The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-19

prohibit the licensing of the manu-
facture and sale of Intoxicating liquors.
Tho provisions CT the bill were very
simple 1t required that n certain
number OF voters must petition the
Governor 20 call an election upon this
question Oh the fourth Tuesday In
September, the ballot to read. For
state Wide Prohibition" and Against
state Wide Prohibition" In the event
majority OF the people should vote
Tor Statewide prohibition. 1t would be
unlawful to manufacture for sale or to
sell intoxicating liquors within the
state OF Virginia after May /, 1916.
This bill was passed by the House of
Delegates by a vote OF 76 to 10. on
January %
Senate Committee Amendment.
The Senate Committee on Privileges
and Elections on January Is took up
the House bill. and amended il in sew
cral particulars. and reported 1T out
with the recommendation that IT do
not pass. The amended bill provided
for the calling of an election the
fourth Thursday in June. provided
that the law should not take effect
until May, 1917. gave to existing manu-
tacturcrs Of vile and it's by-products
the right TO continue to manufacture,
provided the product was shipped out
side Of the state and changed the form
OF ballot, making 1t to read. For State
Vide Prohibition" and For Local OPP
tton.' The committee also proposed an
amendment restricting the electorate
to such persons rs are duly quail
ned voters at the time OF the approval
OF the act The Senate fixed the date
Tor the consideration Of the bill for
edncsday. February J. one week af-
Ter the bill was reported back TO the
senate and placed on the calendar.
An effort Was made TO determine the
position of Senator'S upon the passage
Of the bill az II came from tho House
OF Delegates. and from all tho inforna-
ton that could be obtained. tho
friends OF the biz did not believe that
enough votes could be secured TO pass
the bill In its original form. The cues
Won then arose as TO what amend
ments must he accepted in order to
secure the passage Of the bill IL
seemed Impossible to pass it, without
cohceding the change in the form OF
ballot, and without eNemptin. cider
ana the present manufacturers OF wine
from the operation of the bill II was
clearly Impossible to accept the fourth
thursday in June as the date of cleo
/ tion, III place OF the fourth TUESDAY
ia september. as that amendment would
N'''ate me whole bill. II Was also
! thought to DC absolutely unreasona bl q
10 allow the liquor traffic to continue
10 carry on its business ia the state
until May. 1917. Tao amendment re-
Atricting the electorate TO only such
persons as are duly qualified voters at
me time OF the approval OF this act
could not possibly be accepted as IL
would have been exceedingly unfair
Acceptance OF Amendments Necessary.
Inc legislative committee of tho
Anti-Saloon League OF Virginia gave
very thorough consideration 10 the SIT :
uation. Personally ! had no consul
tation with Senator Brock or Senator
Early. nor did | have any conmunica
ton with Mr. BROCK other than the one
"hich ne quotes in his statement But
from the most reliable informat ton
winch could obtain understood that
these senators would not voS for the
OH! without the change In the ballot
without the extension of time 10 1917.
ana that certain other Senators ucccs-
sarS 10 insure the passage OF the bill
would not vote for IL without the cider
amendment, and that the wine amend
mcnt must be retained The question
winch the Legislative committee was
called upon to decide therefore, was
whether IL would agree to accent the
biil loaded down with vicious amend :
inents, but which would give the people
inc right 20 vote. or whether II would
refuse 10 accept bin with such amend
lnentB and 30 before the people asking
Tor Senate and House Of Delegates
which would enact such legislation as
would sweep the saloons out Of Vir-
Sinia by July /, 1915
Vote Desirable.
IL Was finally decided that i; was
better 10 have a vote of the people of
the State upon the question rather than
10 enact statutory prohibitory law
without that vote. and that the com
mitee would agree TO accept the bill,
provided fair electorate should be
provided, the date OF the election he
retained Tor the fourth Tuesday in
September. and the law 10 20 into eff
iect not later than Jury /. 1916.
Form of Ballot.
The committee discussed the change