Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1905-05-31
THE GOVERNSHIP
Candidates. Positions on Mann
Liquor Bill

Liquor Bill
Some two months ago Rev.
james Cannon, Jr., president of the
Virginia State Anti Saloon League,
addressed letter to the candi-
dstes for gubernatorial honors,
asking the question, eff elected
to the position fer which you
offer, would you favor the main
tenance of the Mann Bill?" Ali
the candidates have replied stat
ing their position, and we here
with publish brief extracts from
the same for the benefit of our
readers.
Hou. Claude A. Swanson replied
as follows:
"In reply to this question, / beg
leave to state that If l should be
elected Governor of Virginia, l
would maintain and enforce the
Mann Bill, as l would all other
laws enacted by the legislative
authority of the State, without
fear or favor, and to the full ex-
tent Of my power and ability as
the Chief Executive ofthe State"
Lieutenant Governor Wizards
reply was:
81 approve the Mann Bill when
construed as controlling and
regulating tine sale of whiskey, but
| do not approve it when construed
ss prohibition. The law in ques-
ton is so framed as to permit great
latitude in its construction and
Interpretation. This is evidenced
by the fact that very few judges
in Virginia have construed this
law alike.
"The Mann Bill does net per-
nit the applicant an appeal to our
Supreme Court; otherwise that
court would have so construed the
law as to make it's operation uni
form throughout the State.
81 reiterate that favor rigid
control Of the whiskey traffic. 1
am, however, opposed to prohibit
ton first, because the Democrat
ic party and its policy have always
been against sumpUuary laws !;
second, because prohibition does
not prohibit; third, because as
prohibition does not prohibit and
the whiskey traffic will exist, then
should the State regulate the
trafflc so as to minimize its evils
and derive therefrom It's proper
revenue fourth, | co not believe
that public sentiment will sustain
prohibition laws, and l am OPP
posed to the existence of any law
on our statute books which ia not
enforced. This condition will al
ways obtain unless the law is sup
ported by public sentiment.
Judge VIM. Hodges Mann, author
of the bill, replies at length and
among other things says.
81 desire to cay that if elected
Governor of Virginia, will SO far
as l am abb, maintain and en-
force the law as a Democratic and
wholesome measure for the regu-
Iation of the liquor traffic in Vir-
ginia.
81 do not consider the Mann
Law a prohihitory law in the usual
sense of the word. do not favor
a State prohibitory law, but l do
most heartily favor the local OPP
ton law of our State, which was
passed by the Democratic party,
has been the law for years with
The approval OF the people, and
which grants prohibition in local
where the people de-
sire it; and | do most heartily
favor the PRINCIPLES of the Mann
Lew, which places reasonable !
upon a business about
which the Supreme Court of the /
United States, has used the fol-
owing language: 'rhe statistics
If every State show a greater
amount of crime and misery at
ributable to the use of ardent
Ipirits obtained at these retail sa-
oons than to any other source.