The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-02-28
Mr. Fobson Makes Earnest Plea to Cut Out Liquor Traffic

73ss -
position the League took at the Nor
fp1k convention OF 1893 The follow
knw II an extract from that action;
:. Another consideration has
Had great weight with your conn
\ mittee In arriving at its eonciu-
eton that this is not tho best
time TO demand Ne right to vote
CA b Statewide law. We have
not In this State the principle of
! the referendum, III we could so
directly to the people OK this State
on this one issue. and secure a
vote on this issue. without any
4 personal or political ccmpiica-
fipns. IL might be the wise thing
10 md ont now just where the
people of Virginia stand. We
cannot obtain the right to vote
on this question except BY the
passage of an act BY the Cen
erai Assembly ordering such an
election to be held. Your com
mittee is unanimously of the
opinion that IL would damage our
cause TO press this Issue upon the
voters at the present time, In
view OF the conditions that con-
trent u.s. 1t would not he voted
upun AZ single teftntts tissue
nor stand upon Its merits. IL
would DO complicated with the
primary elections for the gov
ernorshfr and for members OF
the House or Delegates. 1t would
become mere or less political
football Personal and factional
feeling would enter SO largely into
the result as to rob 1t of any posi-
TIVE meaning. Moreover, the SEN
ate or Virginia has already been
elected and, fnasTnuch AS 1t Is
possible to secure any Legislation
on the right To vote on any Ques-
ton without the consent of both
: houses of the General Assembly,
ii would be necessary finally TO
resort to petition in order to
fne Senare,
Let us uress forward for the
next year la the old paths. and
when the next convention meets,
III II should be evident that we
have gone as far as we can go
s with profit, under the local OPP
zion policy, we can then all join
heartily together in the demand
for state wide prohibitory law.
Action Was Temporary.
The position taken in this state
ment In en- its face and actually pure
N temporary. There Is no deciara-
ion of adherence TO local optioh ar
1 great principle in opposition TO
State wide prohibition. On the con
.rary It is openly declared mat, II
when the next convention meets I'll
1910 ii is evident thai We have gene
a far MS we can go with proflt under
no lofai option policy we will de-
.r,s,,a A State " ieas eretathitery law. II
q also openly stated that IL was un-
sis.. To press the Statewide issue al
HAT time because IL would he com
nhsated with the primary elections Soi
rhs goyeruoTshsp and members oil INT
ETg,,ses.s- OF t,gtegHtes and personal anc
.antiouaI feelings would enter ae
largely .nte the result as 10 ROB II
e any positive meaning, IT is fur
shtrt,,Ar..- distinctly -feEeeasted that THE
oetItlon method would in all likeli-
hood he adopted at the next session
n III. General Assembly.
rs,,s nt,ti,v vss adopted by the con-
5ngsi.,a aft,.r some debate by large
q ir,ritx bat that there might be nc
suestion as to the exact meaning OF
he action taken, the chairman OF
~ ,seissaf iye committee delivered an
sa,ass ar the closing night of THE
ax.,.sa. rsttax.~ =. HIGH address Mas in
.r,..tynxs ana was correctly quoted by
asa g'sunes- ptspatcb and by several
.fsser -ncwspApt-rsg TT stateu
rweeu the declaration OF 1908 and
thst at this present convention; name
4. tt,,t sbe convention Of 1902 recos-
go Y 80. tha ,Srat tiYle la It's aeclara-
',ar ~ poIie.y that the time Is not
lar alstsnt when we have gone as
49, ap We ran go with profit TO our
- ,,ye snder the local option policy,
rie de, laration positively states that
s.s,,,f1sa n BECOME clearly evident that
go. ~. .,s,,,a as fs,P as we can 20
rys.f,~,,resat- 4, ess-esaaase we shall lac
ca,steea 10 change our policy and dc.
n,sna tse right to vote on Statewide
s.Nhen will that time come
we n, NOT know. II did not seem
to those who have @atefita oua M" IN,
80 ra,,e in contact with pabli'
sa,,,lr,sus and to have had experience
Il, the legislative work of the league
ina time had yet come. 1t may n'
clnss al hand, II may be farsnei
sh.n No tAiY,k =
T,hst the meaning of this statemen
x.as clearly und erstood is eNldeh
ernry, the comment of the Times ias
match UNION il. ON the day follow
sng the convention that paper deeiae
"a editorially,
.arhose who prefer the principl,
~ local option 10 the principle o.
s..,h4tltian by State law, as I'M
,srtrs1eg- Dispatch does, viii probably %
ufsasau ty tine otfttvfsae vi sHe'- tet't'
awaited Anti-Saloett LIZA ue eo'isr
!. s..4.xst,1e' .stlI be let ALONE
49,, a ,,sar nj least After that II I