The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-11-21
MINISTER
TALKS With DADNEY.
Subsequently Declares That His.
Ordinance Is What the
People Want.
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LIQUOR DEALERS CHANGlNG7
Intimatcd That Less Aggressive
Fight Will BE Made-Afraid
Of Legislature.
LIQUOR DEALERS cHANcING7

"a ldermAn Dabney's saloon ordi-
nhnce In q biz step In advance. 1t
II about all we can get from COuu-
ell, and sceIns to I've WHIST public
sentiment demands. I believe The
Times.DispAtch stated the cnsu very
clearly VIXEN Il urged the pnsangc
Of that meAhurc 40 that we shall
lave restricted the liquor traiftc,
even In the event OF ItqnUr VIC
tory In local option electlon,'
This statement was made yesterday
by one OF the most prominent ministers
OF Richmond. after he had discussed
the law at some length with Alderman
Dabney. He Is of the opinion that 1t
would be unfortunate to create strife,
and added In a general way that no
doubted II the people OF Richmond
were prepared to accept prohibition.
He did say most enphatically, however
that something should be done to re-
strict and regulate the bars. especially
with the. view OF driving them out OF
the residential sections. RI
The minister did not hesitate to- say
that he believed Mr.. Dabney sincere In
his fight, and he deprecated many OF
the reckless statements which have
been made concerning his efforts to
subdue an element which Is working
apparently to block all Legislation in
Council.
Big Change In Sentiment.
Within the past few days there has
been q decided change In tho attitude
Of certain aggressive liquor Dealers.
according to information secured yes
terday. One evidence OF this was found
In the fact that dealers in the Seven
tenth Street neighborhood had been
looking around in Manchester, with a
view OF locating there. Several liquor
men called to see Mr.. Dabney yester-
day and told him that they did not
purpose to fight his measure hereafter,
II appears that. there Ia no strons or
ganization among the whiskey men,
and while some OF them are Of the
defeat all laws. others have announced
that 1t would be unwise to continue
agitation and opposition.
1t ts becoming more and more Ger.
tain that the Finance Committee will
again indorse the Dabney ordinance
without serious division, and IL Mr..
Dabney can prevent 1t, he Will not
| permit any amendments to be incor.
porated. He wants the battle fought
squarely in Council.
Won't Cut ont Real NIent.
One member Of the Board OF Alder
men Informed Mr.. Dabney yesterday
/, that he would not oppose his plan
provided the residential section fen.
ture is eliminated. Inasmuch as that
i Is the meat OF the whole thtnE-arad
!, what the public seemingly demands-the
author answered In positive terms that
The would not consider It. It Is claimed
\ that a ntimDer of saloons against which
no complaint had been made would he
1 froced to suspend, a fact which u
4 ADM tied THIS. however. is merely
lone OF. the obstacles encountered, But
no favoritism can be shown and nc
class law enactedt
Two leading members OF the upper
branch, who had been put down as
4 opponents Of the ordinance, have said
That their position was misunderstood.
| They announce that they will support
1t, and by counting heads Mr.. Dabney
Is satisfied his measure will be adopt
| ed In that branch by good majority
\ II there Is full attendance OF mem.
bers
Liquor Men TTenr LeHlAlnture.
| Press dispatches from Montgomery
| yesterday morning. telling OF the pas
sage OF a prohibition law by the Cen
ieral Assembly of Alabama. aroused the
liquor people to the possibility OF a
similar law by the Legislature OF Vir-
ginla. certainly in the event that the
City council OF Richmond docks Nne
efforts Of the members who are try
ing to give relief to the communite
Liquor men who CLAIM, that they could
carry the day against prohibition In
n local option fight are somewhat
afraid OF the General Assembly, which
would be In session here about the
time the Richmond contest ends.
Like the Anti-Saloon League Lead
ers. friends OF the Dabney ordinance
assert that the liquor people, by aues-
tioning the motives Of the opposition.
and by declaring that there are no
low saloons in the city have hurt the
cause irreparably. For this and other
reasons they say openly that the plan
hos q halter. chance OF apAaHnXe.-.a