The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-01-19


fled voters OF the state. and the policy
of the liquor traffic is to put on the
registration books us many such voters
as possible. knowing that an appeal
to the Intelligent. patriotic electorate,
which is contemplated by the conven-
5tion, will be likely to decide against
the liquor traffic In any fair election.
Shall tho liquor trafric be allowed to
put Virginia under the control Of tho
Ignorant and debased elements OF our
population?
Pnst Ycnr's Experiences.
A. The experiences OF the past year
have shown the great difficulty OF Sc
curing fair local option elections in
the larger cities. The election laws
do not furnish any guarantees Of a
fair local option election, and wherever
the election machinery Is In tho hand
OF an organization In league with
the liquor interests as Is the case In
several Of our cities, II is wcll-niGh
impossible to overcome the trickery
and fraud. 1t seems almost useless
to attempt q local option election un-
der such conditions.
cities by the liquor traffic and its
allies results in great damage to the
rest Of the State. These cities have
become depots Of supplies. and they
are paying Il large harvest OF heavy
license receipts from the concentrated
trade. SO these cities are becoming the
stronghold of the 1tluor interests,
and 1t is becoming increasingly diff
cult TO secure Il consideration OF the
OF In cft M y
from the question of revenue.
The 'jug trade" does not produce
one 1.-THE of the evil results produced
by tho ever-present open saloon. yet
the wet cities. located as they are in
different sections OF the State. have
| nullihed, as far as possible. the VIII
of the people living in dry" territory.
The advertisements. circulars and
| travelling agents have tried to put their
lliquor stores In close touch with those
from whom the majority of the people.
| for the safety and welfare Of the COM
! munity. desire TO keep intoxicants. and
| asks for protection, the only reply Is.
What are you doing about it?'
"DIsgrnce to virginia"
6. Finally, not to take longer time.
| 1t Is disgrace TO Virginia that she
| has become the camping ground OF the
| drunlsard- makers. who have been
| driven from our sister southern States.
From Bristol. Roanoke. Petersburg.
| Richmond and Norfolk we are boast
| fully told that thousands OF gallons
| are shipped daily to the States south
! of u.s. which have banished saloons,
| and we are called upon by the liquor
| advertising secular press TO wait awhile
| and see II these States VIII hold out.
i and while we wait to see our Virginia
i cities are to be allowed TO do every
! thing possible TO make their success
Impossible. Surely this state of af-
fairs. which must bring sense OF
i shame TO every Virg!nian. who has
been proud OF the faSt that the Other
II states OF the South have been wont to
look upon Virginia as fostering
mother, who barred her breast to the
!. storm for them in days gone by. To-
day the Intelligence and piety of those
& states hear with wonder and indisna-
tion the answer of Virginia, wait q
while and see whether they can hold
! out" and in the meanwhile do every.
3 thing possible to nullify their laws
: and their respect and reverence are
being changed to anger and contempt
Unit State, Not County.
In view OF the conditions indicated
nboye, your committee Is convinced
TINT while the local option policy i
still producing satisfactory results ir
some parts OF the state, yet in ths
greater part OF Virginia we have gone
MS far as we can so with profit under
the local option policy, and the tins
| has come to ask for an extension o.
that policy to the State at larse-tha
Is, to ask that the unit he made thu
state, Instead OF the county, town o.
| city, nm 1t Is mt present.
II Your committee has carefully consid
cred the several methods by which !
Statewide prohibition law can be pu
upon the statute books. 1t Is of pri'n
Importance that the method FOLLOWED
in the enactment of the law shall b
such nc to brand the law ns the OK
nression nj the will Of the mnjorit
OF the Intelligent aud patriotic cltizen
of Virginia. Any method that does no
clearly demonstrntc beyond any cav
TINT the law enacted IN the cxpresse
will OF majority of the intclligen
; and patriotic citizens of the state wi
not receive the support Of the people
and Furthermore there Will be con
!, tinucd efforts to repeal It, contrary
:, the will Of the people. A majority
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