Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-01-19
WEDNESDAY. JANUARY 10, 1910.
ANTi.SALOON LEAGUE lEGiSIA
TIVE COMMITTEES REPORT.

The legislative committee OF 'ne
Virginia Anti-saloon League has sub
mitted to the annual conyention OF
that body a report which obviously
Is the result Of ca%ful deliberaiion
on the part OF men well Informed up
ON conditions in Virginia today and,
though biased. perhaps, against every
thing and everybody having to DO
with liquor. fully cognizant OF the
evils inevitably incident to hasty and
ill-advised action. This paper is
gratiied by the committees action IN
making such a report. Though 1t is
not prepared to endorse the Anti
saloon League sentiments on prohibi-
ton, The Daily Press does agree with
the committee on the proposition that
IL we are TO have a Statewide pro-
hibition law we should be certain
that the law is an expression OF the
will Of the majority of the voters of
the State.
The Anti-saloon Leagues avowed
object is to rid the State OF the open
saloon. This being the case. 1t prob
ably is only matter Of time before
the voters Of Virginia will be called
upon TO say whether or not the saloon
shall go. The result of sucn test,
of course, is a matter of conjecture;
the State may go dry" or it may go
wet" But whatever may be the re-
suit. 1t is essential TO the welfare OF
the State that the decision shall re-
present the majority sentiment. We
all know what some Of the states to
the south of us are going through now
as the result of hasty action in this
matter, and il would seem that no
sensible person would care to get
Virginia into the same fix. The Anti
saloon Leagues Legislative committee
appears to be of this opinion and.
when the tine for the test comes, all
good citizens, whether or not they be
Iieve In prohibition. should join hands
In an effort to have il made properly.
The committee wisely says:
= 1T is OF prime Importance that the
method followed in the enactment OF
the law shall be such as to brand the
law as the expression of the VIII OF
the majority Of the intelligent and
patriotic citizens of Virginia. Any
method that does not clearly demon
state beyond any cavil that the law
enacted is the expressed will of ma
Jority Of the intelligent and patriotic
citizens O. the state wifi not receive
the support Of the people, and further
more there will be continued Efforts
to repeal il contrary to the will OF the
people. A MAJORITY OF THE VOT-
Frs OF VIRGINIA MUST APPROVE
THE LAW OR 1T WILL NOT
STAND
IN accordance with this conclusion.
the committee only asks the legisla-
ture to enact Law providing that
the prohibition question shall be sub
nitted to the people when the as
sembly is petitioned 10 DO so by 4
certain specified number OF voters.
The legislature probably cannot re-
fuse TO enact such a law The great
question viii be. what percentage Of
voters shall be deemed sufficient
The committee proposes that mum
Der equal to s5 percent Of the voters
participating in the last state cleo
ton. shall BE- specified This paper
Is inclined 70 believe that this would
) not be proper percentage. though
It's reasons for this opinion vii ro'
be discussed al this time.
The committee displays good com
mon sense in recommending that i'm
provcments to the local option Law.
be not forgotten while the Statewide
Discussion b. on. The Statewide law
may or may not b. enacted IN ths
ccurse 81 year or two. but the lcca
option policy Is IN eject nov sns
VIII remain IN effect unless. casnged
Therefore 81 is altogether 1dcsig1bi'
That ne local option system b. PET