The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-03-14
CALIFORNIA TO VOTE
AT ELECTION IN 1918
Issue However Has Finally Settled BY Dry Forces
As To Partial or Entire Prohibiton-In Order to Win
Drys Must Gain Only Small Per Cent Over
Vote Cast Last Year

into law, or amendment to this con-
stitution. shall be presented to the
voters of this state for their ratifica-
ton. approval or rejection. whether
the same be for initiative or other
wise. nor shall the legislature enact
any general law controlling. regulat-
ing or prohibiting the selling. Ovid
ing or giving away of any aIcohohc,
vinous or malt liquors or admixtures
thereof, or limiting in any wise the
places wherein such liquors or ad-
mixtures thereof may be sold. divided
or given away. or N any wise affect-
ing. regulating or controlling the gen
.ral business of selling such liquors
or admixtures thereof throughout this
state"
On February 20 the people OF Los
Angeles county voted down by an
enormous majority an initiated petit
ton prohibiting the sale of all liquor
containing more than 81 per cent al
cohol. This measure was fathered by
the so-called Committee OF One
Hundred" but nobody could and out
just OF whom that committee consist
ed and It's origin was mystery. Ii
Is believed to have had its origin IN
the wine interests and in the Hearst
papers, as It was In line with the gem
cral propaganda Of these interests.
The scheme. however. was hercely
attacked by d. NJ. Gambler, superin-
tendent of the California Antf-Saloon
league, and by the churches and dry
interests generally. II did not have
ghost of a show.
While there are many splendid drys
among the organized labar forces OF
San Francisco, vet the leaders of the
movement have pretty hahituaiiy
played the eardG ~ the saloon inter-
ests. But their work has been 50
coarse that a reaction has already
begun to set in. T.ahor begins to re-
clize that It has oeen made the goat
Of the saloons.
Last fall in the elections, all the
jitney buses were turned over 10
the labor political leaders for use in
ls Dor contests that were pending ne-
fore the people. While they were
honestly intended by their owners -
be used In further'ng labor propos-
ais. the faithiess Leaders used them
throughout the day nnauallaedlt 70
telp the saloons out OF tho hole In
The statewide dry election
In that election labor had several
items at issue . in waich the Jitney
drivers were directly interested. TneH
ad initiated an ordinance 10 permit
the jitney drivers to operate on Mar
ket street 1t was D secure the pas
sage of this ordinance that the jitneys
were placed at the disposal o. labor
leaders. But the faithless leaders
com bined with the saloon interests
and not only used the jitneys for wet
purposes, but vets actually defeated
the very ordinance desired.
Then the labor organizations were
interested In pending ordinance
prohibiting picketing. But they we're
again sold out TO saloons and this
ordinance actuall' passed. Labor
thus was defeated on both PROPOSE
lions while the resources OF the
craftsmen were absorbed In efforts ~
save the saloon.
Since election organized labor has
been thinking over what happened
and what the workers are beginning
TO think about 1t would not look we'll
in print.
While the San Francisco vets heat
the iaboring men on both OF .heir
propositions. they also defeated tho
prohibition amendment by about S5,-
600 majority.
The indications are that when the
election OF 1918 comes around II will
| be found that the workers OF San
Francisco will take a different atti-
tude and as San Francisco goes, so
goes that state.