The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-01-21
Proposal for House to Vote
on Statutory Prohibition
Scotched by Patron of En-
aiding Act.
Bill Advanced One Step Nearer
to Passage in the House
After Long Afternoon Wran-
gle in Which Personalities
Are Exchanged.

The enabling act advanced one moro
step yesterday afternoon when 1t was
put on it's second reading in the house
of delegates The session began at
o'clock and until 6:15 o'clock the fight
ragged over the amendments proposed,
and the time was consumed in heated
debate, principally between Judge
Martin Williams, patron of the bill,
and Mr.. Oliver, Of Fairfax, who has
attempted to fiiibuster ever since the
enabling act was first mentioned.
judge williams adroitly showed the
insincerity of the opponents Of the bill,
when Mr.. Oliver, of Fairfax. and Mr..
Myers, of Richmond, proposed the in
PRODUCTION of substitute bill to put 1t
up to- the house to vote on statutory
ss5itate-w4t4e prohibition
Forces Confession.
Mr.. williams practically made hif
opponents declare their insincerity anc
state on the floor that they did NOT
want prohibition. The patron of the
enabling act was cheered from the
crowded galleries and the floor.
Personalities were brought into the
war of words and several times the
remarks of the speakers We're Some-
what bitter. The afternoon was given
over to the debate on amendments, nut
amendments were soon lost to view
and the main bill was brought up for
discussion. 1t was only on point
of order that Speaker Cox took q
hand in the matter end reverted the
members to their proper channels OF
discourse.
The bill will pass the second read
ing and may he put on Its passage to-
day, it is stated, and it Is expected that
an even more bitter fight will take
place on the floor of the house. The
house leaders said that everything pos
bile would be done to dispose OF this
measure and send it to the senate for
it's consideration.
Williams Takes Floor.
Judge Martin Williams, patron OF
I the enabling act, took the floor short
fy after the house convened. and stated
/ that the bill was now drawn to con-
! form as near as possible to the de-
n1ancis of the people of Virginia of to-
day. He said the bill two years ago
WIS lii some respects n little different.
but this time 1t was his wish to give
the people ciean-cut presentation OF
the proposition.
Judge Williams offered an amend
ment, which he said would clarity the
! bill somewhat and that was. to make
the petitioners who sign the petition
! for an election people who have regis
| tered. There were other amendments
that simplified the measure. but which
were of miner Importance.
In speaking of the bill. Mr.. Will
liams said that he would not presume
on the intelligence Of the house by
1 discussing the merits of the enabling
| act, that it was already understood and
/ backed by the sentiment of the State
-Four years ago. he' said. the measure
! was introduced in the senate and voted
down; that 1t had never come before
the house for a vote. In 1919, tho
! patron stated. after two years OF
agitation by the people. the measure
4 was again presented and passed by the
house by good majority. but suffered
second defeat by the senate. this
time by a small majority.
Gives Them Chance.
The advocates of the bill, then, ac-s
cording to Judge Williams, went back
and made it an issue, wherever pos-
sible and this time house of dele-
gates was elected with practically one
hundred members pledged to support
it. l have now a bill to conform to the
sentiments of the people and would
like to give its opponents chance to
discuss it.
i Mr. Oliver. of Fairfax. took the floor
! In opposition. He began by saying the
enabling act was not an issue be-
tween the vets" and the "drys." as
has been declared by the newspapers.
for he himself represented one OF the
drest districts in the State. He said
that two years ago he wanted the bill
amended and that now at last the adj
vocates had admitted that he waa
right.
A question was put to Mr.. Oliver.
that IL the bill was now amended az
he wanted 1t. why should he fight II!
A loud laugh rang out from both the
galleries and the floor
Mr.. Oliver answered by saying that
in the beginning the bill was uncon-
+, stitutional and that he would not sup
+ port it under any condition. AS II
stands now, the speaker said. it was
| only a question of Heads / win, tails
you lose" That even if the State
/ should go against Statewide prohibl-
ton. the dry sections would not be
affected one way or the other.
| He declared the placing of the Pc
tition In the hands of men who had
only registered was. putting 1t in the
Hands of men who were not even In
I terested enough in the State of Vtr-S
ginia TO pay their poll tax. and he
raked the amendment fore and aft
Mr.. Brill, Of Alexandria, followed
| Mr.. Oliver. and In speech far on
the subject of debate. attempted To-
T denounCe TIE BIN itself. Mr. Btrriiifff
/
idea being crammed down the threats
OF the people because Of "A majority
in the house. He was called down on
a point of order
Love for Amendment.
/ Mr.. Love, OF Lunenburg, stated
! that the vote in the last election was
so small that by making 1t necessary
| for qualified voter to sign the pott-i
4 ton many gentlemen would be robba0
| OF the right to place their names OU3
the petition He heartily agreed with
/ Judge Williams.-s y.
/ Hill Montague. one Of the deleeatee
OF the city of Richmond, dNnounr61
/ the amendment Of Mr.. Williams ~
/ declaring the letting OF reEfztered -
pie sign the petition, the negf0 NoE
| would be materially Increased
II H.ev'e. Do Yea IIlRs XII
/ any advocate Of tina anAhlt10 Nh
a (contsnnsd "A xhtTd Re6