The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-02-16


hundred thousand dollars, But II the
people desired prohibition Il was their
affair IN conclusion, he said that
this was no personal question as To
whether a man should or should not
drink 1t MAS a question of pubic
policy. and should be dealt with as
such.
DIR. Myers. Of Amherst.
DR.. II. & Myers, of Amherst, who
introduced the bill in the House, spoke
briefly. saying that he heartily APP
proved the measure. except the cider
clause. to which he would offer an
amendment at the proper time
Rev. G. w. Perryman.
Rev. @. W, Perryman, of Norfolk.
spoke for the Anti-saloon League, the
Methodist preachers and great mass
meeting held In that city In favor
the BIZ. He brought a message from
them ali TO the committee. You are
setting In motion tremendous forces.
said he, which will affect genera
tions to come" A Senator OF ancient
Athens had once asked the Senate.
us this measure JUST" He would put
the same question to the committee.
Colonel Neins, of Newport News.
Colonel William J. helms, of New
port News a member Of Governor
Mann's staff. was the next speaker.
lie said that the question was the
most momentous since the war. 1t
Nes more important than the war.
because ii Killed more people. 1t was
more momentous than the State debt,
because ii cost more. 1t IL direct
issue and must be settled If not set
= Il l.. far
the Legislature until 1t Is. II the
Democratic party does not settle it,
B the Republican party viii probably
pat il into their next platform. No
body was asking for Statewide prohi-
bition. but only that the people might
vot. on it. Speaking Of the revenue
question, he said the Holt bill would
not yield as mitch revenue as contem-
plated as under high license many
ioonkeepers w6uld go out of business.
Rev. George w. Wray, representing
The Methodist ministers of Norfolk,
Portsmouth, Newport News, Hampton
and vicinity, was the next speaker,
He saw no occasion for discussion.
I'VE ATE not here 10 ask you for pro-
hihition," said he. hut tor the priv
iege of voting on It, That's all VIC
ask, but We propose to Keep on ask
ing IL until We get 1t.
The Other Side.
At if.iu Mr Williams. OF Alexan-
Grsa, took the floor in opposition to
the bill He spoke for the business
- Interests Of Alexandria, In that city
MAS the Portner brewing Company.
with large capital giving employment
to many persons. Dependen~on 1t
were four glass factories, also having
large capital and employing 500
hands
tie WAS not personally interested in
the liquor traffic but he was inter
ested In the prosperity Of his city,
His people did not-mas,t prohibition
III they did. they would have gotten
II by a local option election.
Another Alcsansirian.
Mr. 4. u Breckett. -Xces 1&esideni
OF the Chamber of Commerce OF
Alexandria, then spoke. He did not
represent any organization. but he
knew the sentiment OF his people, and
was prepared tn speak for them. He
did not think that the people of Nir-
ginia had any more right to vote
liquor out OF Alexandra than the
Legislature had. Alexandria was Pc
cuiiariy situated. 1t was close to
Washington, which was wet. and If
Alexandria were dry Washington
would supply il with liquor and make
conditions worse. But ia cot cut the
aA Portner brewery and the glass fac.
!. At tories dependent upon II would be a
. serious blow To the business interests
OF the city and stop extensive Inn
provements that were now being
made.
Petersburg Protests.
Captain \. r. Patterson, president
Of the Common Council of Peters
burg, was introduced. He said that
Petersburg had recently had a local
option election and had voted wet
by several hundred majority. Peters
burg WAS we'll regulated city and
quite caps bic af taking care eft their
own affairs The gentlemen from
Newport News had said that If the
Legislature did not submit this dues-
ton to the people the Democratic
party would insert it in its platform
IL so, the Democratic party had bet
ter look cut
Mr.. helms You are mistaken;
said the Republican party
Labor's Voice.
Mr.. j. ]. Crcamer. a workingman
spoke fer the employees of the brew
cries of Richmond. There were 900
OF them, he said, and they We're up
posed to the measure to "a man. He
said thar labor unions had not; as q
body, taken position on this subject
but most of the members were OPP.
posed 10 prohibition because ii was a
means of agitation. There were Soma
hide bound men in the unions who
were far prohibition. but organized
labor, as "a whole, was opposed
From Newport News.
MIR AAlanAAF-e-s etaei sffrtf ru1fn7
News took i$sue with his fellow
f0wnsInan Colonel Nems. that State
wioe prohibition was an Immediate
and necessary issue. He thought that
II had been decided that local option
was the settled policy Of the Demo
cratic party Conditions surrounding
Newport News was such that loca
option was the best method of set
Ting this liquor question. This is not
"A party matter. The Democratic doe
trine lis local option. IT the question
Lis 10 he made party matter, let II he
settled in party convention in an or.
derry manner, Newport News has d
brevsary plant, worth $500, 000. lyins
idle. the owners waiting to see wha
this Legislature VIII do with the pro
hibilinn question.
Adjourned Till $3.50.
After Mir Jones had concluded, tht
committee went into executive SEES
sion and decided 10 resume the hear
Ing At 3.30 O'Clock ia the afternoon.