The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-02-14
Early for Local Option.

sltion / move that the report be re-
1ected."
Early for Local option.
Senator Early then rose. Il had
hoped that this matter could be set
tied without my speaking" he de-
clared. 81 am middle of the roader.
and don't like to speak.
Il have been for local option since
those times which tried mems souls
and have fought its battles in every
campaign. The ballot as formulated
by the senate is a fair. clean-cut prop
ositfnn
why recede? why should this
body go back from it's position when
the house only adopted the form Of
ballot by a majority of six
why recede from our position on
local option? No lesser authority
than Woodrow Wilson has declared
without equivocation for local option.
Il am willing to stand with Wood
row Wilson. and jefferson for local
action. | stand with that silent pro-
fcssor of the V. NJ. l., who, when asked
what he thought of secession, said:
II think it time TO stop talking:
draw the sword and throw the scah-
bard away. think 1T time TO vote
on this question, / shall vote to re-
jeet the report of the conference com
mittee."
Closed by West.
Senator West declared that he had
never favored the senate change in the
ballot, II have never favored the
lodging of issues" he declared. land
the issue before the people Of Virginia
is Statewide prohibition This Is what
anil
have been asking for. believe the
majority Of the peop:e have the right
TO decide whether liquor shall be made
and sold. Why confuse the issue? I
the people want Statewide prohibition
they can vote for it without confusion "
Senator Cannon asked in what way
the senate amendment confused.
BY lodging the issue and hiding it
In ambiguity" answered AIR. West
What We are trying to de is to
submit the question fairly to the peo-
pie, and this we can do by adopting the
conference committees report"
THE house has yielded great
deal" continued Mr. West THE
members met as half way. and we
should not be unwilling TO meet them
halfway"
If there had been twenty-one men
in this senate who held the same
views as myself we would have adopt
ed the house measure with but one
amendment that of the electorate.
AS it is. it is the best bill we have
been able to get. the house has met
us half way and we should go as
far In the interests of harmony.
stand with Wilson and jefferson on
democracy, and ! believe this bin Is
democratic. and should be adopted"
The Vote 4 Tie.
As Mr.. West took his seat the pend
dent Ellyson put the vote Messrs
Hart and Moncure failed to vote as
their names were called. and when
Mr.. West had voted aye it was seen
that the vote stood eighteen for the
acceptance of the report and nine
teen for its rejection,
Mr.. Mapp asked that his vote be
changed from aye to no. in oDder
that he might move a reconsidera-
! ton. Mr.. Moncure rose and stated
that he voted aye This put the vote
at twenty for rejection and eighteen
/ for acceptance, Mr. Mapp changed
back to aye. and the vote was tied.
President Ellyson announced the
tie and cast his vote for the accept
ance of the report THE vote stands
ayes. 19; nays. Ia" he declared. while
death like silence prevailed. THE
chair votes aye. and the report is
adopted.
There was hearty applause in the
senate chamber
A motion to reconsider was lost,
and the senate adjourned. The tri-
umph of the people had come through
the passage Of the enabling act.