The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-10-17
LIQUOR ADVERTISING
IN STATE FORBIDDEN
Opinion BY AttQrney-General Issued
For Publication BY Commissioner
Peters.
TAINTED NEws' Is BARRED.
No Paid Article Appearing As News
Ooncerning Regulation or Prohibi-
tion OF Liquor Tra1ic May Appear
without Warning Notice.

Liquor advertising in newspapers
and periodicals published in this State
in any other Advertising medium. and
the circulation of price lists, order
blanks or other matter for the pur-
pose Of inducing or securing orders
for ardent spirits Is absolutely for
hidden by the Mapp prohibition law.
which goes into effect November /.
This is the opinion of Attorney-Gen-
eral John Garland Pollard. given to
Commissioner Of Prohibition J. Sidney
Peters. and by Commissioner Peters
given to the press yesterday after
noon.
Papers published beyond the bord
ers of the state, which carry adver-
Using of ardent spirits, In the opinion
of Mr. Pollard. may be circulated in
the State. provided an obligation has
been incurred or money paid for the
papers
The act also contains a provision
for the protection of Virginians from |
tainted news'-publications appear
ing to be news stories concerning the |
regulation OF prohibition OF the liquor
traffic. designed to affect public senti- |
ment. when as matter of fact the
papers receive compensation for the |
publication of such articles In such |
cases there must be printed with the |
statements the words, In the same |
style and size of type, printed as paid |
Such articles of this
type cannot be such that will result In |
the advertising OF the manufacture or
sale or furnishing of ardent spirits.
The opinion. issued by Commissioner |
Peters. reads as follows:
Text Of Opinion.
Acknowledgement Is made of your |
letter of September 8. 1915. In refer |
ence to section 19 of chapter las. OF
the Acts OF 1915. in which you say:
will You kindly advise me whether
or not aaaer section IA Of chapter Las
of the Acts OF 1916. said section per- |
mits paid newspaper advertising,
even though the advertising be print !
ed In the State Of Virginia"
An examination Of section 10 OF
chapter 146 OF the Acts OF 1915 show
that this section OF the act makes 1t
unlawful for any person to advertise
ardent spirits within this State upon
(a) any street car. tb) railroad car. or
(c) other vehicle of transportation. or
(d) any public place. or te) any pub
lie resort, or 60 upon any sign. or
tg) upon any billboard. or CHI by cir
cular, % poster. % price list, (k)
newspaper. or ID periodical. or (m)
otherwise.
Effect of Law.
This section further makes II un-
lawful TO advertise the ID manufac-
ture, CD sale. t3) keeping for sale.
or (4) furnishing OF ardent spirits.
or go the (a) person for whom, or
fb) the Arm, or tc) corporation TOR
which. or (s) the place where. or ca
the price at which, or ts) the method
may be obtained.
The division OF Section 10. No. 2.
makes 1t unlawful TO I'D circulate, or
t2} publish any ta) written, or tbl
printed matter in which any adver-
tisement specified in this section shall
appear.
This section provides an exception
to this latter provision, which pro-
v.des that this prohibition does not
apply TO the circulation or publica-
ton of Cl) newspapers and (e1 peri
odicals published beyond the confines
of this State, provided an obligation
has been incurred or money paid for
the same.
Another provision OF this section,
which refers to newspapers. is found
under that portion of Section l9, No, !
3. which provides that ii shall be I'M /
lawful to circulate (l) any price list. |
90 order blank, or go other matter
for the purpose of indusing or secur-
ing orders 10 such ardent spirits. no
matter where located.
1t is also provided by the same sub
division of Section ~ that any ta)
advertisement, or th9 notice contain
ing the picture of n Cd brewery, ca
distillery. go bottle, (4) key. go
barrel, or tsl box. or q. other re-
ceptacle represented as containing ar
dent spirits. or (c) designed to serve
as an advertisement thereof. is with
in the inhibition of this section.
From these provisions of Section 10.
1t clearly appears that newspaper
printed in Virginia cannot carry any
advertisement Of ardent spirits after
the act takes effect.
As to Tainted" News.
1t is to be noted. however. that
that portion OF Section 10, numbered
8. provides that it shall be unlawful
for any t1) newspaper. or t2) peri
odical published In this State to print
In tn columns statements concerning
the liquor trafnc for which the said
O) Newspaper. or (2) periodical re-
ceives compensation Of any kind I'M
less 0uch III Newspaper or CD peri
odical prints at the (a) beginning and
CD close OF said statements in type
OF the Same size used In the body Of
the articles. the following statement: |
Printed ~ paid advertisement"
This provision 10 not to be construed
10 ~ to permit the publication in
or otherwise Of advertise
ments OF ardent spirits as forbidden
by that part OF Section 10. first above
referred to. but is aimed at a custom
supposed to exist whereby papers
published under the guise of news
articles statements concerning the
regulation or prohibition Of the liquor
traffic. designed to affect public SEN
timent. when as a matter OF fact the
received compensation for
the publication, from parties in in
terest. The provision last quoted was
designed to prohibit this method of
deceiving the public. 1t has no ref
erence to advertising the manufac-
ture. sale. keeping for sale or furnish i