The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-04-21
Campaign Is Open At Harris
burg, Pa.-Governor Brum-
baugh a Speaker.
ALL DRY INTERESTS
TO WORK TOGETHER
Must Take Issuing of Liquor
Licenses from Judiciary, AS
serts Chief Executive De
clares the People Must Vote.

Anti-Saloon League. The men ar
ranged to work in unison and at q
joint meeting resolutions calling up
on the citizenship of the State to sup
port only such candidates for the
General Assembly as favor unqualified
local option were adopted.
J. Denny o'Neal. of McKeesport,
Pa, who presided at the afternoon
conference OF the State committee
and the open meeting, heartened
those present by statements showing
an aroused public interest all over
the State. Governor Martin G.
Brumbeugh and other men who have
been for local option, also spoke
along encouraging lines
The Governor, who was the first
speaker. declared for q greater meas
ure Of local control in governmental
Affairs and for relief of the Judiciary
from the duty OF acting on license
applications.
In introducing the Governor. Mr..
O'Neii said:
1--WE have great hopes of being able
to put over local option next year.
We have outlined a vigorous cam
paign and the Governor is here with
us, and IL we get his help we will put
IT over
Great Interest Manifest
various meetings WST0
ed by more than 100 members OF
committees, and the greatest interest
was manifested
The resolutions presented in the
afternoon meeting were approved
without discussion and were adopted
with unan!nity when presented by
the Rev. DR.. g. w. Shelton, OF Pitts
burg.
The speakers, In addition to the
Governor and Mr.. O'Neu. were the
Rev. DR.. c. F. Swift. Beaver, Pa; the
Rev DIR. Homer w Tope, Philadel-
phia, Pa, representing the Anti sa-
loon League: @. A. Dillinger end
Public Service Commissioner W. ID :.
B. Ainey.
Governor Bruurbaugh said In part;
This ia a government in which the
will of the people rules Whsn that
will is,recorded IL In the duty OF all
to yield to 1t. The essence of our
democracy is reliance upon the ciu-
xenry. To educate that citizenry and
fit It TO do it's part in enacting. en-
forcing and obeying the law Is the
greatest program Of service TO which
the nation can devote itself.
There is conclusive evidence that
| local government can be given in
creased powers as the people become
increasingly trained and informed
upon all matters that have to do with
conduct and procedure under law
To deny local control is to deny ones
confidence in democracy.
The confidence the State shows In
giving people in small communities
the right to name their officers ought
| in my Judgment, to be applied to tho
question Of licensing the sale OF al
| coholic beverages.
/ Strong for Local Option.
| Il am as strongly for local option
row as I ever was and am anxious TO
see such a law enacted at the coming
session OF the Legislature. Surely, II
the people in the counties can legis-
| late upon any subject of moment
THAT is peculiarly and specifically their
own problem 1t Is fair to allow them
to iegislate upon local option Let
the will OF the people in the counties
be the law in this matter.
I'VE ought as a solemn duty take
THE issuing of licenses from the ju-
diciary. II liz not a judicial function
in anv essential sense. 1t is duty
the Judges do not wish to assume. II
ts our right to relieve the courts OF
an obligation they should never have
assumed"
The following resolutions were
adopted:
"First-we are pleased with the
situation throughout the state as
touching the next Legislature. as In
dicated by the exceedingly optim'snSc sue
reports coming from all parts or the
state, and by the highly representa-
tive attendance in Harrisburg at this
time. The people Of our State are
awakened as never before. The rsgnt-
thinking citizens are coming to re-
alize their opportunity and their duty
in expressing themselves at tne polis
on questions touching the public wei
fare. We call upon every good ciu-
zen to vote. ;, .,.
citizenship of Pennsylvania who ne.
| lieve in fundamental principle OF
| home rule to support only sucn cam
didates for both houses OF the Legs
| lature as favoring unQualriediy couh-
ty local option.
"Third-That we express our high
appreciation of the valuable ala 10
the local option cause rendered. pg
tho newspapers which nave iAForee
| II. and also to all those members Oh
! tha legislature, and others giving
| their support to the local option
| cause.
"Fourth--whereas Governor mar.
tin q. Brumbaugh has given his ag-
gressiye support to the cause OF 10
cal option since he assumed the hisn
office OF Governor or uhis common
wealth. in keeping with his pledges
and inaugural address.
Cooperate With Others.
Be 1t Resolved, That the Local
Option Committee of Pennsylvania,
| the federated local option forces CT
the state, including the Anti-saioon
League OF Pennsylvania, the Penn
sylvania State Grange, the No-L-
cense League, the w. c. 7. u, the
Catholic Prohibition League and kim
dred organizations hereby pledge
their continued unqualified support to
Governor Brumbaugh In his endeavor
to place on the statute books OF
Pennsylvania a county local option
measure"
Representatives of the State local
option committee and the Anti-Sa-
loon League in attendance at the
! conference included:
j. Denny O'Neil, McKsesport,
chairman of the local option commit
tee of Pennsylvania: j. w. wicker
man, Bellevue. treasurer: DR.. q. a.
Dillingsr. Pittsburg: Horace 0st-
ger, Philadelphia: tbs Rev. DIR. oso'
w. shelton, PittsburE; Roman y:
lHassricix. Secretaxy, yhfiadslphia. ~
mssmAseS 81 ths sRseaf1vs eonnalssse'