The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-06-17
CITY LOCAL
OPTION TOO.
And a Practical Extension OF
the Mann Law to All
Communities.
The WORK OF THE LEAGUE
Will Make Vigorous Campaign.
and Urge People to Send lem
perarce Legislatures Here.

AZ q meeting held in this city yester-
dav afternoon the executive conlfn'tlee
"a the Anti.Soloon Lea que laid its mines
for Il careful and thorough campaign o.
the state that is designed to cohtrol lile
membership of the next Legislature TOT
the temperance cause In general ana ana LOT
Two specifio aims in particular
The practical extension Of the Mann law
to towns and cities.
IT.. an actment Of measure permitting
ward local option or prohibition N cities,
IN the same manner that district local
ontlon is allowed In counties.
Roth Of these projected movements are
s,ens along the general direction to pe
followed by the league in It's pattle
against the saloon in Virginia. Lengthy
discussion was given to these general
plans Yesterday and the policy OF the
body for the coming two or three Year,
< was outlined. AS brought out III me
consideration of this matter, the league
Is ayowedly not In favor of a State-Wlue
prohbitory law. Its energies VIII pc
$bent along another course Ihe4 state 70
day grants licenses to saloons unless
objection is raised by the citizenship or
the community. Tho league would re-
verse this order and provide that no
license shall be granted until certain con-
ditions are complied with--Which condi-
lions resolve themselves ultimately into
the consent Of those to be affeoted py
the establishment of the saloon IN qnes-
ton. "A local option election. called upon
the petition of the prescribed number OF
voters, would determine the sentiment of
\ T 1,nf> l.
ton there would DO no license granted.
If, under petition, an election were
held and the majority of the people voted
against the saloon, there would. OF
course, he no license granted But II the
majority declared in favor of the saloon,
then the judge might. In his discretion,
issue a license to a proper person for a
saloon. to be conducted in a proper place
@s8 Present Order Reversed.
This Is to be the broad general plat
form of the lcague--a platform. winch
reverses the present order of things, but
Which is radically different from State
#prohibltion. 1t means simply prohibition
Where the sentiment demands 1t. and
mot elsewhere. With this ultimate objec
e IN view. the league will press on, accom-
s$plishins a step here and a step there, UNI
III the end is reached. The fight nov
e contemplated will not be made on thi.
ultimate question, but upon the two spe
&cific approaches to 1t indicated above
During the summer and the fall and the
snmmeraof next year the league will visi,
ST every. county in the State, attending reli.
a Eious meetings and holding pcnics raj.
lies and conventions OF it's own. 1t will
E send speakers into every field and terri
tory. The people everywhere will be
urged to elect to the next Legislature nnl,
such men as will come out squarely and
declare that they are in favor or the
restriction of the saloon along sensible
practical lines.
number of other interesting matters
We're discussed at the session yesterday
The situation In the State was declared
70 be encouraging. 1t was learned that
the league as a body will take no stand
in the governorship fight. The individ.
lals composing It will, however, cast
their ballot for Judge Mann,