The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-02-04
ANDERSON IH|RsTS
For DEBATE WITH
BEERS DEFENDERS

ton referendum bill now before tn,
General Assembly.
1t is recognized that questions Of
this kind can never be ,hreshed out
satisfactorily or TO ultimate conciu.
lsion by ex parte statements at long
range. Therefore William III. Ander.
son, superintendent of the Anti SaiooY
League of New York, as the shortest
and simplest way to handle the con
troversy has sent to Colonel Jacot
Rupert. president of the association
and Mr.. Hirsch, the attorney. :. chal
lenge to discuss the specific issues
involved in the proposed lie gislation.
Wherever the league has been abb,
to get a discussion with a represen.
tative of the liquor interests. ii has
proven to be a rare entertainment
Mr Anderson is ready to take on
this matter in every city in this State
The letter. signed by Mr.. Ander.
son. Is as follows:
Impracticabie and Absurd
The general attorney of the New
York State Brewers Association, MFR.
/ William H. Hirsch has issued and
sent W tbS ilcnspa JETS VI the" SAite
an attack upon the optional prohibi.
ton referendum bill of the Anri-Sa-
loon League. which bill he calls i'm
practicable and absurd
! II hereby challenge your associa-
ton to discuss publicly with me.
through Mr.. Hirsch. it's regular at.
! torney, or any speci attorney you
may select the merits OF this bill
II Ii is absurd, unfair and dangerous
las claimed by the accredited repre-
I sentative of your organization. you
| will unouastionaoly be glad Of the
chance to prove that fact in public
If the facts are on your side you
should have no trouble II finding
somewhere among the eminent law
yers of America man who can prove
1t. II you can prove your charges
to the satisfaction of the public you
will put a quietus upon this whole
Anti-Saloon League agitation and
save the members of your association
/ millions of dollars In campaign funds.
! ITO put specifically in issue the
statements made in behalf Of your as
ISOLATION by your attorney. 7 propose
at such public discussion to prove:
i "G) That every voter in New York
has an inherent right, which he should
he permitted TO exercise. to vote on
the liquor question, including the
four-f1fths of the population living in
Icities who are now disfranchised an
der the Raines' Law which your as
! ISOLATION has so highly praised.
i '(2) That the Anti-Sa1oon Leagues
4 optional prohibition referendum bill is
a fair and reasonable provision for
the exercise OF that right. and will
j not become effective in any commun-
ity until the people of that community
have voted TO adopt it's provisions
"t3) That the Raines liquor law
of New York. which your attorney In
this last statement admits gives "a
feeling of security to the liquor deal
ers, destroys even manhood suffrage
on the liquor question In all cities
and is to the towns which vote, COM
prising only about one-ffth Of the
population. is designed to jam some
kind of a liquor license into every
place If possible
"(4) That the Anti-SaIoon Leagues
proposed bill will not repeal any re-
strictive feature of the Raines law.
but contains additional enforcement
= features which will enable the people
to stop the violation Of law which
your attorney. by his remarks to the
: effect that the sale goes on--in some
way or another. whether a town votes
wet or dry admits that the MEM
bers of your association intend to con-
ltinue and countenance.
Will Break Political Power
Il "(5) That the optional prohibition
referendum bill will break the polti-
cal power OF the liquor special inter
i est
i 100 Finally. In case you realize
that not much OF an argument can
be made on the question OF the right
to vote, | will consent. in order to
get your association into the open,
that your representative may spend
half his time In discussing the general
question OF prohibition, even though
that is not the issue before the New
York State at present.
Il propose that this meeting be
held at Albany in the largest public
hall available, in the evening, prob
ably early In March. of the day OF
the Joint legislative hearing on this
fbiIl. and that each side shall pay half
the cost Of the hall and have tickets
I for half the house, enough of the best
seats taken equally from each side to
supply the members of the Senate and
Assembly to be fifAt assigned
Further, I propose that each slde
shall have an hour, or an hour ana
quarter or an hour and half. as you
prefer. and according to the ordinary
rules OF public discussion. that, hay
ling the burden of proof i shall be
allowed to use two-thirds OF my time
flor rebuttal In closing the discussion,
Inc new matter to be introduced in the
closing speech.
II further propose that I will meet
the same or any other representative
of your association for a similar dis
cussion, subject to the same condi-
Itions. so far as they are applicable, IN
any other or every city of the State
OF New York, such meeting to be un-
der the auspices CT the local minis
terial association or the local associa-
ton of brewers and saloon-keepers,
as you may elect.
''As a matter of good faith we must
have notice of at least two weeks OF
any meeting which you accept under
| this offer. II any date suggested by
you is not possible for me, ] VIII
promptly suggest three other dates
| for YOU to take your choice.
"Awaitin. the acceptance which
will indicate your association is able
to back up the statements made IN
lits behalf. and that you welcome light
upon this entire matter, I am, etc"