The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-07-12
|Bl6 QUESTIONS TO Dt
before LEGISLATURE
Fsohfh1si0A. HAsaeton. SUFFRAGE and
Indsaasayo - Nelsscndam


|
Prohibition. woman suffrage and
the initiative and referendum are
three questions that viii be TO the
front at the next session Of the Gem
eraI Assembly Of virginia. the cam
paign for which closes on August 3
so far AS the Democrats are concern
cd. Amendments 70 tax laws Will
also be proposed.
The Anti-Saloon League 10 agitating
the FIRST, the Equal Suffrage League
of Virginia the second and the Farm
SO Union the third among other
things. "
The Anti-saloon League has auissed
q number of candidates, but for the
most part II Is concerning itself With
putting up its own candidates In
many Legislative districts 1t las de-
cided upon some one candidate 70
support. and where there II more than
one candidate in favor Of strict laws
aupplem emitting the Statewide prohfbk-
ton law. II has endeavofed to induce
all but one to retire. In several dis
tricts IL has succeeded In securing the
nomination without opposition or
candidates favorable to the prohibi-
ton cause.
Equal Suffrage Petitions.
The Equal Suffrage League has not
asked any candidates their view on
the question Of submitting to the peo-
pie q constitutional amendment CIV
ing women the right to vote. but II
IL busily engaged In circulating petit
tionA for signature. The petitions
which are presented to qualified
voters only. call upon the General
Assembly to submit Z constitutional
. vSsA pA ART ~ thA NAARfA MPu "a
b. Valentine, state PRECEDENT Of the
league, recently expressed herself ~
being we'll pleased with the number
Of signatures 90 far secured. After
the State convention II held the work
will be pushed with more energy all
over the state.
The state Federation OF Labor and
the Farmers Union have co-operated
In drawing up declaration Of prtn-
cipies which they have submitted to
candidates for the House Of Dele
gates and for the Senate. Included
among them 10 the initiative ana ref
received by number OF candidates.
Who will prepare the bill for submits
sion to the Legislature has not been
decided upon. The last measure OF
the kind to be introduced In the
House was prepared and offered by
Hugh A. white. OF Rockbridgs,
Other matters affecting the farmer
and the iaborink man are included
In the program OF the two organise
tons II IL proba BILE that the vir-
ginia labor laws. which are the re-
suit of slow but steady development,
may be further strengthened and lib-
eraiixed in the interest OF labor.
Complexion Of Next House,
The complexion Of the next Leg
islature 10 IN doubt, the House prob
ably witnessing more changes than
the Senate Not many more than
one half of the Democratic mem
bers Of the upper body have serious
opposition and II is probable that the
| majority of the members next year
will be those with experience, With
the House OF Delegates 1t In diner
ent. The great majority of the mem
bers have opposition and In many
districts there 10 more than one can
iidate. The most determined oppo-
sition generally speaking. 10 to the
mem ers who opposed the enabling
act, passed BY the iazf General As
sembly. and under which the State
voted for prohibition last Septem-
Der.
The new tar laws are not figuring
to any appreciate extent in the pres
ent campaign. These laws have only
recently become effective and there
has been no opportunity AZ yet to
Judge ~ to how they will work. As
a rule those who voted for sseresa-
ton 10 voted because the sentiment
of their Districts waf favorable. The
same Ia true Of those who votei
against II, an there has been no rea-
SON for 4 change Of sentiment. the
question has not entered into the
present cam 2aiEn. ~ That will be a
question for the campaign for the
1918 Legislature.
TWO Years Of Politics.
For the next two years there will
be enough politics to satisfy even poll
ties loving virxiniAns. Following the
campaign for the Democratic nomt-
nation for the Lexislatore CLOSING
August Z. comes the campaign for
Democratic national convention will
DO held July. 1915: the Democratic
senatorial and congressional prinAa-
ries IL August, 1915 and the COM
krsssicnal and presidential election In
November Of the same year,
30 far there has appeared no con-
gressionAl candidates IN any district
except the second IN opposition to
the incumbents. although OF courpe
Congressman glsmp, Of the Ninth
District will have Democratic oppc-
sitton. There II talk. too. Of oppo-
sition to Hal Flood. Of the Tenth Dis
and Aubrey STROBE. Of Amherst. now
candidate for the Stats Senate. are
mentioned. c. C. Carlin. OF the Ninth.
may also have opposition. ]. Peter
Holland. Of Norfolk. has already an
nounced in disposition to r. u. Ho1-