The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-03-05

thieves and murderers. IL - based oH
false doctrine that IL damnable.
stick 10 your Bible" he called, re-
verting for an instant To an earlier
theme. I'VE don't obey the Bible
but let us go back TO II and try 70
obey"
Hydra headed" Parchment
Declaring that there was still an
other reason, the economic reason
for opposing the bill. he referred 10
1t as This hyra-headed piece OF
parchment" what will the people
say when We go back to them with
Il ?" he asked. Then he launched
him self into discussion OF the Dill
itself of the exemptions OF the hotels
for culinary purposes. "for culinary
purposes. indeed? How are we TO
Know that the moonshiners--ag ainst
whom the strong arm OF the Federal
government has been directed Tor
Years. and OF whom It has been I'M
able TO rid the State-are not fur-
nishinE the hotels with an overplus OF
ronor II which your commissioner
win never know
Mr. Gordon Of Louisa. at this point
asked Mr. Deedy what of the drug
store exemptions, and suggested that
perhaps he should not have inter-
u haven't any argument laid out"
replied Mr.. Leedy, and referring 10
the House. added. Il knew they
wouldn't understand it, anyhow The
drugstore exemptions were mention
ed as another reason against the Dill
Don't compare Virginia with West
virginia" he warned. The peoples
are a different people. In West VIZ
ginia the people are Italianized, Rus
sinnized, Poleized, and they VIII sub
NIT TO serfdom. In Virginia. don't
imagine that the people, the sons OF
those iliustrious sires, are going TO
he tyranized over now any more than
we're the TirginiAns OF few hundred
years ago
should be Moderate Law.
1T you want a prohibition law IL
should be a moderate law; you can
not tread upon the people OF Virginia
I am reminded or the flag Of the
minute men, the flag with rattle
snake upon 1t. and the words. Don't
tread on me- You might give con-
sideration 10 this motto, this warn
ing ir enaCting prohibition legisla-
ton"
Noting that he had spoken but If
ty minutes though he had been alb
lowed one hour, Mr. Leedy concluded.
saying: III / had spoken four hours
you couldn't understand me In ak
months" Amid laughter and APP
plause ne took his seat.
Supported by Browning.
Mr. Browning made quite a strong
speech In support of the bill and in
opposition to the various amend
ments proposed. The gentleman from
Louisa had declared that the future
Of the Democratic party is wrapped
up In this question" II suppose,
said Mr.. Browning. he meant that
if his amendment was lost that 1t
would work the undoins OF the De-
mocratic party"
Mr. Gordon was on his feet In a sec
ond to declare that he did not mean
this, but he felt that the bill in some
respects was entirely TOO drastic. and
that unless modified It would oper-
ate to the injury of Virginia Demo-
racy. Continuing. Mr.. Browning said
Page Mr. Leedy, in one thing and
not in another thing he had said.
That was that this was great moral
question. The speaker addressed him
self to- the position that this should he
treated asa moral and not as politi-
cal question. President Wilson had
declared that as far back at 1911 that
this was moral question and should
not be put into party program.
Roosevelt had very truly declared that
the whiskey men were always found
in alliance with q ooked politicians.
He gave the figures to show that both
the Democrats and Republicans in
Congress had divided on the Hohson
constitutional amendment for nation
wide prohibition, and called attention
to the fact that when the Webb-Ken-
won bin was vetoed by a Republican
President IL was passed over his veto
by a Democratic Congress. More than
once references Of, Mr., Browning
brought Mr.. Gordon to his feet. The
latter declared that both he Ind VIII
liam Jennings Bryan were against
preparedness, but that they were not
for peace al any price
Would Not Do.
Mr., Browning was very compliment
tary TO the present Attorney General,
hut said II would be great mistake
10 add the duties of commissioner Of
prohibition to that office. This bill.
he declared. needed 10 he enacted into
law Ninety thousand people had, by
their votes in the election of 1914,
declared that the liquor power must
Ire dNtAIbHtu III fUktHN% anu 1AAS
must he made a dry state. There
should not now he any quibbling. The
people voted. for prohibition. The
people expected EEohibition. ana the
people had elected this General As
scmbiy TO insure prohibition.
Mr.. Willis inquired how tho speak
er knew that the people wanted this
commissioner, to which Mr.. Browning
promptly replied that those back of
this measure had lead the people to
triumph over the saloon and knew
the desires Of the people and were In
I borough harmony nth these de-
eires Who won 3ctory?" asked
Mr. Browning w, made our great
?" who p4t up the funds,
over $4,000 to bear the expense of
that campaign ?" The same people
who accomplish these results now say
TO this Legislature that they want
this law and they want this commits
sloner And they should have both"
Mr. Browning declared that the
speech OF Colonel Ieedy was interest
ing but simply interesting as q curl
osty II was so curious as to be alb
freakish and unworthy of the
member from Page. ut rests upon
each man" said Mr.. Browning in con-
clusion, ITO meet his own respon-
81 hiIity. / trust that the great ma
jority or the members Of this House
will he driven 10 the same conclusion
bv the same conscious convictions that
Z an, and will vote for this hill an