The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-01-31
DECLINES TO WAIT
FOR PROHIBITION
UNTIL MAY, 1917
CONTINUED From First Page.)


CONTINUED From First Page)
hibltion election It is desirable that
tho Senate shall adopt this amendment
with tho change of qualified" to reg
istered." and thus greatly improve the
bill by preventing the addition to the
registration lists the names of Hitter
alto and vennl votcvD.
Wants Election Deferred.
g. The amendment proposed by the
Senate committee changes the date of
tho holding OF the election from tho
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 In
to operation. and to call the election
in accordance with the provisions of
tho act
The bill is not an emergency rnca-
sure. and. therefore, cannot become q
law until iinety days after the ad-
journment of the General Assembly,
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 certi-
lied to tho Governor or time for the
Governor to call the election, ns pro-
vided by the bill. which gives at least
SHY Gays between the call and date
"0e Ava eho hoiuIIB Oh inc election.
II Is very desirable that the state
wide election shall not be held within
less than thirty days of any other
election. and as the town and CITY
elections are held the second Tuesday
In June, and the congressional pri ,
mary election is held In August, and
tho regular State election is held In
November. the Legislative committee
OF 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 Tues
day IN September. This will give am
pie time for the calling of an election
IN accordance with the provisions OF
tho Dill. and will separate this elec-
uion from all other elections In the
State.
"Dry I'm 1916,
O. the amendment proposed by tho
senate Committee provides that IL n
mna!ority OF the votes shall be for
statewide prohibition then after the
ilrst day of May, 1917. there shall be
state wide prohibition in Virginia.
The rcSort of the Legislative committee
OF the league set forth with emphasis
the attitude of the league on this oues-
tion or the date when the prohibitory
Jaw should 10 into effect IN tho fol-
i0~ ing iansuage: Virginia dry on. May
j. 1916. or at the latest July ]. ftls"
ana this declaration OF the report was
not only adopted by the conyentio,
but emphasized time and again ne the
ilxed purpose OF that body. The Leg
isiative Committee. therefore, has pos
itiVe instructions on this point. and
cannot agree to the change of date
from May 1915, to May, 1917.
The liquor traffic has been given tts
warming, and will have full eighteen
months after the election TO close out
lib business ana change the character
OF It's investments In no other state
have the liquor dealers been treated
win greater moderation. end 1t Will be
impossible FOR the Legislative COM |
nittee OF tho League to agree "a thie'I
amendment
Permit Sale of Wine.
Concerning amendments M TO the
sale OF wine and cider. the Legislative
committee of the league is willing to
eliminate the whole question NJ Tho
mestic wines from the operation OF
inc present bill. and would accept an
amendment that would provide that
nothing in this act shall be construed 4
Il. affecting In any way tho present
laws concerning the manufacture and
sale or cider and domestic wines This
would eliminate these things from dis
cussion In the State-wide election.
Should any additional legislation be
.ourd necessary concerning the manu-
facture and Gale of cider and domestic
wines II could be taken up by the Gen
eral Assembly ut any future date.
Willing TO Change Ballot.
D. The Senate Committee proposes to
change the form OF ballot 80 that 1t
shall read For Statewide prohibition.
and for local option" instead Of as 1t
now reads For State-wid prohibitions
and Against State prohibition"
This change OF the form OF ballot does
not change in any way the principle
involved Werc the form of ballot to
remain as 1t wrs in the bill as IT passed
the House OF Delegates. the issue would
really be whether we should have
State wide prohibition or whether the
present local option law should con-
tinue, for section 8 of tho bill pro-
vides that II a majority of the votes
cast In the election are against State
wide prohibition then the laws In re-
lation to the licensing of the manu-
facture and sale and dispensing OF in
toNicating liquors shall continue in
force.
With the ballot changed, as recon-
mended by the Senate committee the
Issue presented will be exactly the
same. viz: Shall the present laws re-
main In force or shall the manufacture
and sale of liquor be prohibited