Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-12-14
TUESDAY. DECEMBER IA, 1909.
POLL OF LEGISLATURE AMOUNTS
"a. TO PRACTICALLY NOTHING.

!, The result of the Richmond Times
Dispatches attempt to take poll OF
the members OF the Virginia as
ssmbly on the prohibition question
appears to amount to practically moth
ing rs anRoGnced in Sundays
Times Dispatch. the statewide prohi-
bitch versus local option question
was put to all of the lao members
CT ,bosh branches of the legislature,
and replies were received from sew
enty-thiee Of that number. Sixty-one
Of those who replied stated that
they favored 'lccal option. while two
we're IN doubt: OF the totsl, sixty
seven remained silent. making no
answer e the papers query,
Thus II appears that only a bare
majority Of the members, of the two
touses went On record one way or
the other. and the members commit
ting themselves fer local option do
not constitute a majority. In view of
the fact that ii has been rather gen
orally admitted that majority of
the members OF both houses personal
~ favor local option over statewide
prohibition, the result Of the poll GER
tainly cannot be regarded as favor
able to the opponents to statewide
rrehibition.
II must be remembered. that the
sixty-seven who avowedly favor local
option have not committed themselves
TO "stand-pat" in the event the State
Anti-saloon League presents petition
signed by large number OF Vir-
ginia citizens asking that the Statewide
prohibition question be submitted to a
vote Of the people. The members
may personally oppose the statewide
proposition. but il a very strong
petition asking that the people be
given an opportunity to decide the
question fer themselves were TO be
presented. there is little doubt that a
considerable percentage Of the sixty
seven would be found voting TO grant
the request.
The situation, as far as the legisia-
ture is concerned. sens TO stand jus,
where II was before the State cleo
ton. A majority q the senate. IL not
Of the house. will net vote for a state
wide prohibition bill. therefore there
via be no statewide prohibition I'M
less it is by vote Of the people. The
question OF whether or not the legisla.
tare will submit the matter to the
people IL Il is asked to do so through
petition Is no nearer answered tina.
Il was after the Ocean View confer.
ence CT senators. The action. o.
course. viii depend largely upon IN,
number and nature Of The signature:
attached 30 the petition n a con
siderable percentage Of the qnsiifcs
voters sign ihe petition. Il IS mor'
than likely thar even those member
most violently opposed the statewide
proiec; can find an excuse Tor st
tempting 70 prevent the people From
saying what they want
The only change in the. situation.
there has been any al all has take'
place IN the Anti-ssi0on League. Les
shau year ago some the strcnges
members Of this organization declare
that they ia not believe the time "a
ripe for statewide prohibition an
we're prepared 20 oppose any move
ment in that direction at TINS time
But uhen the Methodist Cenferenc
81 Virginia net here recently. thos
same members did not raise thei
To.ces IN opposition to a resc
iutiou declaring IN frsor Q
e,~iegide pEOhibitioa. That N