The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-03-10

league No wonder they try to produce the
impression upon the public that the league
leaders are tricky and deceptive.
But one thing these liquor organs cannot
blot out. viz that under the leadership of the
Anti.Saloon League OF Virginia, after a strenu-
GUS effort In three successive sessions of the
general assembly. bill has finally been passed
which will give 10 the people of Virginia the
right to vote upon Statewide prohibition. Really
these Bryan organs must think the people of
Virginia very stupid TO imagine for one
moment that the people of Virginia will give
c-edence TO any attacks made upon any Anti
Saloon league leaders by the worst enemies Of
their cause. The temperance people have not
forgotten that these papers have fought and
vilnhed and slandered temperance workers
through all the years gone by.
AS a matter Of fact the leaders Of the Anti
Saloon league have said frankly that they did
not believe that the present general assembly
would pass a strict anh-jug law and their ex-
perience with the present senate of Virginia
certainly demands that weight be given to their
opinion. The Mapp- Pennington bin was not
drawn by the patrons. Messrs Mapp and Pen
nington. who consulted freely with the super
intendent Of the Anti Saloon league and after
the bill had been finally drafted, the league
agreed to support the bill and work for It's
passage because It is far better than the pres
ent law.
After a short skirmfsh in the house OF dele
gates last night, the bill was taken up out of
its order and WAC advanced to it's third reading
and engrossment On the vote by show of
hands there were twenty three noes and thirty
three ayes 10 take UP the bin out Of it's order
but as IL required two-thirds OF those voting
to take up the bill the motion was declared to
be lost. roll call was demanded. and the
vote changed TO nineteen against and fifty ons
for, thus taking the bill mp, and II was then
passed to Its third reading and engrossment.
It will be difficult matter to get the bill safely
through both houses at the present stage of
the session, but persistent effort will be made
until the end comes. An examination of the
vote as recorded elsewhere in this issue will
show that the who fought the enabling
act were nearly all lined up against this bill.
This is significant rs indicating that the bill is
not favored by the liquor traffic but Is con-
sidered to be hurtful TO their trade than
the present law.
In view of the Hypothetical and hypocritcal
statements of the Times Dispatch concerning the
authorship of the bill. the following stateme Mt
will be Of interest:
| The anti shipping bill which was presented by
| the undersigned to the general assembly of Viz
GINA was drawn by lis without solicitation on
the part of the Anti-Saoon League or vir-
| ginia. The superintendent of the league. DR.
James Cannon. Jr.. present with when
! the bin being finally prepared and discussed
with us very fully the provisions OF the bill
| DIR. Cannon very frankly stated to that
! the bill did not far the league desired
| TO go but we were all Of the opinion that this
was the best legislation which could pos
| sibly hope to secure this subject from the
present general assembly.
| We introduced the bill entirely upon our owr
/ responsibility but DR.. Cannon stated after the
/ bill had been completed that the Anti Saloon
| league would favor the bill and would do every
thing possible to assist In securing its favorapie
consideration and it's final passage.
/ G. WALTER MAPP.
/ ROBERT J. PENNINGTON.