The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-02-22
ers into politics. which he declared
| he depiorcd.

ers into politics, which he declared
be deplorcd.
/ Maiden speech Of Mr.. Roberta
Mr.. Roberts. the Republican rnsss'
| her from Lee. a young man and one Of
the new members. raised his voice
tor the first time on the Aoor OF The
House. He spoke strongly for tbs
Righteousness OF the enabling act. Hs
declared that In the four counties In
Ills immediate neighborhood the peo'
! rle were cxpending two millions OF
dollars for public improvements. and
not one dollar for the payment OF
this money would come from the sale
of whiskey. He declared that the
people OF his section did not come
with a plea that they be permitted
To sell whiskey In order to raise
money to pave their highways. He
/ declared that If local option in its
tiuest sense prevailed II would be all
right. hut II did not prevail. The
J wet communities insisted upon
! flooding the dry" However. men who
were lighting this bill had fought local
! option when 1t was adopted. He de-
/ clared that when Gabriel blew his
/ trumpet some os the same constitu-
tionai lawyers VINO were now discuss
! Ing the question would still be dis
L IL -
! It's inquiry as TO who was demano-
! ing the initiative. the Lee county man
| said the city representatives should
! nut their ears to the ground, and they
( would hear the demand from the
! n. fountains to the sea. The manhood
/ and the womanhocd of the state were
! demanding the election. 1t had been
! said that this General Assembly that
| /, is the soberest body of men In the
! history Of the State.
! At this point Mr.. Gillian tnterposed
to ask whether Lee county was not
/ one Of those counties which We're TAN
/ ing more money out OF the state treas
ury than 1t was putting in to IT.
Mr.. williams, OF Giles. answered the
/ question by denying In toto that this
was the case as TO the counties in the
Southwest.
Wise Says Bill Is Unfair.
Mr.. Robertson was followed by Mr
Wise. Of Loundoun. who Is the young
est man in the House and the authoi
Of the bi!! which has been termed the
wet" ena bling act, but Mr. Wise de-
clares this is not a fair characterize
ton Of the measure and which he re-
sents He declared that he came from
q dry" county and that II he were a
politician he would probably vote fos
he was representing what he believed
ITO be the honest convictions of tbs
majority of his people and II that were
not trure there was another man VI
I'm the hills which the people woult
send to Richmond.
He discussed what he considered tbs
unfairness and injustice of the Jordan
act. He said that the Jordan meas
ure provided that should the Stat
vote dry" under this measure
would all be dry" While II II votet
wet only the present status Woul'
he maintained. He declared this &
be unfair and said that he offered ut
! measure as substitute in order tina
the wishes of a possible majority o
the people might be carried out an
H.. the State votes wet II will lac al
omen for license for the sale of Houo
! In sealed o~i.- He declared tina
under the Jordan measure the State
wide people had everything TO gai
; and onthing to lose. He declared. toe
that the very people who were nov
demanding Statewide prohibition
y would be first TO squeal in case o
:, taxes being raised.
Makes strange BcdfeIIows.
Mr. Page of Albemarie. was tn
last speaker OF the Afternoon session
-, fellows as was evidenced by the fac
u that the gentleman from Rockbridg
=. and the gentleman from Fairfax wer
: lined up on. this question. He declare
: that he was going to support the er
| aiding act because he thought the nee
g ole of Virginia had the right to max
= their wishes known on the subject {
Il Statewide prohibition. AT 9 o'cloc
g the chair was vacated until { o'cloc
Y under the rule under which the Hous
I Is now working.
Evening Session.
4 When the House resumed its Sc.
c sion at O'Clock yesterday after
- noon there was a slight stir made y
r Mr.. Spessard. who introduced res
It Otutiun that when the hour of s; /
- should have arrived all debate o
l. the special order. the Jordan bill
II should b. suspended and the mea'
e ure voted on Mr.. Cox got the flot
= an held II. and said that he woul
o continue 10 hold II until the motto
q was withdrawn, as the House was OF
e titled to a full discussion of the sui
l. icct, and many had not been hear
= yet on it who desired 70 speak,
Il Mr.. Cox however, yielded to NJ
I. Williams of Giles. who declared III,
4. he hope fhat the resolution of NJ
g Spessard would not prevail, II
IS question before the House was of II
% first Importance. and that justice
h both sides would indicate the prt
n priety OF giving reasonable latituo
: to debate. Mr. Snessard. rather tina
9 precipitate a night. withdrew the M
i ton. and Mr.. Sutphin, of Floyd
a Republican member. took the floor
Il opposition to the pending measur
j | He declared that the question We
being agitated an petitions of lie:
than 10 per cent. Of the qualifie
. voters of the State, although he 81
not stop to explain the election Of
:, majority of the members of til
:, House on dry" platforms. This d.
: tail was evidently deemed immaterii
10 the gentleman from Floyd. II
made a strong attack upon his 10
= low Republican from Lee. whom h
stsf declared Represented county who's
! criminal record was as bad as thu
: of any wet territory. Mr. Sutphi
. made frequent illusions to Holy Wr
and got a round Of applause frol
the wet" members OF the House b
. quoting Paul's advice to Timothy. az
u monishing him to take little win
: for the stomach's sake. He declare
q that TO the best Of his knowlede
2 both Of the political parties in Vii
] einia were committed to the. doctr,n
Is &R11 !