The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-02-18
Value of Petition.

u
large.
Value of Petition.
The speaker said that he had heard
that some members of the General
Assembly had said that they would
vote for an enabling act If major
ity of his constituents requested him
to do So, He wanted to know IL the
gentlemen followed that rule in other
votes they cast, and IL the committee
wished TO adopt such an unusual rule
for their guidance. No. gentlemen
this is not usual, and 1t is not just.
Representatives are usually guided by
the preponderance of expressed de-
sire. When two or three hundred pco-
pie express desire for measure
and only a very few express them
selves as opposed to 1t. the fair pre-
sumption is that the Overwhelming
majority SO expressing themselves
should be respected.
Public Sentiment.
The IIoistein Conference of the
( Methodist church, located in the great
: southwest or tfts state. has expressed
itself requesting you to grant the peo-
pie or this State an opportunity 10
test this matter. My own conference,
Of which I am an humble mem ber---
the Virginia Conference--located east
of Roanoke, has asked for the bill
unanimously. The Anti-Saloon League
In convention in this city has unani-
nouslv. without q dissenting voice
requested it. and hundreds Of petit
tions, with from twenty to hundreds
of names on each one, are before you
requesting the same. The Anu-Sa-
loon League IL only the voice of the
people. respectfully petitioning their
Representatives in the assembly.
Hirclings.
1T seems TO me that I heard some
thing from the gentleman from KEN
lucky who spoke here Tonight IN
I opposition to this bill, about our be-
ing "hireliugs' in this cause. What
is he9 tGreat applause can say
for myself tsat | have been engaged
in this work all of my life. and for
my humble services ! have never re-
cetved a penny. 1t has been stated
In the public press that some OF the
leaders of the Anti-Saloon League do
not want this bin TO pass because they
would he out Of job, For the two
- Methodist ministers who are empfny-
ed by the league. ! can say that both
Of them are in active demand IN
their conferences. and can get a
charge at any time, and for the two
Baptist ministers employed. both OF
them left aAla-charNea- tn-tA Ike
up this work, and one of them sac
riFiced $500 per annum To do so. And
il we are "hirelings" we are hired
by the good people of this state &c
help them in uplifting work and not
to protect "A business that debauche'
their children and their homes ane
provokes poverty. insanity, vice ane
crime las the United states Supreme
Court has more than once declared).
Now IL the Time.
DR. Cannon declared that this ques'
ton which was Travelling for settle
ment. as those conversant with con
ditiong In the State well know, should
be settled now--now because, II go
Ii would be settled by the present
electorate and not by an electorate
which, in anticipation of contest
would be padded with illiterate, ire
sponsible and corrupt voters
AS the speaker began 10 discuss
the obligation nf the Legislature t.
grant the petition of the people oi
the state. he was interrupted by Tho
chairman, Colonel w. w. Sale. who
requested him to discuss the revenue
Gencit apprehended If the people
were granted tho privilege of voting
and did vote to grant no licenses.
Financial Question Eliminated.
DIR. Cannon Immediately took VI
inns pIANt bl Inc dhNGAlFhS ANU az
! that under the present BILL which
/ had been most carefully drawn, II
which the revenue question had beer
fully considered. prohibition could no
possibly become effective until May
19l1, but" he added, I'm order t(
facilitate report from this commit
toe without further reference u the
Finance Committee, and to secure the
settlement Of this question by the
present electorate rather than by AZ
electorate inflated with corrupt ano
irresponsible persons who may ht
crowded on the registration books
and for the sake OF having this ques'
ton settled by the people apart from
political entanglemcnts rather thar
ina legislative contest involving per
sons and other political questions. 7
fer one. personally viii agree thai
The bill may be so amended that pro-
hibiticn II adopted shall become
effective January /. 1872"
This statement apparently received
tho atproVai Of the other representa-,
tives Of the Statewide forces anG
icifmlnatcd the question of finance
from the dis ussior and makes II un-
necessary for the tincuce Committee
to consider the hill,
no DECLARE THEIR POSITION.