Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1909-12-17
FOR LOCAL OPTION.
Post Card Vote shows Legislators
are Against Statewide Prohibit

Replies from seventy-three out of 14O
members of the Legislature in response
to an inquiry from the Times-Dispatch
would indicate that no legislation Of any
sort in the direction of Statewide pro-
hibition will be enacted by the incom-
ing General Assembly. A poll of the
membership of the two Houses, "a
which more than half have replied.
shows that six members stand for local
option to each one who favors prohibi-
tion, while il the Democrats alone are
considered the ratio is nine to one.
or the seventeen Senators who have
replied thirteen are for local option and
four for Statewide prohibition. Be-
tween the parties the Senate stands:
Democrats For local option, IL; for
prohibition. 2.
Republican-For local option, 2; for
prohibition, 2.
No replies have as yet been received
from twenty-one Democratic and two
Republican Senators.
More than majority of the mem
bers Of the House of Delegates have
replied. Forty-eigbt of the fifty-six
who have answered, favor local option.
six are for Statewide prohibition, and
two are doubtful. Among the Demo
Gratis in the House, forty-five are for
local option and four for prohibition
Three Of the Republicans answering
are for loca, option, and two for pro-
hibition.
Combining the Houses, it will be
seen that seventy-three replies have
been received from the 40 members.
Sixty-one favor local option, ten favor
Statewide prohibition, while two are
in doubt Sixty-seven members have
not yet answered.
Should three of the forty-four men,
bers Of the House who have not an
swered favor local option, the passage
Of bill referring Statewide prohibition
to the people is impossible. 1t is safe
to presume that a majority of the
forty-four will stand for the local Cd.
ton policy.
The vote of only eight of the twen-
ty-three Senator's who have not replied
are necessary to maintain the present
local option policy.
Among those heard from were the
following:
For Local 0ption-Senators w. W.
Sale, S. w. Holt. Delegates ]. M.
Lewis. Essex; r. Carter Wexford.
Richmond countyI Robinson Moncure.
Alexandria; Thos. H. Lion. Prince Viii.
liam; j. N. Stubs, Gloucester; T. A.
Jett, Northumberland; Roosevelt Page.
Hanover; T. H. Edwards. King Will
liam; John R. Rev, Accomac;Y w. b.
Fitzhugh, Northampton .J.rS. Har-
wood, Richmondi G. w. Whitehead,
Amherst. "S e..
Among those not heard from-Sen-
ators John r. Saunders, Middlesex.nB.
I. Gunter, AccomAc; C. H. Walker,
Northumberland Delegates w. = ID.
Evans. MiddIesex; Speaker Byrd. .s,n
Judge Martin Williams (who could be
floor leader In the House il he SO de-
sires) gives sensible reasons as to his
position (and they are similar to ours, ,
Times Dispatch: 49,
Your postal received. In reply TO
same | will say that am opposed to
the manufacture. sale and use of mr.
dent spirits. and as a member of the
Legislature, would vote for almost
any bill that would prevent the
same. ] doubt however. the pro-
priety OF precipitating a Statewide
agitation at this time in Virginia. Ii
the time has arrived at which we can
have Statewide prohibition. then I am
ready to vote for such legislation as is
necessary to bring it about.
Yours very truly,
MARTIN WILLIAM,