The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-07-15
GOVERNOR ISSUES WRIT FoK STATEWIDE
ELECTION

ne people GIL Fit&tHf#tt WIZ fNAs st~l t7'9 49,
ton Of Statewide prohibition.
The enabling at was passed, the petitions
have been signed. aud the governor has issued
his writ Tor the election.
The voters Of this Commonwealth VII, there
fore. on TUESDAY. September ., say by their
vote at the polls whether or not the licensed
liquor traffic shall DE continued in Virginia
The certificate filed with Governor Stuart by
the secretary Of the Conamonv eaItb showed that
there had baen received at that Office from tie
court CLERKS official evidence that 69.e3G persons
lad signed the re,ttlopa Reports from several
OF the counties failed to reach here in time, SO
that the aotual number Of signers was over
1900. or nearly four times tle number
ouircd 10 insure the ordering of the election.
The securing Of the signatures 20 these
petitions Vas one Of the most remarkable pieces
of campaign work ever done in Virginia, and
shows not only thorough organization OF the
Anu-saloon league Of The State. but The hearty
sympathy Of the people with the work Of the
league ia securing for the people oppor-
tunity 10 vote 90 this grs moral question. It
Is hardy conceivable that ithin less than three
weeks there could be secured so large number
Of signatures, and practically all Of them be
certified 70 The seer office at tie State
capitol in SO short d Il This result promises
much in the final or Of this important
contest
Now that the writ Of election has been issued,
the Statewide campaign Is actually ana fully
on. 1t will he short, but there is every evidence
that there will be no lack Of interest With
barely seventy days In which 10 canvass the
State the prohibition forces viii have To conducl
a vigorous and aggressive campaign. The liquor
dealers, through the Brewers. Wine and Spirit
Merchants Of Virginia, and tho Local Self
Government league have for several weeks been
flooding tho State with the speeches OF DR.. Nc.
CURE and Mr. CabeI1 with marked copies of the
Tlmes,Dispatch, which has practically become
the liquor organ Of the State. and other ntera-
ture. Whether they will have speoch-making
campaign, as has been reported for time.
is not known.
The overwhelming number Of signatures to
the petitions tor the election would seem to
leave little doubt as To the result. Certainly
not more than small percentage Of those who
signed the petitions will vote against Statewide
prohibition. and IT is well known that thousands
who for prohibition have not signed the
petitions. There are various estimates as TO
what the vote cast may he, but the conoensus
OF opinion is that It VIII hardly be less than
10000, or more than 10000
The .Tirqinian reioices In the issuance Of the
writ for this election. 1t has striven earnestly
from its birth 10 secure for the people OF the
State the right TO vote on the question OF driving
the saloon out. 1t has felt and stiu feels that the
people Of tie State have right to express them
selves at the polls on this great moral issue
They viii decide it for themselves and we have
so misgiyings as 10 what their verdict will be
The licensed sale Of liquor sbould not be sane
toned or permitted in the Commonwealth OF Viz
giaia We believe that the people in the ex-
precision Of their sovereign right on the 22d of
September viii declare that there shall not be.
There is only one danger: General apathy
The petitions have shown such o9erw helning
sentiment In favor Of suppressing the bar
rooms that tic workers are tempted 10 discon.
tinue their efforts and voters are incliued to
remain at home on election day Many an
election has been lost by oyerconddence. In this
this IS the only hope the liquor people have
Let there be such triding on our part I've
issue IS 100 great. Let every worker do lis
Lest and Aee4l ii Id until the vote Il cast and
counted
1t is also highly important that the majority
for prohibition be decisive ana Overwhelming
in order that the whiskey people may be utterly
and forever routed ii the majority is less than
overwhelming we may expect them to quickly
rally and with the lobby that has infested the
general assembly for many years begin at
once assault upon our laws.
The Enforcement Of the law viii be expedited
BY large majority. and because OF this we I
rfe the thorough organization Of the large
eaea that sentiment for the law may be de.
se'oped there that will brook no breaches. and
convict all sioiators TO the battle /