The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-07-21


Record of Senator r. K. Brock In
the Virginia State Senate on the En-
abling Act.
The Anti-Saloon League, upon re-
quest of the voters of the Twenty
! eighth Senatorial District of Virginia
hereby presents the record OF Senator
| r. K. Brock. in reference to the pas
sage of the Enabling Act. The record
| is appended herewith.
! At the session of 1912 Mr.. Brock
stated to the superintendent OF the
Anti-Saloon League of Virginia, and
to other parties, that IL he were sat
isfied by petitions that a majority OF
the voters of his district desired the
passage of the Enabling Act, he
would vote for the passage of the bill.
He stated that 1t was not necessary to
send any petitions from Lunenburg or
Cumberland. as he was satisfied as TO
the sentiment of the voters of those
two counties Petitions were pre-
pared and sent to him, and few days
before the vote on the bill he stated
to the superintendent of the Anti
Saloon League of Virginia, and to
others, that he was satisfied that a
Majority of the voters of the Twenty
eighth District desired the passage OF
the bill, and that he would vote for
the same. He told the superintendent.
therefore. that it was not necessary
for him to secure any other petitions.
About two days later, Notwithstanding
his positive declaration to the super
intendent of the league that he was
satisfied and would support the bill,
he let 1t be known through the public
press that he would vote against the
bill, and this he did without notifying
the superintendent of the league OF
his change of mind.
When approached by the superin-
tendent of the league concerning this
newspaper statement he stated that he
had decided that there were not
enough signatures to the petitions. 1t
was then only three days before the
day for the vote on the bill. but the
superintendent called Mr.. Brooks at
tention to the fact that he had asked
for no petitions from Lunenburg and
Cumberland and that he had also
stopped the work OF getting signatures,
and the superintendent insisted that
he withdraw his statement and petit
tons would be sent him till the day
OF the vote. He did withdraw his
statement, but the next day withdrew
his withdrawal and voted against the
Enabling Act Notwithstanding the
petitions sent him. and assurances
from leading men OF his district that
the sentiment OF the people he repre-
scented was overwhelmingly dry"
Mr.. Brooks record in 1914 is as fol-
lows:
The Enabling Act was introduced
on Jan. 20, 1914, and was referred to
the Committee on Privileges and Elec-
tons. On January rs. the committee
reported the bill to the Senate with
many Objectionable amendments with
the recommendation that 1t do not
pass. On January 20. Senator Mapp
moved to take UP the bill and make IL
the special and continuing order at
1890 on January 80. Senator Brock
voted against Senator Maps motion.
tSee Senate Journal, page 1917
On February 4, 1914. when the bill
was on its second reading. Mr.. Brock
voted against an amendment offered
by the Opponents of the bill TO fix the
date of the prohibition election on the
fourth Thursday in June 1914.
On February 4. 1914, on the vote to
postpone the operation of the law until
May 1917 instead of 1915 as the pro-
hibition forces desired, Mr.. Brock
voted to postpone the operation of
the bin to May 1917. thus giving the
liquor traffic another year Of life In
Virginia. (See Senate Journal. page
21S.)
On Thursday, February S, 1914.
when the BIT with the Objectionable
Senate amendments attached was on
its third reading, Mr.. Brock voted for
1t tSee Senate Journal, page 229). and
the bill passed by a vote of 20 to IL.
!. 1t is to be noted that Senator Lesner,
the leader of the wet forces in the
Senate, also voted for the bill In this
form. as 1t gave great advantages to
the ''wets." But Senator Mapp pro-
tested against such bill with the OBJ
| jectionable amendments attached, as
| being utterly inadequate to meet. the
wishes of the temperance people OF
the State. 1t was sent back to the
House of Delegates. which body over
whelmingiy rejected 1t. and asked for
committee of conference on the diff
ference between the bill passed origi-
nally by the House and the bill with
| the Senate amendments passed by the
Senate. The Senate agreed to this
| committee of conference, which was
| duly appointed, and reported back, to
| both the House and the Senate on
February 10, bill with some of the
| Objectionable Senate amendments
stricken out The House OF Delegates
agreed to and passed this Conference
| Committees report. The Senate pass
| ed 1t after protracted debate by a
vote of 10 to 10. the decisive vote for
| it being cast by Lieutenant-Governor
j. Taylor Ellyson. the presiding Of
/ ficer. This was the crucial test of the
whole matter. and the significant vote
upon the Enabling Act. Mr.. Brock
voted no, as did also Senator Lesner,
.the leader Of the wet" forces in the
Senate. tSee Senate Journal. page
| 293l
| In the prohibition election held Sep
| TENDER %, 1914, Mr.. Brock is re-