Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1915-02-25
BLIND TIGERS ON WINGS.
RICHMOND. Va. Feb. 24.--Fors-


casting legislation which may have
to be enacted by dry" States in or
der to uphold their Prohibition laws,
the State Senate of Virginia on Sat-
urday adopted without dissenting
vote resolutions offered BY Senatsr
Saxon w. Holt of Newport News. !
These resolutions make an opsn
season against all individuals operat-
ing airships engaged in the trans
portation of liquors into dry" ter
ritory. The protection accorded even
to Ornamental and useful birds" win
be lifted and hunters viii be at lib
erty to fire on the airships just as 4
they were predatory birds.
Senator G. Walter Mapp Of Accs-
mac. leader Of the dry" force in the
last Legislature, Immediately saw
the trend of the resolution and moved
its adoption. Senator John A. Les
ner Of Norfolk, leader of the Senate
"wet" forces, or local optionists,
caught the humor of the resolution
and voted AYE"
The resolution grew out of news
from Ohio that an enterprising liq-
uor-dealer OF that state was prepar-
ing to get around the strong Prohibi-
ton laws of West Virginia, recently
held constitutional, by Transmitting
liquor from Ohio into West Virginia
by aeroplane. The Senators Of Vir-
ginia regretted that West Virginia
was to be invaded by wet aerial
fleet.
The preamble and resolution adopt
ed ran thus:
"Whearas, The General Assembly
Of Virginia has learned with regret
certain citizens of the State Of Ohio
have undertaken to convey intoxicat-
ing liquors TO the citizens OF our sis
ter State Of West Virginia by means
Of an aeroplane; and
whereas, We deplore the fact that
one of the cherished industries of said
State of Ohio appears to be up in the
air; and
Whereas, We sympathize with the
suffering citizens Of our said sister
State of West Virginia because Of
their liquor coming so high; and
Whereas, We feel that such an
underhand and overhead method Of
irrigation should not be encouraged,
lest some Of the inhabitants of our
own Commonwealth Of Virginia, after
the first day of November, 1916,
should acquire the habit Of gazing
upon the sky and thereby walking
unsteadily upon the earth; therefore,
be it
Resolved, by the Senate Of vir-
ginia, the House Of delegates con-
That the General Assembly
IF West Virginia warns all persons
who may contemplate the transporta-
zion, from any point beyond the bor-
lers Of this State to any point within
the same of ardent spirits, malt liq-
lors, wines or other liquor contain
ing alcohol by means Of aeroplanes,
balloons, Zeppelins or other aircraft,
hat they should embark upon such
Eighty enterprise at any time, but
more especially on or after the sacred
and memorable first day of Novem-
Der, 1916, then in that event the pro-
lection now provided by law for buzz
ards and other ornamental and USE
'ul birds will not be held to apply to
such puhveyors Of contraband, but
hat there will be established an open
season of continuous and unlimited
duration for hunting all such aerial
ntruders, provided such hunting be
lone in good faith for the purpose of
destruction and not for the purpose
If acquiring the spoils of the chase;
md
"Resolved, further, That all the
good people of Virginia are earnestly
never to take drop from
my of the aeroplanes, balloons, Yep
,elins or other aircraft aforesaid, as
he fall might be disastrous"
Senator Andrews Of Roanoak said
lie thought the resolution should be
lmended to provide that liquor could
lot be brought into Virginia by
means Of pipe lines and subterranean
averns.