The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-02-12

reference to the enabling act The Anti-Saloon
league prepared the bill known as the 'Wil-
liams Bill,"~ and requested Judge Williams to
introduce IT in the house of delegates. There
were no exemptions of cider. wine or beer. as
the bill was introduced. or as 1t was passed by
the house Of delegates. In the report of the
legislative committee, read by Superintendent
Cannon on the steps OF the capitol building. it
was stated: Your committee declares in most
emphatic terms that it will gladly and heartily
unite in any effort to take such action will
and the amendment, which was adopted by the
senate. was adopted on the motion of Senator
Tavenner, one of the dry" leaders. With the
exception of this amendment on the electorate
ali the other amendments to the bill were
added in the senate not because they were de
sired by the dry" leaders, but because as Sena
tor Walker frankly declared when the question
was asked him why these amendments were ad
mitted. I'VE prefer to pass bill with these
amendments rather than 10 pass bill at all"
and all the noise and clamor and throwing of
dust In the air, beating the breast. and tearing
the hair INDUCED in by the hypoeritcal Ne1cs
leader cannot change the fact as enunciated by
Senator Walker Neither the dry" leaders in
the senate nor the Anti-Saloon League of Vir-
ginia desired these amendments to be made TO
the bill, but they do not hesitate to admit that
they preferred to get the bill with these amend
ments rather than to get no bill at all
OF course the Netes Leader does not want the
hill u-th 4bnce amendments in, harauee 4In
Nel0s Lcadcr does not want any bill passed at
all. And it suddenly becomes extremely
solictous concerning North Carolina and the
other dry" States to the south of US. 1t de-
clares I'VE do not believe that men like Senator
Walker and Senator Mapp, men of transparent
honesty, will consent to this crime against the
people of nearby States" AS indicated above
Senator Walker declared in the debate with ut
most frankness that no did not desire these
amendments, but that he would accept them
rather than to lose the whole bill. When did
the Nelcs Leadef become so outraged at this
crime against the people of nearby States ,"
When did this conversion take place? How
long has Saul been among the prophets? Why
have not these Bryan newspapers been crying
out against the crime of shipping WHISTLES and
brandes and gins and beers into the dry" near
by States? Why have they sold their columns TO
advertise the liquor shipping houses and the
breweries If they are so much concerned about
the welfare of nearby States? If this is not ar
rant hypocricy what is it?
The laws of all the prohibition States OK
empt cider and the law Of North Carolina and Of
some other prohibition States exempts domestic
wines. While the dry" leaders do not prefer
these exemptions and have opposed them, yet
they are not deceived by the simulated passion
and purity of the Neto8 Leader and the rest of
the wet" crowd. which are attempting to pro-
long the life of the death-dealing saloons in Vir.
gnia by a great outcry against the Anti-saloon
willing to tolerate cider and domestic wines for
season in order TO get rid of the Iiquorship-
ping houses and the open saloon.
And the words for season" are used in
AntiSaloon league has declared openly and posi-
lively. SHOULD any additional legislation be
found necessary concerning the manufacture and
sale Of cider and domestic wines 1t could be taken
up by the general assembly at any future date"
And this same deliverance will doubtless apply
to the beer amendment should it remain in the
BILL
The sudden somersault of the TtmcS-DiSpdtch,
the morning Bryan organ, will be discussed to-
morrow morning