Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-07-30

declaring that unless the convention
gave the people the right every two
years to vote upon the question OF
local option and unless the counties
have the control of the sale of liquor
in Az towns and cities In the counties
EXCEPT the cities of the first class.
the people OF the Southwest will 20
backward and the party can not hope
to roli up big majority in that sec
ton
II. A. Anderson. of Marion. declar-
ed that the liquor question is the one
great question in Virginia today and
that the amendment offered by Sena
ter Lincoln should be adopted.
You'll take a step forward when you
adopt that amendment" he said
Committee Chairman McGavock
said that he felt sure the commit
tee would accept the amendment and
that IL was but a small concession To
make TO the great temperance ele-
ment in the party and as little as the
great Southwest could demand
mot a Temperance Society,""
Robert II. Blair, OF Wythe. leapcd
to his feet and declared that the Re
publican party in Virginia is not a
temperance society and that he beliey
ed the original PLANK was right. 1t
is. he said. merely matter Of local
self government and everybody be-
lieves in that
The question of what class OF cities
shoald be controlled by the counties
was here brought up. and Senator
Lincoln explained that the counties
should control only such towns or cit
les as do not have Corporation
Court.
Legislator ]. y. Gleayas. of Wythe-
vile, said that he came 10 the con-
vention to advocate Statewide prohi-
bition. but that he surrendered in fay-
or of the other side. ITS the best
solution OF the question. And we
who live close to the soil should be
given our demand OF. the unit rule,
he declared. Judge Mann and Mr..
Tucker have declared for local option
and shall we come along and say we
too Is that like Repgblicanism? We
have been praying fer twenty years
for an issue with the Democratic par
~ and now when youtaave 1t are you
afraid of it?" There were loud cries
of No, no." from all parts of the
house
Perpetuste Settlement.
Delegate Hill. from the Southwest.
declared that the party should declare
for a single election on the liquor
question in each town, county and
city and let the outcome Of that cleo
ton settle it perpetually- This sug-
gestioh was greeted by prolonged
laughter.
The vote on the amendment was
taken and loud chorus of ayes
went up. The nays" were clearly in
minority, but division vote was
called for and then the convention
brcke~lose. Scores of the delegates
were on their feet. talking and GEES
ticulating. The secretry made up his
roll. but all efforts TO take the vote
failed. The delegates began arguing
with each other on the question.
After fifteen minutes or more had
passed the convention returned Il
some semblance OF. order and the call
ing Of the roll began.
The First district was the frs: call
ed and 1t voted solidly for the amend
ment. the. Newport News delegation
leading The Second district was al
most solid, Norfolk casting its full
vote for the amendment. Petersbure
went for it solidIy, and Lynchburg and
F.. Danville cast a majority for IT, How
ever, il was the solid vote OF the
! Southwest that carried the amend
ment. the final count being, as tho
! chairman announced. Seven hundred
/ for and Three hundred and ODD
| against it." The exact vote was no
70 be had as there was so much con
fusion in the hail that the figures
could net be obtained. However, III,
vote was Overwhelmingly for tn,
| amendment
Someone made a motion that The
convention adjourn for lunch and as
semble again at go O'Clock to name
the State ticket. but this motion wa:
Overwhelmingly defeated.
All Not Satisfied.
Although they made no open igh
on the floor Of. the convention foi
/ Statewide prohibition. all OF th'
three hundred delegates from th,
Southwest are nc; satisfied with the
declaration Of the party for local op
ton under the unit system and MANI
Of them had no hesitancy in so de
] claring after the convention adjourn
. cd.
Many of the counties in that section
instructed their delegates for State
wide prohibition and had IT beef
known from the outsc; that Hon
Albert y. Ciiiispic could not accep'
the nomination Tor governor there u
little question but that the Southwes
tcrncrs would have male a bitter fight
for a state wide prohibition plank
The sudden announcement that Gil.
! lespic could not accept the nomins
ticn literally swept the delegation on
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