The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-12-08

This was the first contest between
the vets and the drys under the new
local option law enacted by the Iegis
nature of 1Ss5-1SSG
For years some of the counties had
q special law giving them the right
to determine by popular vote whether.
or not the liquor traffic should be
licensed. but in 1855 the Republicans
put plank IN their platform. promising
IN the event OF their success. to enact
lc-eal OPTION Law that would apply to
sS@ wAol= s:aa TIE Democrats
zeo-1s7s theiz platform vith similar
ssaaks 4nd as ire Democrats elected a
majority II she members of the L4gis-
iszurs The parry pledge was redeemed.
SaE5ouslF e8orsA. the prohibition
.s-sest II RscnmoEa was brought on
u Eh@ Liqze- Dealers Protective AS
setIaison
- s.aa IS tiis iaw went into effect.
question Of prohibition began TO
- ss5tsted in Richmond. and BUSINESS
p1Tered from the uncertainty. AS the
5rqhibitionists made no move to petit
hon for an election, the liquor dealers
svt up petition on their own account
Ind laid it before Judge Atkins. who
ordered az election to be held on the
Gate aboS FAMED. "A lively contest
beloved.
Two large business mems" meetings
we're held at the Mozart Academy, and
prohibition was boldly .ecndemncd But
lhe prohibitioifists faced the issue GAL
lantly and put up stiff fight.
They held many meetings and had
,,rring addresses from Senator Col
luitt. of Georgia; DIR, j. b. Hawthorne
md many preachers OF both races.
II was at first believed that most OF
lie church members and the negroes
would vote for prohibition. But in
both cases the prohibitIonists were dis
lppointed. Many of the church men,
bers refused TO vote the dry ticket, and
the negroes were scared off by a cir
rular issued by the liquor forces tell
Ing them that if prohibition prevailed
the next move would DO to prohibit
Tobacco.
This had a terrifying effect upon the
colored contingent, especially SO as
81 many of them gained livelihood from
the tobacco factories. And SO Rich
nond went wet" by an overwhelming
majority.
Only one prec!nct--Third Marshall
gave majority against license.
"A similar election was held In Lynch.
burg on the same day, the vets win
ming by d vote of 2,cS7 TO 1000.
In both cities. the contest was char
tcterized by moro or less or bitterness
This was notably tho case In Lynch
burg, where a negro bishop from anotbe
State who was brought into the cam
raign by the prohibitionists gave of
Tense TO the whites. II any good can,
oGt Of either contest VIC never hear
Of IL.
--s.--zz---.==------=-----=-=-. ts6.E
sECrl0NALisM AND JAMESTOWN
IN our valedctory 60 the Jamestow
Exposition we took occasion to refe
N to the injury which the enterprise ba
received from the malevolence of sec
tionalism. fair sample OF which
6 70 be found in review article recent
a appearing in tho editorial columns n
the Ohio State Journal. After savin
HAT the exposition ended, as was gen
orally predicted. In failure. it declare
shat our celebration had no excuse
That the public dbl not think that tn
Jamestown tercentenary called for a
exposition. Why not? Was the ever
not as worthy Of celebration as tn
Declaration of Independence, the Dill
royery Of America by Columbus ii
purchase OF Louisiana. or The settl,
~ inent of Clrernn2 Nav nav. l,,,t II