Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1909-02-11
PROHIBITION DEFEATED.

session in Norfolk yesterday turned
down By almost uuauimous vo'e two
prcI Olilions looking to statewide
prohibition campaign 10 Virginia this
year, and adopted The legislative com
mit.ee's report, which declares for con-
tinua0ce of local option meth O3sin fight
ing the saloon.
This action of the convention wa
taken alter bitter discussion and stormy
session. At times feeling ran so high
lhst threa! 10 bolt was made on the
part Of the prohibition advocates, aOd
several times cries OF "gag ruleP and
"disccurtesy" rang though the build
ing.
As a climax to the bitter feeling
State Senator Thomas, OF Lynchburg,
who was pltading for prohibition cam
psign, left the speakers platform in
anger aud disgusi, when a delegate in
the convention or Sc and yelled that il
was discourtesy for the speaker to hold
the convention so long in discussion OF
the subject. Senator Thomas quietly
said he had no wish TO be discourteous
10 the convention, and rather thau be
charged with such motives he wonlo
perfer to withdraw from the fight loser.
he then toaed and walked from the
speakers platform.
The fight for prohibition was precipi.
taled by former State Senator Hartman,
of Tazswell, who offered q substitute for
that section OF the legislative commit.
tees report which declared for local
option, and opposed statewide prohibit
ton. This substitute declared Tor pro.
hibition in Virginia by legislative en-
sctment Ia opening the discussion,
be served unofficial noice on the
convention that the republican party
would stand for prohibition in the COM
ing gubernatioosl campaign, regardless
of what this convention will do. He
said that when The Anti.Saloon League
declared for local option, it was moving
backward ipst'a1 of forward, and il
placed the league in the attitude OF
being hand 10 band with the liquor
power Of the state, aud the convention
was adopting their policy.
Delegate Foster, Of Fairfax, declared
be had come with no other idea than to
support te-wide prohibition, but
thought it best TO follow the leaders,
who had drawn the report, and wait
another yesr before declaring for state
wide prohibition.
George w. HawxhGrst. OF Falls
Church, and Rev @. d. Bnlla, Of Alex
sntriO, aud Others spoke sgsiOst the
prohibition substitute.
Mr.. Bala declared that be thought 1t
the part OF wisdom not to take an ex-
IRENE stand which might ALLEVIATE some
of The people now with The league.
Finally it was seen that prohibition
wss lest, and Ssnstor Thomas, Of Lynct e
burg, offered a substitute, which was
accepted, declaring for statewide prohi-
billion by submission of the issue 20 a
vote Of the people.
A noisy debate followed. motion be-
ing made upon motion, and the chair
man was at times unable to tell where he
was cat"
Mr.. Thomas minated that grand
mogul at Washington was trying to use
the league" he ssid so per cent. of
Virginia was dry aad yet the league
stood for a stsnd-stilI policy.
The vote on the prohibition substitute
vas taken, and 1t WIS showed under 10
a storm Of "Ooes," while few
"ayes" recorded approval Of that policy
The legislative committees report was
then adopted, bat an effort to make it
unanimous ia led.
OGeers ofthe Iesgue elected yesterday
we're as follows:
President-Rev. II. p. Atkins, Rich
mond.
Vice Presidenls-Obancellor w. W.
Smith, Lyncbburg; P. D. V. Conway,
Fredericksburg; Judge W H. Mann,
NOltoway; Rev. j. K. Ellis, EIkton /;
Rev. w. O. Campbell, Roanoke; Rev.
G.. s. Bowers, Winchester; A. I. Lin
colD, Marion, and Rev. w. O. Taylor,
Petersburg.
Secretsry-Rev. ]. NJ. Pitcher, Peters
burg.
Tressurer-S. P. Jones, Richmond.
Attorneys-Wslter Snyder, Rich
mond, and Thomas whitehead, Amherst.
SUPPLEMENTARY. r. II. Bennett,
LynchbuTg.
Chief speakers before the convention
last night we're former Gov. J. Hogs
Tyler, OF Virginia, aud Hon. SesbOrn