Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-02
OUTLOOK Is NOT ROSY
LIQUOR DEALERS OF VIRGINIA
ARE CUP AGAINST IT."
Large Number Bills to Regulate Trahic
Have Been introduced In 49,
Legislature.
Special dispatch to The Evening Star.

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star -
RICHMOND. Va, February 2.-The liquor
dealers Of Virginia are in a great state Of
uneasiness over the situation here and the
strength which has been developed by the
temperance people. This strength is shown
In the large number Of bills which have
been presented in the general ASSEMBLY
tending to regulate the liquor traffic
One of these measures is what Is known
as the Mann bill, which virtually requires
applicants for license to get the consent Of
a majority Of the voters Of the magisterial
district in which they propose to sell liquor.
The bill does not affect the cities where
there Is police protection. In addition to
this. the bill will. if it becomes a law. make
Il possible to hold local option elections at
any time and often as the people may
require. either for districts or for a county.
That Is the thing most dreaded by the
whisky people. Heretofore. in local option
elections, 1t has been a comparatively easy
matter for the whisky men to manipulate
the colored vote. inasmuch as no political
party was involved. But under the new
off the poll books. and were elections or
dered now. 1t is believed that hundreds Of
saloons would have to go out of business.
Close in Lynchburg.
In Lynchburg there have been three local
option elections. and the vets have won by
majorities of less than thirty and as small
as seven. This. too, after the hardest kind
of work and the most liberal use of the
sinews of war
The Liquor Dealers Association has had
a meeting in this city and has employed
several men to look after the interests OF
the SaloonkeeperS and protect their inter-
ests when the fight on the bill begins. E.
c. Woodward of Roanoke is president of the
state association.
Bedford has a bill before the senate in
which he proposes to try the dispensary
system in the state. The bill provides for
an election by the people as to whether
there shall be a dispensary, and, if a ma
jority decide in favor of the dispensary,
then the courts are to appoint three per-
sons to conduct the business sell the best
liquors for cash only, and refuse to sell to
habltual drunkardS or to persons to whom
the manager shall be notified not to sell
liquors.
Applies to Cities and Counties.
This is to apply to cities and counties.
The receipts are to be turned over to the
city or county treasurer. No liquor is to
be drunk within ten feet of the building in
which it is sold. The dispensaries are to
open at sunrise and are to close at sunset
each day, and the place of sale shall be in a
room on the principal street, with no blinds
or screens to prevent a clear view of the
dispensary.
The revenues from the dispensary are to
be divided as follows: In cities. one-eighth
to the state, three-eighths to the city and
oHe-half to the public school fund. In coun,
ties, the same as the foregoing, except that
the three-eighths is to go to the public road
Improvement fund
1t will be seen that the outlook for the
liquor dealers in this state Is none too rosy,
especially in view of the fact that the pop
ular vote is to decide the question of sale
of liquor. and the element which could be
depended upon to stand by the trade i'd
the poll books.
The liquor men are clamoring for funds to
conduct the fight, and the officers Of the
state association express the belief that the
outlook is anything but encouraging.