The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-01-31


the registration books with this class
Of voters, and We should be entirely
willing to restrict the electorate quail
ned to participate in any Statewide pro-
hibition election to be held within the
next two years to those whose names
are on the registration books ut the
date OF the passage Of the bil1" and
this recommendation was adopted
unanimously by the convention.
The committee on privileges and cleo
lions has proposed to amend the bill to
read as follows: Provided, however,
that only such persons as are duly
qualified voters at the time of the ap-
prevail of this act. and such persons
as shall become Of lawful age after
the said date, and shall thereafter reg
lister by reason Of so becoming OF law
full age prior to the date herein fxed
for holding said election. shall be ell
gibIe to vote at the said election" Fol-
lowing out the instructions OF the con-
yention the legislative committee of
the league has agreed to accept this
amendment provided the word quail
fed" Is changed to Registered" and
the time IL made to read January !,
1914" instead of "at the time OF the
approval Of this act" so that the first
clause of the amendment would read:
provided. however, that only such per-
sons as are duly registered voters on
January 1, 1914, shall be eligi-
BILE to vote at ethe said election" This
amendment, IL altered to conform to
the resolution of the league, will ahso-
lutely prevent the padding of the reg
istration books and yet will not prevent
any persons who are now on the regis
tration books from qualifying to vote
In a Statewide prohibition election. 1t
is desirable that the senate shall adopt
this amendment with the change OF
"oualified" to Registered" and thus
greatly improve the bill by preventing
the addition to the registration lists
the names of iiliterate and venal
voters
Election in September.
(2) The amendment proposed by the
senate committee changes the date OF
the holding Of the election from the
fourth Tuesday in september TO the
fourth Thursday in June" After very
careful consideration the legislative
committee of the league is unable to
accept this amendment as 1T does not
allow sufficient time to put the law
into operation and to call the election
in accordance with the provisions OF
the act The bill is not an emergency
measure, and, therefore, cannot become
a law until ninety days after the ad-
U
which means probably anywhere from
the 18th to the goth of June. There
would then not be sufficient time to
have the petitions properly examined
and certified to the governor or time
for the governor to call the election
as provided by the bill, which gives
at least sixty days between the cali
and date set for the holding of the cleo
ton. 1t is very desirable that the
csk .~sr4l 40 IL oh a
within less than thirty days OF any
other election, and as the town and
city elections are held the second Tues
day In June, and the congressional pri-
mary election Is held in August. and
the regular State election Ia held In
November. the Legislative committee OK
the league thinks that no better time
can be found for the holding OF this
election than the time fixed by the
house bill, viz, the fourth Tuesday in
September. This will give ample time
for the calling OF an election In ac-
cordance with the provisions OF the
bill and will separate this election from
all other elections in the State.
Against Delay OF Year.
go The amendment proposed by the
senate committee provides that II
majority OF the votes shall be Tor
Statewide prohibition, then after the
nrst day of May, 1917. there shall be
Statewide prohibition In Virginia. The
report of the legislative committee Of
the league sets forth with emphasis
the attitude OF the league on this ques-
ton of the date when the prohibitory
law should go into effect in the fol-
lowing language: virginia dry on
May i, 1916, or at the latest July l.
1916" and this declaration OF the re-
port was not only adopted by the con-
49, ftrv1s nd q ~
as the fixed purpose of that body. The
Legislative committee. therefore. has
positive instructions on this point and
cannot agree to the change OF date
from May, 1916, to May, 1917. The
iiouor traffic has been given its warn
ing and will have full eighteen months
after the election to close out its busf-
ness and change the character OF It's
Investments. In no other State have
the liauor dealers been treated with
greater moderation. and 1t will be I'M
possible for the legislative commit
tee of the league to agree to this
amendment.
90 Concerning amendments as to
the sale of wine and cider, the iegis-
lative committee of the league 10 Will
ing to eliminate the whole question OF
the manufacture and sale of cider and
domestic wines from the operation OF
amendment that would provide that
nothing in this act shall be construed
as effecting in any way the present
laws concerning the manufacture and
sale of cider and domestic wines. This
would eliminate these things from dis
cussion !, in the Statewide election.
Should any additional legislation be
found necessary concerning the manu-
facture and sale of cider and domestic
wines 1t, could be taken up by the
general assembly ait any future date.
Does Not Change issue.
esq The senate COMMITTEES proposes
to change the form of ballot so that
it shall read For statewide Prohibi-
ton and For Local Option" instead
of as it now reads, For Statewide
Prohibition and Against Statewide
Prohibition" This change of the form
Of the ballot does not change in any
way the principle involved. Were the
form of ballot to remain as Ii was In
the bill as 1t passed the house of dele
gates the issue would really be wheth-
er we should have Statewide prohibit
ton or whether the present local OPP
ton law should continue, for section
5 of the bill provides that il ma
tority OF the votes cast in the election
are against Statewide prohibition then
the laws in relation to the licensing
of the manufacture and sale and dis