The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-03-04

Truth crushed to earth will rise
again.
Knowing the cause was lost for
the time, knowing the Senate OF Viz
gfnia intended to thwart the wishes
and demands Of the people of the
State for another two years because
Il had the might OF a majority. John
r. Saunders Of Middlesex. one OF
four Senate patrons OF the Jordan en-
abling act, who closed for advocates
OF the bill Saturday. applying the
words OF a great poet and philosopher
declared an adverse verdict could
mean only a temporary setback and
not an humiliation.
The vote was IS to Is. TWO SEN
ators. Mcssrs. Echols and Rinehart.
were paired. Had they voted the bill
would have been defeated - to Is.
The untiring efforts OF many OF the
best citizens OF the Commonwealth
and the combined thought and desires
ri a majority OF the people OF the
State failed OF expression IN the Gull
minatIon Of struggle that had its
inception many years ago and that has
grown greater and grander at each
successive step.
The temperance forces OF Virginia
are more determined after the bufs
defeat than before a vote was taken
that the will OF the people shall be
the law of the State.
Quoting the expression Of an Amer
lean naval hero Of a century ago. a
temperance leader declared yesterday:
I'VE have just begun TO fight."
Gallery Is Crowded.
Long before the Senate convened at
10 o'clock Saturday morning for the
final struggle the gallery was pack
ed with 4 nervous tnrong OF specta-
tors. Member OF various wauen's
temperance ORGANIZATIONS crowded the
front seats. In the rear ant-1aloon
workers and those interested in the
whiskey traffic sat shoulder to
boulder Ministers and bar-room keep
era rubbed elbows behind the tiers OF
aAAtx,. lea ming forward. ia watch groups
t3fe sefsnt e~y~ s&raggia. In and take. ehe.r
seats.
Through nearly four hours OF ar
xument the audience hung upon ev-
cry word. paying tho same close at
tention to speakers. who touched only
the legal phase Of the question AZ to
those who turned to and discussed 1t
form q moral standpoint. Ripplies OF
applause gathered volume and burst
forth into thunderous outbursts of APP
prevail when some speaker scored a
telling point.
when Lieutenant Governor Ely
son announced the vote and In scarce
shove a whisper said: The bill Is
lost" hardly q murmur was heard. A
minute later there was half-hearted
hand clappipg. which died away as
suddenly as 1t began.
Debate was to have begun at 1918
o'clock, but was delayed by argument
DER q resolution offered by Mr. Holt
70 rive members OF the Privileges and
me kA L. ~
The resolution was Withdrawn when
= protest was raised by patrons Of the
I'LL, who declared such proceeding
was unheard OF and that II was de-
parting from the custom OF the Sem
ate for generations past.
Speakers for the bill opened and
were followed in turnehy the opposi-
ton. Because Of tho limited amount
of time no one consumed moro than
d few minutes Mr.. Wendenburg, who
opposed the bill upon constitutional
else. His speech covered three-quarters
Thoee who spoke for the bill were
C. Harding Walker, Col. J. r. West
Sands Gayle. q. Walter MApp n. e
Featherpton and John r. Saunders
The opposition was heard through
n. g. Folkes. John II. Cation, Ed
mund Parr and Louis Q. Wsndenburg
Has, Fun With Committee.
Dealing only with the constitu
tionality Of the bill. Mr.. Walker II
3 vein Of satire called tho Privileges
and Injections Committee to task fol
it, report. He declared the commit
! teas report was no more unuSua
than Astonishing.
~ never knew, said Mr.. Walker
- coumitteo TO depart 80 far from
thu custom. Not content with n
untavorablA report. they add that IN
!, their Judgment the bill Il unconstitu-