The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-19

III the FORM OF ballot for several hours,
and il was with the greatest reluctance
that it finally decided that 1t would
not be justified In refusing to accept
the bill because OF this change. Had "A
question OF principle been involved tho
committee would have fiatly declined
In tho beginning to consider the change
OF the form of ballot. but inasnuch az
the advocates OF the change OF the
form of ballot did not demand any
change in sections or of the bill.
which sections declare the result of
the election. the issue was not a ques-
ton Of principle, but only n question
OF now great disadvantage the adYo-
Gates OF the bill were willing to carry
i'm making the fight. That is 20 say.
that the bill as II came originally from
the House provided that should ma
jority of the votes be FOR State
prohibitions" then IL would be unlaw-
full to manufacture for sale or to sell
Intoxicating liquors in Virginia after
May /, 1916. But should a majority
OF the votes be against state wide
prohibition" then the present laws on
the manufacture and sale of intoxicat-
Ing liquors should continue in force.
The advocates OF the change of the
form OF ballot from against State wide
prohibition" to FOR local option" did
not propose any change in the effect
Of the election. Should majority Of
the votes be cast FOR local option"
az indicated above should a majority
be against state wide prohibition"
Those proposing this change in the
form OF ballot were not willing to be
logical and to carry out the principle
implied In the form Of ballot They
did not venture even TO suggest that
they would accept the real logical con
sequences in the event the form of
ballot should be changed to- read ''ror
local option" The logical result would
be that In the event amajority of the
votes cast were for local option"
be once more under the operation Of the
local option laws. the Byrd law and
the Mann law being swept out OF eX-
istence. But nobody dared to suggest
such a result Of a majority vote FOR
local option"
No Principle Involved.
There being no principle involved,
therefore, in the matter OF the change
of ballot. the committee decided that
1t would accept the handicap, placed
upon the temperance people by this
form of ballot, rather than to refuse
The bill, and in AN official statement,
published in several OF the dailies OF
the state, the following declaration
was made
With the ballot changed as recon-
nended by the Senate committee, the
issue presented will be exactly the
main in force or shall the manufacture
ana a. sale Of liquor be prohibited
the people of the entire State? This
form OF ballot was not adopted in the
House pill because II was thought by
nan nan that II would be misleading.
the form Of ballot In the House bill
was preferred. but the form of ballot
proposed by the Senate committee does
not change the issue involved in the
election. and. therefore, while this form
.of ballot was not preferred. yet should
the Senate and the House decide to
adopt the amended form of ballot the
legislative committee of the Anti-Sa-
loon League does not believe that it
cept tho bill because of this change 1t
VIII simply necessitate a thorough and
ciear-eut statement before the people
of the exact issue involved, viz. 'wheth-
.er virginia shall permit local communi-
ties 10 have saloons and liquor ship
ping houses to debauch not only the
also the people OF dry communities. or
whether there shall be a law which
VIII prohibit the manufacture and sale
Of liquor in every hamlet. town and
city OF our great Commonwealth"
On senate Floor.
When the bill came up o.. the floor
election was retained-namely. the
fourth Tuesday III September salts
factory amendment was adopted, de-
ming the electorate qualified TO par
ticlpate IN the election. the ballot was
changed. the wine and cider amend
m ni, We're added; and The date was
and Brock both voted to make the date
May, 1917, although they knew that
The Anti Saloon League had declared
In an authoritative statement that IT
could not agree TO the change OF date
from May, 1916 10 May. 1917"
AT this stage the bill was weighted
down with obJcctiona BILE amendments
namely. change of date to May, 1917
wine anu cider amendments and the
change in the form of ballot-and it
was understood by every one that the
House OF Delegates would not agree to
All OF these amendments. and that n
conference would be necessary. Then
to the aina2cment OF the friends of the
bill, an amendment was offered EXEMPT
ing brewerics-that is. allowing them
TO continue 10 manufacture their prod
ucts. to be shipped outside OF the State
and this amendment was supported
by Senator'S Brock and Early. Senator
Mapp. representing not only himself.
able TO consult in the brief time ar
iorded. declared positively that this
Nicious; and that rather than accept a
bill weighted down with all these dam
aging amendments. ne would vote
against il altogether. He moved,
therefore, reconsideration of the vote
by which the amendment was adopted
ana emphasized in the strongest pos
OF this amendment. but his protest was
unavailing and the amendment was
adopted.
The Test Vote
This was the proverbial last straw
which broke the camels back" and for
myself personally, and as representing
my associates on the executive com
mittee. we considered that any sort or
Kind OF implied agre ement was at an
end as an agreement which does not
bind both sides does not bind either
side. The bill having been sent back
10 the House. the House rejected all
the amendments, including the form
OF ballot. and the conference committee
was given free hand The Anti Sa-
loon League determined that IL would
accept whatever report the committee
might make, preferring to take the
bill and go with il to the people, al
lowing them to decide whether they
would call an election In spite of the
handicaps put upon us by the bill
From numerous communica tons it had
become evident that the handicap in
the change Of the form of ballot was
much greater than had been supposed
as there was evidence OF great confu-
sion concerning the effect OF such
change.
The Last Vote.
no