The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-02-16
Strong Delegations From Sew
eral Cities Here in Favor
of the Act.
OTHER DELEGATIONS
FIGHT THE MEASURE
Senator Strobe Marks Clear Pre-
sentation of Subject and Other
Speakers Follow Pro and
Con.

n
leges and elections met this morning
in the Corporation Court room to
consider the Strobe Statewide prohi-
hilton bill the visitors were so many
that the room could not hold them.
and adjournment was had to the
Senate chamber.
There were delegations pro and cor
from various parts of the State, and
intense interest was manifested from
the start The friends of the bill we're
represented by prominent citizens
ffom Richmond, Roanoke, Lynch
burg, South Boston, Danviile, W aynes-
boro. Fredericksburg, Newport News.
Norfolk. Enporia. Harrisonburg.
Houston, Blackstone. Hampton. Suf-
folk, Covtngton, Manchester and other
points. There were delegations In
opposition to the bill from Richmond.
Alexandria, Newport News and other
cities.
-Ghairmeu Sale and Williams pre-
sided over the joint committee. and
when Senator Sale called the COM
mittee to order Senator STROBE, patron
of the bill, suggested that as-tt-n sss-
inevitable that there would be mora
than one sitting on this bill. each
side should be given the same time at
each sitting. He proposed two hours
on a side.
Mr.. S. l.. Kelley, representing the
pkhCA SiuSr 1stlt kIidhp dS lie Q0ESttpA
was of Statewide interest there were
many persons to he heard from yari-
Gus sections, and he thought the COM
mittee should give a good deal more
than two hours to side.
Preliminary Skirmisl1.
Then followed sktrmish on tbs;
question as to when the hearin.
should be resumed.
Senator Halsey moved to meet
again Wednesday night. Mr.. Kelley
said he could not be present at that
time 1t was then proposed to megt
again in the afternoon. Mr.. Kelley
did not see why the committee should
break its neck to give a speedy
hearing, seeing that half the session
had passed and the friends Of the
bill had just offered ii.
Rev. DR.. McAlister replied that the
bill had been prepared as soon a.
practicable. and had been placed in
the hands of the General Assembly
more than week ago. There had
been ne unnecessary delay. ssg
1t was then agreed that each side
should have an equal division of the
time remaining for the sitting.
DIR. Cannon Leads.
DR. James Cannon was present an
leader of the anti-saloon forces and
presented the various speakers ON
that side
-'AA' INfiSS was oEt tic oIHGf
side.
STROBE Opens.
MIR. STROBE opened tor the bin
he said that in his view the ques-
ton was whether or not the matter
should be submitted to the people
now or delayed for two years II
not submitted now the Legislature
will come back two years hence
under one or the other OF two con-
alfions, either majority of the menu
beers VIII be instructed to adopt State-i
wac prohibition, or to vote to sub
nit II To the people. Ii tine latter.
before the vote is taken, every pos
siole purchasable voter will lie rexis-
tered ana We Will have the greatest
horde OF negro voters since the new
constitution was adopted. He pe-
llesea that ii the question was NOT
now submitted, the people would take
| matters IN their own hands and elect
Legislature pledged to prohibition.
4 Radical Change.
He was no fanatic on the subject
ana he did not think that SO radical
change as this should be made.
except by vote of the people.
Referendum Not New.
/ Mr. STROBE pointed out that the
referendum was not new in Virginia.
/ No amendment to the constitution.
+ said he, can be finally adopted except
+ by vote of the people. He considered
I the question from the standpoint OF
the public welfare and had prepared
/ bill with every point safeguarded.
/ His bill provided that vote should
/ not be taken unless one-fourth of the
/ qualified voters petitioned for 1t. This
| has been the rule in Virginia for
| twenty-five years. His bill also pros
vided that when the people come to
vote. they should have clear UNDER,
standing OF the issues, and SO II was
clearly stated that II the people voted
| dry the whole State should be dry:
| but II wet, the status quo would
| be maintained.
Liberal to Liquor Dealers.
| AS the liquor traffic in Virginia y
legalized. he thought that the licensed
| LIQUOR dealers should have tair treAt..
ment and ample time in the event 81
| prohibition, to close out their business
And so 1t was provided that the inW
| shall not go into effect until thes
expiration of the year In which tnN
/ license Is held. He was willing to ~
further than that and provide In
def,nite terms that the law should
net take effect until six months after
the election Is held.
For Medicinal Purposes.
In order that there might be M
hardship, his bill provided that IN cAse
! the State should go dry liquor for me-
dtcinal purposes might ~ 0btained
| from drug stores. He knew thAt inst
| feature Of the bill would be criticle~
ed. hut he knew that the bill would ~
/ more criticised II 1t contained no tooM
j provision MIR. Strobe then refsSEN4
I briefly TO. the re~esseae Sea&.tre ts5voas1
lin the question of StAte-wtde Deceo
hilton. saying that II prcsent nv FS
enue from the licensed l1quce lz44~
! was only $360.00e. Iae kn@
that under tia H6le al