The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-01-30
i.
LIQUOR WILL PLAY
PROMINENT PART.
Candidates for Legislature May
BE Catcchiscd Regarding
Referendum.
TAX RAISE WOULD RESULT
Loss Of Revenue Would Mean
Higher Rates-Elfccts OH
Senatorship.
TAX RAISE WOULD RESULT

In the coming campaign for mem
bers of the Legislature. the question of
referring state wide prohibition TO a
vote Of the people of the Whole state
VIII surely be an Issue. Not only VIII
the Anti Saloon League in its tortn-
coming annual convention At Newport
News, rcanirm its demand for rcfe
rendum, but some Of its officers are
quoted as saying that asptrdnt5 tor
legislative hUnors will be asked to
state their position on this question
Naturally, in some places the issue
Will not be raised. There are some
sections of tho state where the people
are not thinking on the question. this
being notably true in those baiiiwlcks
which will return Republican mcmbers.
In the doubtful districts party lines
form the principal issue. Besides. the
attitude of the Republicans In the last
Legislature is we'll rcmcmocrnG, Tor
they stood together almost unanimous
~, as matter of party poiicy, Tor
tho STROBE and Myers uins saying
freely that they desired TO mako the
majority party responsible for the
loss III revenue. and cmbarras3 1t III
every way possible.
May Make Statements.
Recently there have been runners 10
tho effect that some men prominent in
public life are considering tho rcfc-
rcndum principle with view - maxi
ing an announcement on tho subject.
In more than ono instance it is said.
the opinion Will be favorable IL the
project. There is no suspicion, Gil
sidering the character OF the men thus
spoken of. that they have in viaw ANY
thing further than their honest cun-
victons.
The presumption is, that should n
referendum bill get through the Legs
lature. there would be added an amend
mcnt providing for an increase in the
rate of taxation in case prohibition Is
enacted. There is no secret ABOUT this
and some prohihitionists nave On
pressed themselves as favoring a policy
which would apprisc the public Or what
ii might expect in the event OF p:ohi-
btion becoming a fact Such a feature
formed one of the most prominen. pro-
posed amendments TO tho Strobe bil
offered in the Senate last winter, and
its probability has BEEN frequently
discussed. a IF
Must nniHc 'rnxcH.
Whether or not such an amendment
would form a feature Of tho rcfcrcn-
DUN bill no officer OF the State at
tempts 10 controycr; tho proposition
that an Increase In taxation would be
an absolute necessity with the loss of
| iiuuor licenses. The treasury Of Nir-
ginia is empty, and the cutting OF at
one blow Of 100000 OF revenue from
| q,
| body who knows financial conditions.
mean without any sort OF question n
substantial increase in the tax rate
| lnasmuch as tho Republicans. If ur
| Informed. would almost certainly vote
for prohibition. and could easily carry
| the election. many Democrats feel that
| the people should be Informed Of the
hscal result OF such n policy. for whuch
| the dominant party would be held re-
| SpOnSibIe.
BIZ, among those active in politics
there seems to he as much opposition
to the referendum as ever, and per
| haps In some quarters this opposit OH
is more pronounced than before. The
conviction seems 10 grow that the
right ami not Dcmocratic-that tho
people OF Lee county have no moral
or political or economic right to legis-
! Affect Scrntnrinl Race.
Apparently the liquor question VII
form 81 feature OF tho contest over the
two seats In the United States Senate
| Representative Carter Glass has evil
IDENTIFY determined to burn his bridges
behind him on The liquor question and
to stand. whenever questioned for abb
prevails that neither OF the other three
men will assume such q position, but
| it is argued. Judging from political his
tory. that they will find 1t difficult to
Especially difflcult. It would appear
Will It be for Mr.. Jones to avoid a
| statement. in view Of his evident
alignment with Mr.. Glass in the cam.
| raiEn.
Since the Anti Saloon League has
since It's last convention. lost the two
most important dry cities In the state
-Lynchhnrg and Danvlle--and since
| its committee announcements for the
meeting say that there are now 900
| licenses In the state more than there
| We're Il year ago. it is expected that de-
| mand al the meeting will be strong
| for some sort Of policy that Will get
rid Of liquor selling This is in spite
Of the increase In cost OF State II
censes,
Names Sponsorial STAFF.