Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-03-05
PETITIONS PROBABLY WILL
BE SENT OUT NEXT WEEK
Three Hundred and Eishty-four
Signatures viii Cause Judge Of
Corporation Court to Order slee-
tlon-Prohibitlon Leaders Confident
- sueeess-s,rode Bill.

ed rumors which are neither denied
nor confirmed by persons In q posi-
ticn 20 speak. a movement Is on foot
.or the holding of local option cleo
tin In Newport News as soon as is
practicable This movement was
launched at q meeting of twenty-five
representative men in the study or
Rev. Il. r. Wexford. pastor OF the
First Presbyterian church. late Thurs
day night.
Fer the present. at least, what
iranspired at that meeting is a clos
ed book, but Mr.. Wexford announces
that he will have some interesting
natter" to- make public In the not
distant future. II NAV be that this
matter" will be given to the public
today.
When {: became noised abroad yes
terday that twenty-five men who, as
Mr.. Wellfcrd expressed II. had the
couarage CT their convictions. met
IN secret session Monday night fol-
lowing the temperance rally at the
First Presbyterian church. dame
rumor was busy. differences were
drawn by some and they have not
been corrected.
Practically Confirms Rumors.
When seen at his home yesterday
by a Daily Press reporter. Mr.. Well
ford said that he could not give out
any of the details OF the meeting az
this time. This was his reply to
roint blank question whether a move
nent fer a local option election had
been started Mr.. Wexford said that
he had heard much talk about local
option recently and apparently was
not at all surprised that the infer
tsaee had been drawn by some that
local option for Newport News was
discussed at the secret session. In
fact. Mr.. Wexford practically con-
iirmed the rumors.
Mr.. Wexford said that The Daily
Press might state for him that the
Cay was coming when Newpor.
News would be dry" town. The re-
porter asked how much grace" the
Anti saiaon League would give the
city and Mr.. Wexford replied that he
wSuid net IKE to commit himself on
that point.
Action Of Senate Decides Il.
II Was rumored yesterday that the
movement startd at the secret ses-
sicn IN the pastors study depended
upon the action Ct the State senate
with reference II the Strobe "eIabl-
ing" act. AS Mr. Wexford and the
twenty five men with the courage OF
their convictions had anticipated. the
senate killed the bill by an over
whelmingiy majority.
News that the bill had been killed
did not reach this city until after
midnight and II was too late then
to get an expression from Mr.. Well
ford. However. at the interview
earlier in the day. Mr. Wexford left
the reporter under the impression
that the senate's action was the turn
ing point If the Strobe enabling
act passed the senate State wide
election would follow. thus preclud-
Ing the necessity for n local opt.or
election In this city.
Confident Of Result.
Mr.. Wexford firmly believes that
Newport News will vote dry" in 4
local option election and he apper-
emily is really and eager to make the
test
In order to secure an order for an
election. II Slu be necessary
to secure the signatures OF one
fourth of the voters who par
sicipated in the gubernatoria' cleo
lion Ct last November &c a petition
10 be presented 70 Jadge Barnam
The total vote cast Ia Newport news
IN the November election was 1886.
Thus in order 70 get the election or
dered. 3sf voters must sign the petit
ton.
Church Members Sign Petition.
n Is believed that there would be
little difficulty in securing this nun
her OF signatures to the petition
Considerably more than this number
OF voters are to be found among the
members OF the various churches OF
the city and the pastors OF the
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