The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1912-02-29
STILL WRANGLING
OVER JORDAN Bill
May Be Put Of Days Longer.
Doubtful Attitude of Anti
Saloon League
Leaders.
RIC MONn. VA-Snecic

Oliver, OF Fairfax. consume practi-
cally the entire time of the cary seS-
sion. attacking the bill from every
conceivable angle and scoring heavily
against IL.
Again and again they charged that
the advocates of the measure had
been dealing unfairly with the peo-
pie and with the other members of
the Assembly, while reference was
still made to the publication in the
so-called organ of the Anti-Saloon
League disappearing the provi-
sions of the bill to the people through
out the State.
Argument against the bill was con-
cluded at 1;45 o'clock, and Judge Mar
tin Williams. of Giles, who had been
selected TO open in reply. had scarce
~ begun his defense before the. hour
of adjournment arrived. snd the
House rose for two hours. Judge Will
liams' argument will be resumed as
soon as the House reconvenes this
evening.
Cox Offers Amendments.
Mr.. Cox opened the. argument
against the bill and Immediately Of
fered his ten amendments. the princi-
pal OF which would bring about the
folloWing requirements:
That upon m immediate vote Of
the Legislature. the state shall be
come all wet or all dry next July.
That anyone signing prohibition
Cor anti-prohibitionl petition without
DGlnR WualltCQ small Dt -DuIlSnGQ just
as II he had voted Illegally in a reg
uIar election.
That. to bring about a wet and dry
election. a petition signed by. not
twenty-five per cent Of those who
voted in the next preceding general
election, but by twenty-five sper cent.
of, the Qualified voters of the State.
must be presented
Z That everyone signing the petition
must do so in the presence of the cir
cult Tor corporation) court clerk. or
His deputy
That no intoxicating liquor shall be
used in Virginia-should the bill pass
even for medical, scientific, sacra-
meptal and mechanical purposes.
That anyone convicted of violating
any provision of the bill shall be- for
the first offense, fined from $10O to
$500 and put on the roads or in Jail
for from thirty, days to ninety days.
For the second Offense a fine of from
$500 to $1,000 shall be imposed. in ad-
dition to jail or road sentence of
from six months to one year.
My amendments will give the pro-
hibitionists. said Mr.. Cox. Just what
they say they Want-Statewide prohi-
-bttion@if the House wants to PASS
the bill as ! would amend it. but, Mr.
Chairman, we don't want prohibition,
or anything like it, in this State.
The prohibition law made law
breakers of the citizens of Tennessee.
10 We want virginia citizens made
law-breakers?
Before God. gentlemen, we do
not"
Backs Up Whites Position.
walter Oliver, Of Fairfax. who fol-
lowed Mr.. Cox, declared that the
Ant-Saloon League had told the peo-
pie about one bill and was asking the
Legislature for another.
Members of this House." he said,
ARE receiving petitions asking them
- L. IT.
charge that the advocates of this
bill are unfair, and have been unfair
ever since this fight started.
Therefore, Mr.. Speaker. / here Of
fer four amendments which substitute
the words Statewide Prohibition for
the word license wherever il appears
in the BILL People then, if they are
called upon to vote in a wet and dry
election, will know just what they are
doing. There will be no evasion. They
will be able to vote for or against
Statewide prohibition; not for COR
against license, which is a very vague
and wholly unsatisfactory term.
There are three ways Of bringing
about a vote on Statewide prohibit
ton:
First. This Legislature can make
the State all wet or all dry
Second. The State Constitution can
to vote on the liquor question.
Third. The Constitution can he
referendum and recall.
Criticises Present Bill.
But under the bin offered here the
people are allowed TO vote when such
a vote would be unconstitutional. 1
mean that the bill you are here asked
TO pass is in absolute violation of the
provisions OF the Constitution of Vir-
ginia. and If you vote to. annul the
basic principles of the Constitution.
Commonwealth.
How do these anti-liquor people
LET me give you an experience of
my Own-though / am informed that
the Anti Saloon League had nothing
to do with it and was not responsible
"a lady approached me in the lobby
of this House and asked me If 1 had
against this bill hope God will take
them from you that minute-that they
will all drop dead and be taken to
heaven where they belong
lis lis that the proper way to solicit
throughout this State if this bill is
zone more point, Mr.. Speaker: viii
this prohibition bill prohibit?
When the Anti Saloon League asks
for a prohibition bill why doesn't it
. ask for bill that will prohibit?
III you Will read the bill you wiz see
that whiskey may be used everywhere
for mechanical, scientific or medicinal
purposes EVaSiOnS again, Mr.. Speaker.
why, If the bill in its original shape
is passed, the whole State will in a
short time be literally overrun with
mechanics. scientists and invalids."
Williams for the Bill.
Judge Williams, opening for the
bill. followed Mr.. Oliver, but was I'M
able to get far into his argument by
reason of the adjournment of the
House.
He had time to vehemently declare,
however, that the advocates of the
bill were in deadly earnest, that they
were sincere and that they intended
to enact a prohibition law.
He repudiated the charges of mis-
representation and unfairness, and as
serted that if trickery existed at all
IT was to be found in those gentle
men who are trying to amend the
bill and who will not then vote for
It even If their amendments prevail.
TIDETQI FITV u0NnDO