The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-02-24
INT Frs TATE
LIQUOR LAW
Richmond Men and Ministers
Sign Petition.
ADDREssEDToU.s.sENATE
Rev. Mr.. Miller, ofthe Reform Bureau
In the City and Makes Address
to Pastors ofRichmond
Churches.
ADDRESSEDTOU.S.S


of the Reform Bureau OF Washington,
D. c., is in the city, and is securing Sig
natures to n petition addressed to the
United States Senate, calling upon that
body to act favorably on the Interstate
liquor bill--a measure to protect the rights
of States, counties and towns which may
vote In favor OF local option, no llccns e,
or prohibition. by making liquor shipped
from one State into another subject to the
laws OF the State into which, 1t Is shipped
as soon as 1t crosses the State Line.
At the Methodist minister's meeting at
Centenary Church yesterday morning Mr..
Miller spoke on tho subject and work of
the Reform Bureau. He said that the
primary object of the Reform Bureau was
to secure the passage of important reform
legislation at the National Capital along
the lines of temperance Sabbath observ-
ance. anti-dlvorce, antl-eambling. etc.
TIe spoke OF several important
reform laws which had been Sc
cured largely through the work Of
the bureau. He mentioned seven bills
wl1ich had been passed by Congress-
and which Ind been drawn up by the
Reform Bureau and introduced at its re-
quest.
Mr.. Miller said that the bureau was
making great efforts Just now TO secure
the passage through the United States
Senate of House bill 1881, generally
known as the Interstate Liquor Act"
This measure aims to protect no-llcense
and prohibition territory against brewers,
distilers and wholesale liquor dealers
from outside Of State, and to prevent
their sending liquor into such territory
IN original ma cIknpeGt thereby 1n1lifvir r.
the vote of the people.
This bill passed the Ho,ise of Repre-
sentatives on January 27th. and is now
pending In the Senate.
Mr.. Miller present ed petition, which
he read. and to which he said he de-
sired to secure large number OF sigma
lures OF influential men. The petition Is
as follows:
ITO the United States Senate:
''The undersigned hereby petition your
honorable body to pass House act 1881,
generally known as the Interstate Liquor
Act to protect the rights of States,
counties and towns which may vote in
favor OF local option, no-license or pro-
hibition. by making liquors shipped In
the original packages from one State
into another subject to the laws of the
State into which it is shipped as soon
as 1t crosses the State line"
He said: "This is practically the old
doctrine of States rights as applied to
the liquor traffic, To me it seen1s a burn
ing shame and an outrage that when a
town, county Or State votes to abolish
saloons, outside liquor firms. under Fed
eral protect on, should send in large
quantities of liquor In the original pa ok
ages, and thus practically nullify the law.
Under present interstate commerce laws
the United States Supreme Court. in the
Rhodes VS. Iowa case, decided that liquor
shipped from one State into another Is
not subject to the laws of the State into
which it Is shipped until after 1t is deliv-
cred to the consignee."
Under the present law a wholesale
liquor firm outside OF the State can come
in and sell liquor in a manner not al
lowed to a firm inside of the State
Mr.. Miller stated that the Reform Bl-
reau, with other organizations which are
pushing this matter, is trying to get
people In every State to write at once to
their two United States Senator's, urging
them to help secure the passage Of this
important bill. He said that the brew
ers and distlllers are thoroughly aroused
and alarmed, and are pouring into Wash
ington in great numbers, determined tc
use every means possible to defeat the
passage Of this bill But If many Of the
Christian people VIII show enough posi-.
tive interest In the matter to write al
once to their Senators in favor OF the
bill. it will be passed before Congress
adjourns on March 4th.
SIGNATURES SECURED.
At the close Of his address Mr. Mile,
presented the petition above referred to
which was heartily signed by Bishop j
G. CRANBERRY. VINO happened to be present
and by all the other ministers present
Mr.. Miller was calling on several Of the
prominent men of the city. giving then
an opportunity to sign the petition. Whes
seen yesterday afternoon he had secured
the signatures of John p. Branch, Colonel
A. S. Buford, John C. Freeman, w. L.
Walters. c. Il. Cook, S. E. Bishop, S. IT,
: Bowman, ]. Q. Atwood l.. c. Christian
ID. B. Dugger, George NJ Smithdeal. III
NJ. Nuckols, and Others.
Among the ministers he had secured the
Signatures of Bishop j. C. CRANBERRY, Pre-.
siding Elder r. IL. Bennett, w. w. Lear
w. 3. Beauchamp. L. b. Betty. j. B
IInwthorne, w, r. T.. Smith, John Fan
non, w. A, Cooper, George II. Wiley
J. O. Babcock, r. Nj Ma&ey, l.. C. Moore
r. p. Parham, r. p Lumpkin, w. A
Laughon, John 7. Bosnian, ]. B. Askew
Asa Driscoll, j. 7. LumpliM,
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