The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-01-24
Adopt Resolutions Con-
demning ~Rabid Utter
ance as Untrue.
SENATE DECLARES
SPEECH AN INSULT
Inflammatory Address by Norfolk
Physician Causes Deep Resent
ment, Calling Forth Heated
Rebukes From Members
on Both Sides of
Liquor Issue.

halted the wheels OF legislation yes
terday to administer a singing re-
buke to DIR. Livius Lankford, OF Nor
folk, for his vituperative arraignment
of those members OF the Senate and
House Of Delegates who opposed
to the enabling act.
In an address before the Anti-Saloon
League of Virginia. at Seventh Street
Christian Church. OH Thursday night,
DR.. Lankford made the assertion that
every member of the General Assem-
bly, who opposes the enabling act is
actuated by one of three reasons
either he is a man with price and
the goods have been delivered. or he is
related to liquor dealer and has not
enough manhood to go home and say
ho voted against the whiskey inter-
ests. or he is the descendant OF a
weakling.
Wave OF Indignation.
The statement printed by both morn
ing papers yesterday. caused wave
of Indignation in the General Assem-
bly,, gaining volume rs the days ses-
sions advanced and finally putting
stay to all business. Both houses. at
ter stirring speeches of resentment.
adopted unanimously resolutions de-
claring DR. Landlords charge ''un-
warranted. ineXcusable and untrue"
the Senate adding that the speech was
an insult against Virginias upper
house.
~ demonstration like the one with
which the two houses received DIR.
Landlords inflammatory utterance yes
terday has not been recorded In years.
From his own section OF the State and
from his own city OF Norfolk arose
members in the lower branch with bit
ter dcnunciation on their lips. In tho
! Senate, where speech was more mod
crate, but not less,,ss scondemnatory.
members who have given their best to
the enabling act and its cause took
the lead in repudiating DIR. Lankford
and his ill-considered speech.
Denounced by Fcatherston.
Arising to n question of personal
privilege, Senator Howell c. Feathers
ton, of Campbell. denounced tho call
umny heaped upon his fellow MEM
bers In the Senate WHO are opposed to
the enabling act, declaring the charge
made by DIR. Lankford uncalled for,
unfortunate. and unfounded in fact
When speaker before tho Anti
Saloon League gives uttcrance to n
speech. which. by Inference, might be
takcn to express the sentiment of those
OF us In the Senate who are support
Ing the enabling act, and when it con-
tains charge so utterly without
foundation said Senator Featherston,
81 think l am right in seeking this
privilege to repudiatc it.
No Senator in this body aligned
with the forces that favor the enabling
dill would for moment call into
question the motives which actuate
the Senator'S. who are opposing the
bill. The imptations contained in the
speech delivered bsfore the Anu-S
loon League last night as reported in
the newspapers this morning, are un-
fortunate. utterly uncalled for, and
unfounded. and calculated to harm tho
cause OF State wide prohibition, rather
than help It."
One after another, the Senators took
up the grievance. the speeches grow
ing stronger and more outspoken es
the wave Of indignation progressed
The Sennte's Resolutions.
II ended, after twenty minutes OF
denunciation, with the adoption by a
unanimous vote OF the following reso-
luton offered by Senator Crockett. one
Of the dry members:
"Whcrcns, there hns appeared in the
morning newspapers report of mn
inhahmhtory speech on the enabling
act mhdc on yesterday by certain
DIR. IIvius Eankford, before the CON
ventiOn of the Anti-SnIoon Lenuue a.,
Virginia. held in this city, that reflects
upon the integrity OF the members or
the Senate,
"Now, therefore. he Ii resolved NV
the SENATE of Virginia. Tint IT nor
O'''| uSP'ps'S the language used I'm
snfd speech, but Ii wishes to declare
It's resentment Of snid Innyunye ss mn
Insult against this body and the ren
resentntives OF the people In this body.
majority OF whom voted against the
ennhifnE act when 1t came I'M brforc
Tor consideration by this body; and The
Senate wishes further to condemn ..,a
language ms unjust, unwarranted nu,I
untrue"
Senator Wendenburg. Of Hepr;co
county. arraiSned DR.. Landlord and
MS utterancc in n speech that was re-
markablc for the quality OF its elo.
quence and its stark Indictment. THO
senator gave evidence OF laborine mn
der deep excitement
Cannot Pass in Silent COntempt.
would have preferred to treat tha
statement of DIR. Lankford with tho
silent contempt that 1t deserves" said
senator Wendenburg. but when n re.
necton or this character is made upon
the manhood OF the Senate of yir-
ginin. 1t cannot be treated with Silent
contempt
When a man gives ntterancs to sn
vile a slander. there must be so,ne-
thing radically wrong either with hls
mind or his manners. or with that sense
OF honor that ought to be the posses-
sion of every professional man, and IL
always tho possession OF a gentleman.
'.Dr Lankford has uttered foul
calumny against the character Of the
men who make up the membership OF
this Senafe-against me--and I cannot N
remain silent under It, The men who
sit In this body arc gentlemen who arc S
able to preside with dignity at any
gathering and on any occasion They
arid dnI xtyith 49,,