The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-03
RICHMOND GLAD
FIGHT is EN- OED
Statewide Liquor Election
Would Have Brought Business
Unrest and Bitterness.
PUBLIC EXPECTED DEFEAT
Signs Already Point to Another
Battle in Virginia Two
Years Hence.
PUBLIC EXPECTED DEFEAT

While 1t had been generally con
coded that the Jordan enabling net
would be defeated when It came to a
hnal vote in tho Senate, tho result
yesterday brought sigh of relief in
Richmond. regardless as to how people
stood on the question. What every
body dreaded most of all was n pro.
hihition campaign with It's attcndan MT
bitterness. strife and excitement.
The opinion has always prevailed
here that in a local option election in
Richmond the rrohibitionsta would
meet defeat Much of the State al
ready is dry. and If Statewide pro.
hibition had to come Richmond much
preferred prohibition by Legislative
enactment, rather than by a vote OF the
whole people. Tnis. 1t was argued.
would dspel much of the bitterness.
and IL would settle the Issue finally
and quickly
10 Renew Fight In 1911.
Already. there Is talk OF another
fight two years hence and II is pre-
dicted that tho issue will be sharply
raised in the election for members OF
the House OF Delegates, but the Sem
ate. which yesterday refused to accent
the referendum. is elected for four
years, and the same members Will be
here in service In 1914.
Pending the discussion In tho Cen
eral Assembly. many big projects in
mis- city were held up until the Senate
mad spoken. There was no secret
about this. although the fact was NOT
: advertised or proclaimed from the
housctops In an effort to force action
which would be based largely on dol
lars and cents. Internal revenue
figures snow that Richmond ships an
nually into dry States liquor valued at
100000, and Richmond wholesale
dealers have stated to Legislative COM
mittecs that their biggest competitors
ship from cities which are dry by a
Statewide vote.
Bitterncss DepIorrd.
But rosardicss of everything, regard
less of tho loss OF revenue and tho
possibility OF higher taxes, Richmond
people rcjoicod that the state is 10
haNe peace tor two years a least. The
b tesing W Thtor was vas Injected into the
on PRIVILEGES and Elections last Mon
day night gave some Indication or
what might be expected hereafter. 1t
entered into the fight This directors
OF the ChaNbe OF Gonlynerce urged the
defeat OF the Jordan bill because %
the uphesval 1t would bring and be-
cause OF the proof from all quarters
that prohibition does not prohibit, es-
pscially when the United States SUI
preme. Court has ruled that liquor can
be shipped into dry territory
Had the Senate concurred with the
House. many Wholesale dealers in
Richmond would have moved !mme
diately 70 Washington and Baltimore
In order TO handle their business from
those points. They were not going 10
wait for the Statewide election. They
realized that when 27.750 persons
could sign a petition calling for an
election II would be called. though
they doubted II this could be done had
the bill provided for the signatures OF
one fourth OF the qualified voters in
Virginia.
nefuaed Quick Action.
Many of the prohibitionlsts hero
were nstoiuded when tho House of
Delegates refused pointblnnk to accept
an amendment offered hy Edwin T..
Cox providing for Statewide prohibi-
ton on July |. Tha, would have
saved the people from vicious cam
pRign.
Above everything. however. the pco-
| prohibition. felt that II Was unfair to
| destroy The principle of local option
| and permit the Southwest or Tide
| water. or any other section 10 say
| what Richmond should do But the
\ whoIA town Il glad the night is ended
] for two YeArs, al least.