they say. They
will hold state convention at Lynchburg
in few weeks, when they will arrange
for making a canvass by speakers and by
the press. They will begin the publication
Of an organ soon, which Is to be called the
Standard. The paper will be conducted
by Prof. w. W. Smith, Of Ashland, who is
commander OF the local option forces, and
will be assisted by Geo. W. Hawxhurst, of
Fairfax, who has been made secretary Of
the anti.whisky people. During the next
month the annual meeting OF the Good
Tempnrs Of the world will meet here, and
they have asked for the use on one day OF
every church In this city.
THE LOCAL OPTION ELECTIONS.
Lynchburg, West Point, and the counties
Of Botetourt and Washington will vote first
on the liquor question about the 26th OF
April. The whisky men here are not as
fully organized as they might be, and have
not much money in their treasury. They
have made one small contribution to the
"wets" Of West Point. While the excite
ment over this whole matter has not reached
it's height any where In the state, the effect
Of the agitation is hurtful TO business OF
every character, and consequently people
are dissatisfied and anxious about the
future.
A LEGAL OPINION.
Judge Latham, of the Lynchburg city
court, holds that liquor licenses granted
hereafter for the whole year will be void III
the district where taken out shall prohibit
the sale Of whisky. II this opinion be sus.
taiDed II will be great hardship on many
who will take out licenses in districts where
the people are known to be opposed to the
sale Of liquor and will vote against II. At
all events the people of Virginia are now
about TO become aroused to the considera.
tion of vexod question little less intricate
than that Of the state debt.
THE SAFETY OF STATE SECURITIES.
The special committee appointed by the
assembly to investigate as to whether Vlr-
ginian securities were safely kept is still in
session in this city. The Offices Of the
treasnrerand second auditor are to be fully
looked into.
LIQUOR TAXES IN CASH.
At amcetiDg Of the Liquor Dealers As
sociation here during the week it was de.
cided that they would pay their taxes in
money and not In coupons. This decision
may now be reconsidered, as Judge Latham,
Of Lynchburg, says dealer will suffer the
loss of his license in case the "dry" people
are successful.
MIR. BLAINE TO MIR. j. S. WISE.
Hon. James G. Blaine has sent to Hon.
John S. Wise, OF this city, one Of the hand
soonest bound copies OF his book that was
issued from the press: Mr.. Blaine wrote to
Capt. Wise, presenting the splendid gift
with marked courtesy.
CoUPoN TAXPAYERS TO BB BBoYcoTTED.
The Payment Of taxes in coupons is yet
going on, but only in moderate degree.
An effort to boycott those who pay their
taxes thus will be made, but the people are
so poor that they are fortunate to be able
to pay In coupons. State Senator Gee, of
Prince George, is in the city to-day, and
says his people have never before been so
depressed and so poor.
THE c. & o. RAILROAD co.
The annual meeting OF the stockholders
Of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad Com
pany was held here yesterday. The condi-
tion of the road bed is good, but large
number OF locomotives are in the shops
undergoing repairs. over 1000 tonnage
cars have been contracted for the year.
There was large falling off of revenue
from freights and passengers as compared
with 1884, which is attributed to general
depression Of business. The old officers OF
the company were reelected.
The Southern Telegraph Company's lines,
rights, &C., will be offered for sale here by
ountinn nn tha oath of March Tho propartv
is said to be valuable.
THE KNIGHTS OF LABOR NEUTRAL.
The Knights OF Labor allege that they
will take no stock in politics as between
the Republicans and the Democrats, and so
do the liquor dealers, but from conversa-
tions with gentlemen representing the two
classes II is impossible not to see that both
dislike the Democratic party cordially. The
Knights Of Labor promise to display fine
list of names tomorrow Of those whom
they will boycott. The Labor Herald, the
organ Of the knights, has circulation of
1000, and is well edited
Gov. Lee has examined the penitentlary
buildings, and left for Petersburg to-day,
where he inspected the normal school. He
SO manages his movements that his name
gets into the local press daily.
ExGov. Cameron has opened his law
office here in the same building with ex-
Attorney GeneTul BLAIR.
The journals of the general assembly
have been printed and are now being sent
out to legislators.
II. II. Alexander, Of Washington city, is
in the city.
AN INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER.
An editorial in the Richmond Whg
(Dem.) Of yesterday, warning the Demo-
Gratis that they must do something for the
people while In power or give up The reins
Of government, caused sensation here
among the politicians.
The work ON the custom house here is
moving slowly. 1t is said that 1t will re-
quire two years to finish 1t.
CHILLs OVER WITHHELD COMBINATIONS.
The failure OF the United States Senate
to get TO work on the confirmation OF the
Presidents Virginian appointments has
given half dozen Democratic statesmen
the ''chills, ,"sand there is no peace with
them. A prominent politician just from
Washington tells me that Messrs. Goode
and Catlett Gibson, the latter district at
toney here, will not be confirmed.