The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-03-26
LIQUOR ELECTION
IN BLACKSTONE
License or No License Left by
the Council to a Vote Of
the Citizens.
Especial to Tho Times. DISPATCH

BLACKSTONE. VA, March q5.-The
question uppermost in the minds of tho
people here this week, and the one heard
discussed on every corner from morn till
eve. is that of license or no license. This
was precipitated by the action Of the
Town Council on Friday night. when they
decided to hold an election as to whether
or not they should grant liquor license
for another year. This will not be a legal
election, but tho Council will act in ao-
cordance with tho result Of the ballotng,
tho question of granting being in the
hands OF the Council by reason of the
failure Of the Constitution to provide for
tho holding of spring elections In the
towns. This necessltates the old Council
holding over. and the question of license
to be settled by them, The election will
be hold on Friday Of this week, and the
three judges taken from tho different
sides Of the question will determine tho
qualifications of each man to vote, as
there has been no full registration in the
town under the new Constitution,
Judge w. II. Mann was here on Sun
day and delivered an address In the
Methodist Church that afternoon In tho
interest OF the anti-saloon advocates, Flo
also explained his bill In the Senate, and
tho effects of Its operations with tho
amendments that have been attached to
1t. Tho judge Is reported to have said
that his bill Will mean total prohibition I'M
less the judge TO whom application is
made for license shall have a skin an
inch and half thick
Another meeting WAS held In the Meth
odist Church on last night. at which time
quito n number were present, Including
many ladies' Remarks were made by
Revs w, M, seay. Of the Baptist
Church; Theo T, Dpes. of the Presbyte-
rlan Church, and James Cannon, Jr.,
principal OF the female Institute; also by
Messrs, Fl, H. seay. r, u, billiard and
George p, Adams. Every effort is being
bring out the full dry vote, and they are
claiming Victory already, There are three
saloons here and they pay a town license
OF $500 each year. q total OF 81 200 In
all. Thus far this license has paid tho
greater portion OF the towns expendi-
lures. and without It taxes Will be mate
rally increased, This. will cause some to
vote wet who would probably not other
wise do so.
AS soon as this local fight Is over an
other will be preoipltated. embracing Not
toway and Amelia, In the election of a
member to the Legislature to succeed
Hon, r. G. Southall, recently resigned
to take his seat In Congress. Several
names have been mentioned In this con-
nectlon. but 1t is believed the fight will
narrow down to Colonel Meade FIaskins,
an attorney OF this place. and Hon. II,
u. Lee, nm attorney and Mayor OF Crewe,
1t is reported that the latter Will be en-
dorsed as the ant!lsaloon candidate,
This being the home county of Judge
Mann, moro than ordinary interest is felt
here In tho bill before the Legislature
which bearu his name, and thers is
strong dissemination among the advocates
OF that bill to send some one to tho Leg
islature IN thorough sympathy with lts
Intentions. No date has been set for this
election. as mt this writing II has not
baen, ordered by the Speaker Of the House,
but IT Ia expected that he Will do 80 IN
g DAY Or two and prspsrstlon s.t ~ being