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

/ AbandoninE tho policy OF local on,
ton for which the Anti-Snloon League
OF Virginia has fought for a number
OF years, and under which the greater
part OF the State hns become dry tcr-
! rttory, the legislative committee re.
ported last night to the ninth annual
convention of thnt organization In
favor OF State law which will pro-
vide for state option. While not con.
templatinE the Immediate election,
OF the submission OF the ques.
tlon OF Statewide prohibition by
the Legislature, the report calls
for the passage OF an act which VIII
allow the voters of Virginia to call nm
clccfion on the question OF Statewide
prohinitIon whenever one-fourth of the
quaiIlled voters may demand 1t.
IN MS annual address President Hem
ry Picrce Atkins took the ground that
the time had come for a forward sten1
There were not lacking signs in the
meeting from the applause which broka
forth at times-despite the request for
silence by the pastor OF the church,
that the report OF the COMMITTEES "a
too moderate and that thero is a large
element prepared to force a fight on, an
Immediate Statewide issue. Each or
the leaders of the convention seemed
to realize that fact.
NO UnWlsc EnthuStasnl.
ReV. 8. e. Hatcher, D. D., who con.
Quoted the opening devotional exer.5
olses, prayed earnestly that the body
might not be swept from It's feet by
unWise enthusiasm - and Governors
Elect William II. Mann In thoughts
ful and we'll prepared review of the
liquor question in Virginia, openly
supported the report of the Legislative
committee, arguing that no State wide
issue should be made until the league
is assured of the support OF strong
| public sentiment, rather than to bc in
] advance of such a sentiment. For hin-
self he repeated that he still believed
| In the local option method as call
culated to produce the best results. vet
asserted that II a Statewide election
| We're held he personally would vote
| against the saloons.
| The actual resolutions advocated by
the committee on legislation arc ac-
companied by an extended report,
printed in full below. in which tho
vanced at the stand taken arc ad-
vance dat some length, 1t starts by
repeating and defending, the resolu-
ttons OF the Norfolk convention or last
year and argues against the theory
/, that the league was by that action
| committed to a policy OF local option.
| On the other hand. the convention Is
| held to be absolutely free and un-
hampered by any declaration made by
the convention OF 1909, which dis
tinctly asserted the temporary and
expedential character of the resolu-
ton, and left the league free to de-
clare for Statewide prohibition when.
ever the way might be open. Tho
question is declared to be nor one OF
tho right OF the league to change its
position, but Is whether the tirnc has
como for suelisa change.
Has Served It's Time.
Starting from that point the report
proceeds to give a series OF arguments
why the local option plan has served
Its time and should he retired In favor
of State option. The statement III
made that while 1t may yet be usetul
in some places, the league has gone
3as far as 1t can under local option
with profit, and that the time has
come for an extension OF that policy to
the State at large. S
The several methods by which a
Statewide prohibitory law might ba
enacted arc then taken up in detail
and dssected, the COMMITTEES declaring
as prlmal that q majority OF ths
voters must approve any law or 1t Will
not stand,
For that reason the committee doea II
not favor calling on the present Gen.
eral Assembly ~ pass u Statewide
iprohihltton lawI II ~ said sto be IIa