The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-02-21

aso. said Mr.. White. would go direct
~ to the opposite II they voted for
this bill. He asked the Legislature to
SiEc the Anti-Saloon League what 1t
says 1t wants, rather than what the
bill says
Made Many Converts.
Tho hour OF o'clock here arrived,
o'clock. AT the latter hour, Mr.. Whitu
resumed the floor. He said that during
me recess he had been confirmed in
ms Judgment by many friends who
suggested an amendment TO make IT
clear that the people would have no
right to make the law. but that any
election held would be only advisory.
lie said he had no feeling against
any one, and hoped that nothing he
had said would be construed as SNOW
Ing Ill will He cared for nothing; he
said. save hts solemn duty to abide
by the Constitution and to preserve
the luwmaking power in Virginia to
the General Assembly. Never through
said, been regarded as capable of maxi
ing the laws.
His amendment. intended to make
clear that thS, election would be id
Provided, that said General AS
sembly shall put into effect by proper
enactment the intent OF the people as
expressed by the people at The polls
with proper penalties attached thereto
Tor violation of the law so enacted and
put put Into effect by the General Assem-
Would Destroy Jordan Dill.
Such an amendment, responded
Speaker Byrd. would destroy the vi.
tally OF the bill. The people would
next General Assembly would be In nc
wise bound TO carry out the wishes
Of the people at the polls. II wac
the intention OF the Jordan bill t9
CEsl III inn 90 In IN fARt n n
the White amendment would merely
begin It.
Senatorial Primaries.
Mr. rutherford inquired as to the
action of this Legislature in ratifyins
the results OF last years primary Tor
United States Senators. Ino Speaker
replied that was q party matter and
that If the Republicans had elected
the Legislature they would not be
bound.
Mr.. Oliver called attention to the
fact that the next Legislature could
repeal the Jordan bill even If the peo-
pie vote for prohibition. TO which the
Speaker agreed.
Mr.. Cox inquired as to the penal
ties for violation of the Jordan bill.
Mr.. Byrd said they would he the same
Under the old Constitution, con-
tinued the Speaker. ii was decided by
the courts that laws could be passed
by the General Assembly to be made
would be an extension of the local
option principle to pass this bill.
Replying TO question asked by
Mr.. Watts, Mr.. Byrd admitted that
he wanted to keep all the dry. terri
tory and get all he could in addition
1t was essential that country bar
rooms should never return TO VIZ
ginia. SO it would be impracticable TO
provide that all the State should be
wet" II the people voted against pro-
hibition.
stitutional arguments of Mr.. White.
Flower In Legislature.
In the Fredericksburg case. he said,
the courts had decided that the Legis-
laIure had the power to refer liquor
matters TO special electorate. not
provided by the Constitution for gen
cral matters.
The people of Virginia are SOW
ereiSn,' he concluded. "and their SOW
ereignty is gathered in this hall to-
day. Unless the Constitution says
they cannot do thing, they can do
It,"
c. ]. Meetze. of Prince Edward. an
nounced ut the outset that he proposed
His remarks were fun OF witty per.
sonal illusions TO those who had
spoken against the bill. and they wero
hugely enjoyed. He said he did not
believe Mr.. oliver had had his clothes
off for q week. He objected TO MIR.
White leaving his seat TO take
smoke. saying he had smoked him out.
George l. Richardson. OF Henry,
said Mr.. Meetze's speech reminded him
of certain doctors prcscription-'to
be taken externally, internally and
eternally." He told how he had made
his race against the enabling act and
had been elected by the largest Demo
cratic majority in Henry In fourteen
years.
lilo would never consent he said to
let dry counties dictate 10 wet coun-
ties what they should eat or drink.
This was not prohibition bill In fact.
he continued but should have the title
"A bin to increase the revenues of
the express companies" He favored
prohibitlon--"prohibit yourself and let
everybody else who wants to, pro-
hihit also" AS a Democrat, he pre-