The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-02-05
TIuRsoAv. FEBRUARY 5. 1914.
6nn PROFILE Trfr1R RIGHTS.

GtNE PROFILE TIfE1R RIGHTS.
The present general assembly viii. we be
uevo. give to tho people of the State Tire
priyleea Of exercising taeir right to say at
the POLLS wAetaer or not the saloon shall be
continued In virginia Tho enabling act is
practically certain Of passage. The senate has
hardened tic measure with several obnoxious
ssneadments. but if ttcse are not rescinded be
tore the a3ll IS passed by The upper branch the
house will probably insist upon having them
sartlgen out anu this result may come through
committee of conference.
Emersing from day of hard fighting in the
senate with numerous amendments. some in
dicaklns victory for each side. the bill is on the
senate calendar awaiting passage. This may
eometin short order today, or it may be further
delayed and follow fight as compared with
which yesterday battle may seem hardly more
shan a slirmish. It is qajto likely that the
ordering Of the bill to its third reading will be
reconsiaercd in order that there may be further
amendments offered and passed upon
TIE senate acted wisely in judgment in
rejecting 1he committees amendment fixing the
electorate. which shall have say in the election
shall prevail The substitute accepted. after a
hard fight, confines the election to registered
....a~u .,.tl.,. -sf,,ne vcera -, 4ba nnI1 hos,ke
January /. I9t4. who shall cnallfy by paying
their poll taxes If this decision stands there
can be- no padding Of the poll books. No further
names ran inc added except OF young voters
eorning of ase-but men already registered can
qualify by paying their pon taxes This pro-
vision was necessary in justice to voters In the
COUNTIES and towns where there are no June
municipal elections. which made it necessary for
4he payment Of poll taxes in December last as
was necessary in cities where local officers are
10 be chosen,
The election on statewide was finally fixed for
September next. Friends of the liquor interests
made "a strenuous fight 10 have the election in
June, but they were defeated Their fight not to
hare prohibition so into effect until July, 1917,
Was successful. though the temperance forces
nave not surrendered this point The Auti-saloon
league has declared through the report Of its
legialatlra. con4nlttGe which the convention en-
dorsed, that ehc State shall be dry by May
lit. or certainly July j, 1916, ana those laboring
to drive the saloon out still expect this.
pry leaders made il clear that if the wet
men Insisted upon loading the bib down with
bafdeusome amendments those who wanted pro
hibltion would decline to support the measure
and go back to the people and seek the election
of a legislature that would make Virginia dry
and without needless delay. Many amendments
Of this character were proposed. but most of
thcrn were voted down The unexpected change
of three senators, who had been voting with the
orys cansed the adoption Of an amendment al
lowing breweries. now in operation, to continue
10 manufacture malt beer to he shipped outside
Of the State in lois Of not less than FIVE gallons
u two dozen bottles, II is not expected that
this provision Win remain in the act