Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1916-02-18
CONCERNING DRUG STORES AND
LIQUOR SHIPMENTS.

No question has received greater
attention form the Legislative com
mittee of the Anti-Saloon League,
and no question was given greater
consideration by the convention of
the League in January than that of
the sale of ardent spirits as allowed
by the provisions of the Enabling
Act, adopted on September 22, 1914,
by Il majority vote of the people of the
State. The enabling act provided that
ardent spirits could be sold for scien-
tiiic purposes, mechanical, pharma-
ceutical, medicinal and sacramentai
purposes. The people OF the State
Of Virginia voted for the enabling
act with the understanding that ar
dent spirits would be sold for such
purposes. Many sections of the state
do not want ardent spirits solids for
any purposes. Other sections of the
State demand that that provision of
the Enabling Act be complied with.
Drug Stores
One method Of meeting this pro-
vision of the enabling act is thru
drug stores. IL ardent spirits are to
be sold for any purpose in the state
they must be sold at some place, and
the opinion of those who have studied
the matter is that they can be sold
with less possibility Of damage ut a
drug store than anywhere else. The
bill, therefore, provides that under
certain very drastic restrictions and
regulations drug stores may furnish
ardent spirits for the purposes indi-
Gated above.
Extraordinary Safc-Guards.
In addition to the very stringent
safeguards and regulations concern
ing the giving and filling of prescrip-
lions, which regulations are more
stringent than any ever adopted by
any State up to the present time, the
Anti-Saloon League insists upon the
following additional Safeguards:
The applicant must procure license
from the Circuit Court after the fol-
lowing conditions have been met:
1. He must be qualified voter of
good moral character, registered
pharmacist with stock of goods and
Il bona iidc drug business
2. He must prove that there is n
necessity existing for the granting
of such licenses
3. The court must he satisfied that
the sale of ardent spirits by the mp
plicant at that place will not be CON
trary to Il sound public policy, or in
furious to the moral or material in
tcrcsts Of the community
4. a majority of the qualified vot-
ers of the district or town must
petition for the granting of the APP
nlication.
Town and City Councils Can Prohibit.
In addition to the above any town
or city council can prohibit by ordi-
nance the sale of ardent spirits by
drug stores, or by any other method |
and any laws which ut present forbid
the sale of ardent spirits in any dis
trict, town or city, will remain in full
force and effect
Local Option or Liquor Shipments.
Furthermore, the anti-saloon league |
has introduced Il companion bill, which |
gives to any district, town or city the |
right to determine by majority vote |
i'll any election held for that purpose
whether any liquor shipments will be
allowed in that district, town or city.
This measure is introduced rs IL sep
aratc measure for two reasons:
First Because there is grave
doubt as to the constitutionaity of Il
provision forbidding Interstate liq-
uor shipments for personal use. This
doubt has led North Carolina, Georgia
and Alabama to adopt II law permit
ting the shipment of onc-half gallon
per month. The bill offered by the
Anti-Saloon League of Virginia per-
mits the shipment of only one quart.
The West Virginia law, which pro-
vides for no liquor shipments, but
which docs allow liquor TO he brought
i'll as personal baggage, is now before
the United States Supreme Court on
the question of its consttutionalty
Second-Because by this method, if
a majority of voters in any section of
the State desire to prohibit any LID
uor shipments, it grants the privilege
to that district, town or city to pro-
hibit such shipments absolutely re-
CARELESS of whether Il majority of the
people of the State would vote for
such prohibition for the entire state.
In the event this measure is declared
unconstitutional, the general prohi-
hition law will remain in tact.
The anti-saoon league is aiming
to secure the best possible law in view
of the divided sentiment of the people
of the State and of the members of
of the General Assembly on these two
questions of the drug stores and liq-
uor shipments and gladly welcome
any suggestions from the real friends
Of prohibition in any section of the
State.
JAMES CANNON, JR.,
Superintendent.