The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-02-14
VICTORY
FOR THE
PEOPLE
How 1t Was Won
BY DIR. JAMES CANNON. JR.

Editor Virginian:
for q statement concerning the great
victory which has Just been won by
the Anti-Saloon League OF Virginia,
representing the temperance people of
the State.
The proposition to give to the peo-
pie Of Virginia an opportunity to vote
upon the question OF the Statewide
prohibition of the manufacture and
sale Of intoxicating liquors was intro
duced for the first time in the gem
era1 assembly of Virginia In 1910. The
bill received seant consideration at
the hands OF the senate. and never
reached a vote In the house. IN 1912
the bill was again introduced in the
general assembly. this time first in the
house, where it was passed by a vote
Of Sc to ~, counting pairs. Notwith-
standing this majority of nearly two
to one in the house Of delegates the
senate Of Virginia voted against the
bill Is to "a. This was a great dis
appointment. and 1t was prophesied
that inasmuch as the senate OF Vir-
ginia would hold over for two years
more that IL would be impossible to
secure the passage Of an enabling act
until a new senate should be elected.
There was great disbursement in
many quarters, but nothing daunted
tho. Anti-6aioon League of Virginia
determined to leave no stone unturned
to secure 4 reversal OF the action OF
the senate taken In 1919. The plan
adopted was exceedingly simple and
direct The issue was clearly made
in the various senatorial districts.
which tho league had every reason
TO believe TO be dry and the peo-
pie were asked to send representatives
to the house OF delegates who would
vote for the enabling act The re-
suit justiAed tlSe campaign made by
the league. and when the vote was
taken in the house OF delegates for
the passage OF tho bill II stood 70 to
Il.
When the bill. therefore. went over
to the senate for action II was oacked
by a. majority. of the votes OF the
delegates from thirty senatorial dis
tricts The bill was ciear-cut pre-
senting a single issue. viz: the Civ
ing to the people the right TO vote
for O. against Statewide prohibition
and providing for the necessary ma
chinery for the election. There were
no exceptions as to cider. wine. or
beer. The senate committee on priv
ileGes and elections amended the bill
in several particulars. changing the
form Of the ballot, adding twelve
months to the time given to the sa-
loon TO close out its business. and
providing for the exemption of do
mestfc wines under certain conditions
None OF these amendments were de-
sired by the league, but careful
study az the situation had convinced
the leaders Of the league that II
would not be possible to pass the bill
in the form in which 1t came to the
senate from the house. 1t was de-
cided, therefore, to accept the Dill
with, the change In the form OF bal
lot and with the wine exemption
clause provided 1t was found to be
impossible 70 pass II -atherwise. But
Il was also found that the bill could
not be passed unless cider should be
exempted. and this point was also
yielded by the friends Of tho bill.
Hoping to load the bill with such
obnoxious amendments that the ieaNue
would not accept II, the senate added
an amendment, exempung breweries
from the prohibition Of the bill. to
the extent at least OF allowing the
hrewertes to manufacture their pro-
duct. to be delivered to common
carrier to be shipped outside the
State This amendment was cnErafted
an the bill over the emphatic protest
Of the dry. leaders. who announced
that the bill would not be accepted
with all the amendments added by
tho senate.
n response TO tho suggestion made
Nv the legislative committee In its
report. an exceedingly important
amendment was proposed by Senator
Thvenner. and adopted by the senate.
restricting the electorate to those per-
cons who were QuaHned in Ncvem-
Der, 1919. and those who qualified
themselves to vote IN the June cleo
tiou OF 1874 Had II not been for the
abortion Of this amendment II is pos
sible that the Anti-Saloon league
would have refused to accept any
other amendments put on the bill by
Tho senate. ana would have allowed
the bill to die rather than to accept
che change in the form Of ballot. the
change Of date in which the law
would become operative or the wine
and beer amendments. But In view
If the fact that 1t would probably
rever be possible to procure as fair
IN electorate a. that provided for In
me bill, It was decided 70 make
sight to secure the restoration Of the
FORM OF ballot. provided In the house
Stll, ana to draw the teeth out OF
sAc wine and beer amendments. and
Is declare publicly that the wine and
beer amendments were accepted emily
Cor season. "a be ahroEatrd al the
s.ext session Of tho general assem-
NY. II Was, therefore. de sided TO
rsk for a conference committee. nnd
the conference committee did draw
sshe teeth out Of the wine and beer
amendments by providing that wine
ana beer could be manufactured to
IS shipped to those places only out
s.de the State whore they could be
LEGALLY sOld The conference commit
toe also agreed upon compromise IS
to the date Of tho effective operation
~ the bill. placing the date Noveu-
bAfs 4, 1ti0, instead Of Nav laI1,
~ agreed sppen by the senate: The
4ss.ss ssss # ffsrr ii = s.aA u. Third kSxRA