The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-02-22
LEAGUE MAY ASK
FOR REF ERENDUM
ON STATE WIDE
Presidents Address Ac.
cepted as Keynote of
It's Policy.
LITTLE SENTLM ENT
FOR LOCAL OPTION
Criticism Of Governor for MOI
stoutly Supporting Strobe
Act Heartily Applauded.
Legislative Committee, at
Late Hour, Still Wres-
ting With It's Report.
ny ALEXANDER FORWARD

Newport News. Va. February FL
Noiclng what is un.versally accepted
by the delegates TO the tenth annual
6 convention of the Anti Saloon League
OF Virginia a the keynote OF tile poIiry
OF the league for the coming year, Pres
lueht Henry Pearce Atkins, in his an
uual address to- night. advocated a re-
newcd demand for referendum on the
question OF state wide prohibition. He
esked for new determination. for more
men and more money 10 carry on; This
program heforc the General Asscr,bly
OF 1912.
Mr. Atkins's address was listened TO
Win profound attention and was heart
1ly applaudcd. Especially general was
nc applause when he expressed his
Keen disappointment that our Cover
hors voice was not heard loud and
strong when the STROBE enabling act
was before the Senate OF Virginia"
The legislative committee was not
ready 10 report gt to-night's meeting
and that portion OF the program vas
dispensed with. The committee went
IMP session at the conclusion of the
andress Of John q. WooIey, and at a
late hour was still wrestling with the
details OF tho report
IN some quarters 1t Is believed that
This committee. in reporting on its
efforts 20 secure the passage Of the
enabling act viii indulge in some crit
icisEl OF members OF tho General Az
EeinbIy who voted against Il, while
others say that the report will be en-
lireiy mild in form and will merely re-
lale the circumstances OF the fight
VIII Declare for Rercrcndnm,
Inc nature OF the report however,
Is the merest surmise So far as I can
learn. there is no dissent from The
opinion that the league Will again de-
clare for referendum on state on
lion There is little talk Of Il return
10 the local option method OF dealing
With the situation. and there is no s,E-
sestion that the league should ask
prohibition. without reference 10 d pop
ular vote.
Action by the convention may. how
ever, take the form OF a demand for
call for an election by the Leglsla-
lure Itself or 1t may propose, as was
Inc case In the Strobe BILL that the
voters OF the state shall cal! the cleo
tion.
An argument for State prohibition as
against local option was presented at
to-nights meeting BY Rev j. H. Ltght.
OF Front Royal. in his response to the
address Of welcome. Referring 10 tie
motto Of the convention. Virginia
dry Dir. Light said the league would
proceed TO accomplish this END in It's
own way and In it's own time, .unnoved
By partisan criticism If the principle
of majority rule. he argued as ap-
piled to local option, was sound one.
IT should apply to the state at large.
Alr. Light recalled the preparations
Tor the local option election in Freder-
icksburs three years ago, when some
OF those who now argue for local on
ton were trying 10 prevent an expires
Zion OF the Will Of the people OF tina,
city. he also talked OF Maryland,
Ia irt ~.
Anti-Saloon League are trying TO pre-
vent the enactment Of n local option
law. His argument was that the league
was driven To fight for prohibition
lie used British disregard OF the neu-
trality laws which led to the War OF
1Sl2, DIS an illustration, saying that
the liquor interests would not observe
neutrality. but shipped their product
into communities which had elected to
vote out the saloon.
THE other answer" he concluded. lis
war-"ar against the saloon in Vir-
ginin"
Hit at Local Option.
a hit at the local option talk was
also made by Rev. e. II. Wexford, pas
tor Of the First Presbyterian Church
OF Newport News. in which the meet
Ing was held. lie said that when he
was boy in Richmond "thc time
honored policy Of the Democrats
party" was anything but local option,
a
lew preachers and fanatics. Mr. Well
lord predicted that within five years
the time hon red policy" Of the Demo-
CRATIC party in Virginia would be pro-
hibition.
But all local option sentiment has
not been aba ndoned Some of it may
be heard In the meeting. Governor
Mann Is to preside 1t Thursday nights
meeting, and it is possible he may
have something to say. President At
kins recalled, in his address, that the
governor at last years meeting of the
league referred to the financial CON
X dition OF the State in this connection,
his utteranccs.. in view of the present
be matter Of great interest
The attendance at the league meet
ing is perhaps tho largest in its his
tory. The First Presbyterian Church
was we'll filed at the opening session.
pr. ". G. Starr conducted the opening
religious exercises, and Marquis Jones.
Mayor Of Newport News. welcomed the
convention to this city. II
Mr. Atkins predicted that the Leefs-
lature Of 1912 would grant the enabling
act. which 1t defeated in 1910 He
said It would be history in 1913 No
body In his senses, he said, ever
thought prohibition can prohibit, but
he believed that a prohibition statute,
with the manhood of q Stubs behind
II, could doias much for Virginia as 4
has done for Kansas He referred to
the resignations Of Rev. 7. A. Taylor
and Rev lanes Cannon from the
leagues work, speaking Of tho latter
ns having borne the burden and heat
OF tho day. and leaving the task In
Continued on Second Pace.5