The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-02-15

Shall the people of Virginia be
allowed to decide as may best seem
to them whether or not they want
the saloon in their State
This Is the question which will be
put up TO the Committee on Privileges
and Elections of the Senate at 10
O'Clock Wednesday morning.
At that hour the public hearing on
the Strobe bill authorizing vote on
the question of abolition Of the saloon
throughout the State ~ begin.
House Committee on Privileges and
Elections will convene TO hear debate
on the Meyer bill. which is identically
the same measure.
The patrons of these important
measures of most general interest. as
we'll as a large delegation OF minis
tiers, lawyers. doctors, business men
and ladies. win appear 10 argue for
favorable reports on the bills so that
the General Assembly OF 1870 may
vote as To whether the people be
given the privilege Of expressing
their minds through tsfeiF Votes On
the liquor question in the State.
To Lead the Fight.
Senator Strobe and Delegate Meyer
win have earnest lieutenants in DIR.
James Cannon, Jr.. and the Rev. j.
% MCAtifster. OF the Anti-Saleon
League In addition to these men
and others who have gone deeply
and enthusiastically into the study of the
liquor traffic, the joint committees
will have before them scores Of petit
tions from the Anti-Saioon League
and many other associations and in
dividuals for tbs passage of the two
bills. Besides these. the measures
are reinforced by large number Of
petitions from a score OF towns, cities
ana counties expressing the desire of
the people to have an opportunity II
voting at popular election on the
question OF license or no-licensc.
viii Have Big Fight.
Strong opposition is anticipated
from men representing the liquor in
terests Their eight will be made on
the ground that the liquor traffic Is
we'll regulated and that it is source
of large revenue to the State.
In voting to favurabiy or unfayor-
ably report the bills, the members If
the committees Will he called upor
to say whether the people are enutied
IL express their mind as to whether
they want the iquor traffic, howeSe err
well 1t may he regulated.
As for the dCuor traffic b~iT s'nis
in large revenue, which the State
could i'll afford to do without a. this
Particular season of deficit facing, Il
Is rumofed that the bills may be s.
worded that the saloon cannot be
abolished until December of the year
1911,
This plan, which is looked upon
with favor by a number of Senators
and delegates. although they prefer
not to be quoted, would prevent the
State from feeling the loss OF the IL
quor revenue for one year. by that
time it will be seen, 1t is said, that
the numerous new sources of money
raising which this Legislature has ere
ated and will create---a new system
of property assessment, corporation
taxes. automobile taxes ct al.--will
have yielded n compensatory amount
and no bad financial effect win have
been. felt e-,---------.--
Only Talked About.
No such proposition in December
has yet been openly preached by any
one. but Ii seems strong argument
in reply to the liquor men. who al
lege that they are paying more into
the State treasury than any other set
of men, and soothing syrup to the
of the treasury. who. how
ever they may personally feel toward
the bills, and prohibition generally, /
are, by their fear of large State
deficit. not inclined to intellectually
support them.
If the hearing is mot concluded
Wednesday morning 4 probably viii
be continued in the afternoon or eve-
ming, as great many persons viii
come 10 Richmond from "a number of
distant points of the State to speak
for and against the bills,