The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-01-31
Members Known to Be OPP
posed to Measure Now Prac-
tically Admit Bill Will Be
Passed.
MAJORITY
TWO TO TEN
AS Great Moral Fight APP
proaches Success Legislative
Committee of Anti-Saloon
League Accepts Such
Amendments as Do Not
Change Issue.

Change Issue.
The enabling act will pass the sem
ate Of Virginia on Wednesday, next
II the most reliable information TO b
gathered in the lobby and about the
capitol can be accepted.
Even some Of the members of the
senate, known to oppose this measure,
now. practically admit that the bill.
after being amended in some par
ticulars, will be passed.
The only really debatable questions
now are as to what amendments shall
be adopted and what the majority for
the bill will be. 1t is regarded as
quite certain that the amended bill
will receive at last two majority, and
this may be increased anywhere from
two up to ten. 1t is thought that
when it becomes apparent that this
measure, which is strongly backed
by the sentiment of the people
throughout the State. will certainly
carry number Of senators who have
been opposed to the measure, will
come over and vote for II.
Great Moral Fight
If the senate does pass the bill. az
seems practically certain. 1t win mark
the elimination of one of the great
est fights for moral reform ever
waged in Virginia The Anti-Saloon
league has been working hard for
many years To drive the licensed sa-
loon out of Virginia
For a long time 1t directed its eff
forts toward securing more stringent
regulation Of the liquor traffic and
the extension Of local option In the
towns, counties and cities OF the
State. Gradually the saloon was
driven out. despite tie unite and de-
termined fight always made by the
same forces which now antagonize the
enabling act. Year by ear the in
fiuence of the Anti-Saloon league has
shown steady growth in the extension
OF sentiment among the people against
the liquor traffic and in favor of driv-
ing the saloon out.
This growing popular sentiment has
been reflected in the general assem-
bly,. especially in the house.
Two years ago the enabling act was
passed by the house by very large
majority. The fight was long and Bit
ter. but the vote was decisive and
crushing to the liquor forces. The
senate. after long fight, defeated the
bill by the vote of "a to is, ma
jority of 8.
Had q Definite Plan.
Instead Of being disheartened and
league set to work with renewed de-
Termination to bring about the OVER
throw of the great liquor evil in the
State. Through its yislative CONF
mttee and it's organized forces. 1t adj
dressed itself to the definite task OF
securing the election to the house Of
dry men from districts believed by
them to be dry, but represented In
the senate by men who voted against
no lfpg ocf M r
complete triumph. The victory In
this respect was so absolute that the
enabling act was permitted to go to
the house calendar without word OF
discussion and 1t passed the house
by vote which. had all the members
been present would have been 70 to
81.
When the measure went to the sem
ate and was taken up in the commits
tee of that branch for consideration.
there was n argumen. Thsi Same
committee with identicaliy the same
membership. had reported the biik
two years ago with an adverse recon-
mendation by a vote Of to 8. With
one of the twelve members absent
last week, the vote on the bill in the
committee was six to five against It.
showing a change of two members
who had been against it. III
Amendments to Bill.
Before making their. report. how.
ever. the committee adopted NUM-
Der Of amendments. Snce then Tiers
have been many inquiries as to the
position of the Anti-Saloon league
with reference to these amendments
Responding TO i.ese INQUIRIES. the leg
islative committee OF the league gave
out statement last night, clearly de-
finding its position with respect TO
each of the proposed changes. 81
The statement Is concise, clear and
comprehensive. 1t leaves absolutely
no doubt as to the position OF the
league which is disposed. in order 10
insure the passage OF the bill. to make
such concessions as may enable ccr-
tain members OF the. senate to give
the measure their support, but with
out in any degree Yielding the ETeAk-
principle involved in the bill for which
the league stands. The committees.
through Its statement, makes II very
clear that the league will not bulge
from It's declared purpose whether the
enabling act is passed or not. to seoS
that through the expression OF the!
will OF the people at tn polls. the
licensed saloon shall not be perbftto1
In Virginia after July I. 1915.
Leagues Statement.
The statement OF the legislative
committee, which is an Exceedingly in-
teresting paper. is here given IL M.
ArrITuDE or THE ANTI-sAI1oQaS
LEAGUE or VIRGINIA 10 1ktlYF
| ABIlN1 ACT AMENDMENTS uGs
THE SENATE: Sg4 s sll
In view Of the EraakEpnh1lc tm&ee&oGS
Al indicated by nnnhGFt 4MQ1l M
ito tho position vt TN Il
Confined q THIRD fs1I1s u