Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-01-05
LOCAL OPTION FOR OISTRlC
BILL LIKELY TO BE INTRO
DUCED IN CONGRESS SOON.
Members Inclined to Reticence as to
Their Views-Anti-Liqu Cam
paign Said to Be in View.

One of the subjects that will occupy the
minds of members of the District OF Co.
mmbia committees in Congress soon after
they get down Ia hard work following the
holiday season, and one in which senators
and representatives generally. whether
they are on these committees or not, Will
doubtless be very much Interested. is the
sale of intoxicating liquor in the National
capital Ii is admitted on al sides that
a local option measure will doubtless De
presented soon after the resumption OF
business tomorrow. II may be few
days and it may be a few weeks, but il
is pretty sure to come soon.
Inclined to Reticence.
In general the national Legislators are
at present inclined to be wary on the
subject. They say they prefer not to be
quoted until a bill has been introduced
and they have had time To digest its pro-
visions. There is known, however, to be
a large amount of sentiment in favor of
the local option idea, which contemplates
the dividing of the District into sections
and allowing a majority of the residents
of each particular section to automatic
cally prevent the licensing of saloons in
that section by petitionlng the excise
board. y number of senators and repre-
sentatives who come from states where
the total prohibition idea has taken COM
plete possession of the field are said to
FAVOR the passage OF Il similar stringent
measure for the District.
The broad idea of allowing the District
as much self-goVernment as is feasible,
which fills the minds of not a few of the
members, leads to the belief, on the part
Of many interested in the proposed legls-
lation, that the local option scheme will
have the most supporters.
1t is a very open question thus far
what the chances OF passage of such a bill
would bee in case it should be introduced
III
understood to be that favored by the
National Anti-Saloon League, which is
strongly represented in this city.
Anti-Liquor Campaign.
The league is said to have under con-
sideration through its national officers and
executive board a plan of campaign that
will include the entire country for local
option in this city.
The lines that have been followed in
small communities where it has been sue
cessful would doubtless be followed by
the league in this instance. officers and
members of the league located in evty
state would petition their representatives
and senators to take action in favor Of
local option in the District of Columbia,
and put their request on political
grounds, which. it is believed, would prove
very effective.
Senator Hansbrough of North Dakota
a member of the District committee. is
outspoken in his views on the local situa-
ton.
Il doubt the feasibility of prohibition
in the District of Columbia" - he said to
a representative of The Star yesterday
afternoon, although | would be glad to
assist in bringing it about, if it were
among present possibilities. A District
license system-that is, local option-may
be the best that can be had just now.
Ultimately [ hope to see total prohibition
of the liquor traffic in the nations
capital"