The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-07-14
PETITION WILL
BE FILED WITH
GOVERNOR TODAY
Total Number of Signatures
for Statewide Elec-
ton Is 69,936.
APPROXIMATELY HALF
OF STATES TOTAL VOTE
Election For or Against Prohibi-
ton to Be Held on Sep
tember 22.
ROTH SIDES ARE CONFIDENT
ff Majority Vote Is for Dry State,
New Law Will Take Effect
November I, 1916.
ROTH SIDES ARE CONFIDENT

November i, 1916.
Secretary Of the Commonwealth 3.
.. James will :his morning certify to
Governor Henry g. Stuart that so.a3s
qualified voters have petitioncd for the
holding OF AN election Oh tho question
OF state wide prohi bition in accordance
with tn" terms Of what IL known as
the enabling act. Certificates from
court clerks. all over the State poured
tcrday. tire last day under the act for
the receipt OF such petitions. Under
the law the Governor has ten days in
which to consider the petition, and in
which time any parties desiring to
question its accuracy may come for
ward. He will then call the election
for September 30. and If "A ma iority of
the voters OF the State are for pro-
hibition at that time, the state is to
80 dry on and after November |, 1916.
PETITIONS REMAIN PART
OF COURT RECORDS
The actual petitions remain a part
OF the records of the Circuit and Cor
poration Courts. where they may be in
spccted by any persons desiring to
challenge their accuracy. Each petition
is accompanied by tho certificate of the
person circulating same, TO the effect
that each person whose name is at
tached personally signed in his pres
cnce. and affirmed that he is :, Quali-
HE'D voter There is no provision in
the law for checking the lists to ascer-
tain II each siSner is a qualified voter,
but the law provides that If any per-
son knowingly signs such petition
without being legally qualified. lie shall
be liable TO fine. 1t was made tho
duty OF the clerks OF courts to in
dorse on such petitions the date OF
filing. and TO forthwith certify to tho
secretary OF the Commonwealth the
number of petitioners.
These certificates were complied
yesterday in the Office OF Secretary or
Commonwealth James, with the result
that II was shown that 6?,936 persons
stating themselves 10 be qualified
voters have petitioned the Governor to
call an election for or against State
this number, 1886 came from the
counties of the state and 1859 from
the cities. Norfolk leads the list with
petition signed by 2.137 voters. the
Richmond petition having but 1876
names. Temperance leaders Yesterday
explained that Richmond has had better
regulations for midnight and sunday
closing. and has generally handled tho
license situation with less cause for
complaint than has been the case in
Norfolk. No petitions were received
from the city OF Hampton or from tho
Counties of Dick cnson. Dinwiddic,
Greene. Highland and King George
NEARLY FOtH TIMES As
NNNN As LAW Requires
The petition as prepared for cousid-
Grafton of the Governor has nearly
foU" times the requisite number OF
names 10 insure thf calling OF the
election. Under the act il was pro-
vidcd that the Governor would call an
election on petition OF one fourth aA
many qualified voters as voted in tho
last State election for Governor. The
last election for Governor was one in
'2ilI votes were east. according to
the journal OF the House of Delegates.
the required number of petitioners,
therefore, being lS.105.
There are 10 exact figures avail
able as to the total qualified vote in
Virginia at this time. but IL is believed
to be close TO 10000. I; Will be seen
there fore that nearly one half OF the
entire electorate has joine.l in pe-
titioning for the State election
While no direct statements were is
sued by either side last night both
preferrinS TO await the formal pre-
sentation of the certificate TO the Gov
ernor the figures w"r. variouslv con-
Strued. Antisaloon leaders are con-
hdent that by no means all who will
vote dry have been secured as sign
ers OF petitions. and Us the petitions
were circulated by dry men exclusive
ly. it is c"ntended that all signe-s may
he counted for that side. Officers OF
the Anti aloon League of Virginia
woald venture no figures. but other
dry leaders L"ld that cut OF :, vote OF
100 600 the dry side should poll from
90. 600 to 100000
CLAIM PETITION REPRESENTS
MAXIMUM DRY srKE.Nt.rlt
On tho other hand the leaders Of the
night ioi local option rs the States
method of regulating tbs liquor sit
uat!cn are not disposed To couccLe
thAt all of the sicucrs will vote dry.
Ihcre are may, they claim, who would
sign petition and have an election
10 settle - question that has been
aSitating Virginia for years, but when
the election comes expect TO vote for
local option. just rs there were men in
The General Assembly who voted for
trc enabling act. because they desired
TO let the people of the State vote on
the issue, but who expect 10 cast their
personal votes against State wide pro-
hibition. Opponents OF state wide pro-
hibitlon assert that the dry side has
put it's best foot foremost--that the
petitions represent approximately its
maximum strength and that in an
election in which from 10000 10 l6O-
slrN 1sA