Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-03-07

h'NN W ILL mhNhiA'D
Mr.. Ned Taylor, of Z. E. Taylor 4
Co., wholesale grocers: We do not sell
liquor in any form, nor have we ever.
do not think that the powers that
be have taken the right step towards
the suppression of drink. So long as
liquor is made so long will mankind
drink it, either by license or otherwise
Stop its make and you stop its drink
Men will be led, but tits hard to drive
them.
LOCAL OPTION WILL DEMoRALlHE
BUSINESS AND THE YOUNG MEN
TOO.
Mr.. Gus. E. Delarue, restaurateur,
lllG Main street, said From what |
know and hear the passage Of the local
option bill has caused general depre'-
sion in trade and great dissatisfaction
amongst our merchants. ! buy my
goods on the same conditions as for
merly. | don't think, however, that
this question has anything to do with
local option. We are organizing to
protect our interest as well as the in
terest Of the public by all lawful means.
No, do not think this will be dry
town. The liquor business is so closely
connected with other lines Of business
that if local option is adopted the pros
,ects of our city will be seriously af-
fected, not to speak Of the demoralizing
effect it will have on our young men
to get liquor at all.
RICHMOND PEOPLE TOO SENSIBLE
TO VOTE FOR LOCAL OPTION
Mr.. Slater, Of Slater, Myers & Co.,
wholesale grocers and liquor-dealers ::
The law has not been in operation long
enough to enable me to speak of its
effects. We have made no change in
the term Of our credits as yet.
No. do not think Richmond will be-
come a dry town. ! think the citizens
Of Richmond are too sensible to vote
for local option or any measure that
will be an injury to the future pros
poets Of the city.
Mr.. Myers Of the same firm 1t has
made trade dull and prevents large
sales. Most of the dealers are buying
from hand to mouth. The liquor
dealers have an organization that has
been in existence for about eight years.
| have met with several people who
are notliquor-dealers or liIuOr-drinkers
who are opposed to local option. They
give as reason that if you take one
right from merchant you may go
farther aud take away other liberties.
LOCAL OPLION WILL DAMAGE ALL
KINDS or BUSINESS SERIOUSLY"
Mr. Augustine, Of Augustine d Glo-
yer, wholesale grocers and liquor-deal-
ers This question of local option is
being much ogitated in the city. and
business is very much unsettled. Sales
arc small. We are seriously affected
by it.
Yes. sir. Our firm are members OF
the Liquor-Dealers' Protective ASso-
citation, and we will take such action
as will be for the best interest Of the
trade and we would not like to see the
question Of local option agltated in this
city, firmly believing that 1t will not
crly affect the liquor business, but
damage all kinds of commercial busl-
ness seriously. ! do not think Rich
mond will vote to adopt local option.
| NOT POSSIBLE "TO FIND \ sCFFI-
GENT NUMBER OF FRAUDS AM
/ FANATICS TO GET CP THE PETG-
, TON
+ MIR. Robert Hill, Jr., representing
the Continental Brewing Company, wa
asked. as the others were, what has
been the effect on trade OF the passage
Of the local-option law. Said he:
II has caused the greatest depression
in every branch Of business, particu-
larly ours. No retail dealer will buy,
and are daily refusing to buy, any
thing that they can possibly do with
+ out. giving as their excuse that if car
ried they DO not wish to have any
more stock on hand than possible to
ask indemnity for. Plans were drawn
for one Of the finest saloons in the city,
but they have been abandoned until
the question is settled.
What are the conditions on which
goods are now sold:'
As near for cash as possible, and
in any large transaction we have tc
promise to take back the goods unsold
I If the law goes into effect.
What steps are the liquor-dealer,
now taking to oIganize;'
7 hey have organized the finest asso-
citation ever known, of which ! am first
yice-president. 1t is composed of not
only every liquor-dealer in this city.
but Of many wholeSale-grocery men and
tobacconists, representing millions Of
capital, who propose to protect their
rights, property, and liberty in every
way that is just and legal. They ask
nothing else, and to that end have EN-
ployed the best legal talent in the city
Committees are actively at work now
and have been for months. They will
visit every town and county, and see
that such Is thoroughly organized.
"Doyou think that Richmond will be-
GENE dry town."
do not believe, from a residence in
this city Of thirty-fye years, in which
time have met all Of the male inhab-
itants, that it will be possible to find a
sufficient number Of frauds and fanatics
to get up the petition to call the cleo
tion, and if so unfortunate a number
could be obtained and the bill passed,
not only here, but anywhere, you could
not have dry town or place under the
canopy of heaven. In all my travels,
which have included lOcal-option, prOhi.
bition. and whiskey cities and towns,
have never seen the spot where liquor oi
some kind could not be had. Where
licensed you find it sometimes good, and
where local option prevails the yilest
stuff is sold. have sold liquor in
eyery city and town in the State in a
pure state, and in short time the same
liquors are so watered and doctored with
various drugs, &C., that the manufac-
turer would not recognize the barrel in
which it started out.
1T WILL DRIVE CAPITAL AWAY