Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1905-04-07

It's passage the people have elected a new
Legislature, but in the General Assembly
OF 1904 not a single bill was offered to
repeal or even to amend it. III the Mann
Bill is an extreme measure, and should
be punished for being it's author, why did
Democratic General Assembly pass the
bill and a Democratic Governor sign it,
and why did not the legislature of 1904
change the law? What is the Mann
Bill? lis an amendment to the general
revenue bill prescribing the circumstances
under which liquor license can be Sc
cured at places where police protection is
not afforded in the country and in towns
OF under five hundred inhabitants. IL
provides that license shallnot be granted
in such places unless it shall plainly ap-
pear to the satisfaction of the court that
n majority OF the qualified voters of the
district or town in which the privilege is
sought to be exercised are in favor of the
application, and that the sale of ardent
spirits at that place will not be contrary
to sound public policy, or injurious to
the morals or the material interests of
the community This is briefly the entire
change made in the law, and surely no
man will hold that license should be
granted when it would be contrary to
a sound public policy or injurious to the
moral or the material interests of the
community. The law does not affect the
| cities at all, or towns of over FIVE hundred
inhabitants or watering places. The
effect OF the law has been most pleasing
TO people living in communities without
police protection where the crossroads
saloon.was demoralizing labor and max
ing 1T unsafe for ladies to travel alone. 1t
has closed up T6T saloons in such COM
munities, has caused considerable de
crease in the criminal expenses in the
counties, and lessened the number of
prisoners in the county jails."
"Allow me to interrupt you, Judge,
what effect has the law had on the rcve-
nue. of the State?''
II am glad that you asked me that
question. Along with the amendment
known as the Mann BILL there was
added TO the general revenue bill pro-
vision which nearly doubled the licenses
on bar-rooms, Taxes derived from bar
room licenses since the passage of the new
law havebeen about $215, 900, more than
any previous two years, although there
are T67 fewer saloons
Another question, Judge, at this
point: 1t is stated that the Mann Law
resulted in the springing up of a number
OF social clubs, what is the fact about
| that?'
Thatlawis in no part of what is known
as the Mann Bill / think the Social
Club law is very detective. A law should
he enacted that willclose the bogus clubs,
which are no better than the worse types
of bar-rooms."
Il interrupt you, Judge, to ask these
questions, as you were talking about the
Mann Bill Finish what you started to
say"
"Well, as l stated, it is true am the
author of the Mann Bill, but my nomi-
nation would not commit the Democratic
party to a definite position on the liquor
question any more than the enactment of
the Mann Law by Democratic General
Assembly and Governor has already COM
mitted it, and as the Democratic party
has not repudiated the law, it seems to
me that might expect to be given credit
rather than blame for proposing such
measure. Now, as to thefurther fact that
dignified the liquor question by stating
my position upon it in my formal an
nouncement, while the other candidates
have ignored the liquor question entirely,
| will simply say that my political enc
mics made this an issue for me. When
my name was first mentioned as prob
able candidate, without thought or sug-
gestion from me, as far back as August
and September, 1908, this question was
raised by my political enemies and was
numerically assailed as the disorganizer
oil ofDemocracy. 1t therefore became neces-
sary for me in making my announcement
in April, 1904, to take some notice of this
issue as raised by my enemies. Had /
failed to do SO they would have charged
me with dodging. Instead of this shall
meet them upon this issue as we'll as upon
the Others mentioned in my announce
ment OF last April. Therefore upon my
enemies must be placed the odium, if
odium there be, of injecting the issue in
the Democratic primary. Since the issue
has been raised, however, am free to say
that believe the regulation of the liquor
traffic is most important matter, and
that the people of Virginia have a right
to know the position of all candidates for
public Office on this question. The fact
that other candidates have not consid-
cred the liquor question of sufficient i'm
portance to be mentioned. and have en-
tirely ignored it in their formal announce
ments simply shows that they do not
agree with me as to the Importance of
the question. / thought that the voters
of the State should know Just where /
stood, and so made clear statement
oil my position. / believe the Democratic
parry should pass and enforce such laws
as will so regulate the liquor traffic as to
best conserve the moral and material in
/ "a SAS PSOPiC, Oub Il DClcNc lHGJ
these laws should only be passed when
demanded by strong public sentiment
which will secure their enforcement. /
have given this matter long and careful
consideration, and shall not run from
my record or recede one iota from the po-
sition have taken upon this great moral
question. The position of thecandidates
on the liquor question cannot possibly be
ignored. The people have determined to
know where they stand on this question,
just as upon the question of education,
good roads, etc. 1 preferred to anticipate
the demand of the people, and state my
position upon this, as upon other ques-
tions, rather than TO ignore it and be
compelled to make supplementary
afafamant ~