Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-02-02

WANTS LAW ENFORCED
But Aycrse to Invasion of Pregoga-
tive of Chief Executive, However, it
May Be Disguised.

Richmond, Feb. 2--'I stand ready
to cooperate with all friends of pro-
hibition in carrying out to the fullest
extent the will of the people as en-
pressed at the polls, but | cannot
think that even the most earnest pro-
hibitionist would, upon reflection,
eiter desire to expect me to give my
approval to a measure which, while
vainly declaring on its face to the con-
trary, vet in fact invades the pre-
negatives of the chief executive and
weakens the very law which, above
all others, experience has shown needs
behind it all Of the power Of the
State"
In these words. contained in let
ter written yesterday to j. w. Hough.
Of Norfolk, formerly president of the
Anti-Saloon League of Virginia, Gov
crnor Stuart defines uncompromising-
ly his position on the question Of ere
ating the office of commissioner Of
moral welfare-thc outstanding fea-
ture of the Mapp prohibition bill,
which will be given a public hear
ing to-day before the Senate and
House Committees on Moral and So
cial Welfare.
Made public on the eve of the first
open discussion Of the prohibition bll!
the letter to Mr. Hough was accepted
in legislative circles YESTERDAY as q
clear-cut statement Of the Governors
views on the commiSsionerShip issue.
While it is true that his views on this
queston-expressed publicly for the
first time were conveyed III com
munication to Il citizen in private life.
the fnality of the language and the
circumstances that the letter was ad-
dressed to man high in the councils
Of the .Anti-Saloon League, gave ii
the character of an ultimatum.
II any doubt fingered in u!tra-drE
ranks that the Governor would pursue
lenient course, if presented with a
prohibition bill retaining the commits
sionership feature, that doubt vas dis
sipated yesterday in the minds of ali
but the most earnest prohibltlonlsts
The making public of the Governors
views on the question of creating Il
moral commissioner not subject to his
immediate control. supplied Capitol
and hotel lobbies last night with d
fruitful theme. Recognized dry" men
admitted that the development was
extremely interesting. but carefully
| refrained from commenting on 1t.
| Under the shelter Of anonymity, some
of the more outSpoken members con
coded that the issue between the Gov
! ernor and the advocates of the new
office is now sharply and Enthusiastically
defined.
The Senate Committee on Moral and
Social Welfare will begin public hear
ing on the Mapp prohibition bill this
afternoon in the hall of the house OF
delegates As guests of the Senate
Committee will sit the same com
mittee from the House. The bill has
50 far not been introduced in the To-
west branch.
Chairman Mapp, of the Senate com
mittee, said last night that no sci
nropram for the hearing has been ar
ranged. Every person interested
whether a member Of the Legislature
or not. will have the right to speaE
# is certain that among the supper
ters of the bill will be Rev. james
Cannon. Jr.. superintendent of tn
Anti-Saloon League of Virginia.
Supplementing the proposed legis
lation carrying Statewide prohibition
into effect, Senator Mapp, with Sena
tors. West. Saunders and Walker a
copatrons, introduced in the Senat
Yesterday an "ouster" bill providing
for the removal from office, by cour
! proceedings, of any State, city o
county officer who neglects or fail
to perform his duty in enforcing tn
prohibition. antivice or antigamblin'
: laws.
The bill provides that any citize1
or governmental official who think
he has sufficient ground to prefe