The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-01-11
VIRGINIA SENATE
CONTINUED from Page ~ -.

and dement's of prohibition would bel
brought into the discussion. but no
real debate on that question can be
raised here. There are few boot
leggers coming across the confines of
the state. and they fall into the iron
grasp of DIR. Peters. and there is no
reason why we should overturn our
principles of government on account
of a few such criminals. ] have no
doubt that the senate will vote to
ratify the amendment, but l can safely
prophesy that the time will GOMEZ
when Virginia will be opposed 10
some principle which will be imposed
upon her by New York. Pennsylvania
and Ohio and we will be able to say
nothing. because Virginia has imposed
her will upon them on this question
j Rmt not willing to vote today tol
abandon the great principle Of state
sovereignty"
Senator Walker Replies.
Senator Walker said that the aues-
tion had been so thoroughly discussed
and that all the arguments for It had
been SO completely answered that IL
seemed almost superfiuous, TO con-
tinue the discussion, but IL he said
nothing 1t might be thought that he
simply acquiesced, and therefore he
briefly his position.
The proposition of the senator
from Richmond is an anomalous one.
which proposes to submit to the peo-
pie a proposition which would have
no legal effect whatever. 1t is not
referendum: 1t Is simply vote which
would have no binding effect upon the
general assembly. The senator from
Richmond city declares that he is not
~aff .aa xrztt he cd
the constitution for ratifyng federal
amendment His objections should
have been addressed to the makers of
the constitution. They are too late
now to have any effect.
81 cannot agree with the senator
from fredericksburg that only two
amendments OF the federal constitu-
zion affect state sovereignty. The in
come tax amendment settled the ques-
tion whether the state OF Virginia
would have the exclusive right to lay
direct tax upon the people. The
federal drug act had Just as great
effect upon the right OF the people
of the states as prohibition of the
liquor traffic.
IAN prohibitory legislation has been
based upon the fact that the liquor
traffic Is an evil ana that II must be
settled as a moral question. 7 % not
pie of my district as t. how ] shall
vote am willing 70 take uf, own
responsibility. There IL no doubt IN
the minds OF ANYBODY as ~ wfat Hc~
tion the legislature viii fnaiv take,
and while I DO not want 10 debT've
ANYBODY OF the opportunity for fun
debate, vet ! do want this question
settled at the earliest possible date.
that the senate may proceed 10 other
business.
Senator Nnpp Closes Debate.
Senator Napu made the closing
speech of the debate. ALTHOUGH no
preps red and introduced the ratFca-
ton resolution ard Hatght naturally
have been cxperted TO make the open
fnr sueerh IN favor OF SIS adention hs
had very rereronsI,- given wav to all
other senator's desiring 10 sneak. and
when his ttr~,e came to cinse the d.
hate tire rourH had been prettily
Thoroughly covered.
In he~Srrinr he seated that ne had
said that ne honed the Joint resolu-
ton would N~ rassed n the senate
that aeV. hut hts record in the senate
would bear cut the statement that he
had never tried ~ shut OF reason
able e"Na'e and wf'f~ he had nre"
ferrea TINT the resolution should he
rassed on the first dav of the Sea-
sion. vet he had willingly s~roeH 10
lsv II over for one dav When the
ranue~+ rad come that the res0 atfcn
be rrse-vad - tho committee he haN
opposed that action hecau$" he Az
not want 10 turn ioose on tn" l"T'slR-
ture the wet lobby" which had no
no hore whatever ~ deTeati0g the
resolution. hut which desired 70 Sc
cure DELAY. The nurDose Of their nc
he @NantF
nther gates. Il thew fail ~ delav the
RESOLUTION IN the SenFt~ fh"v VIII do
their test 20 della u in tho house
senator Mann said that ne hal
listened with great interest 70 IN"
mneeches that had hen made by the
friends Of the iieuor intehest" as thN
rrafs> il always game. y VIII n"ht
and It's advocates W.T. exhaust every
resource IN SIS Nehar
"T was amused ~ the attempt or
.pa senator from F~ederlckshurg TO
tn,,+ -. conforming the generous RI
r.trv no.weAp Nisstes'nnt ard VIRGINIA
aS tn which would he the Arst 70 ahan~
don the princirie Of state sovereignty.
. There was indeed n rivalry. but II was
not 10 abandon state sovereignty, nut
.. was 70 he the fret state to write ~"
name urcn the roll % honor. the first
70 go over the ton t'yat we may no
longer he harasSed ny the PHoor trHf-
fic. Nobody has written me from my
district urging me To vote for rst'hra-
tton. would consider II to he an af-
front IL thew did But Il II should be
Ateted I'm the papers THAT was In
doubt rs 10 how I should vote all III"
pages in the chamber could not brine
me the kilograms from my district in
curing II had gone crazy ] DO not
favor delav. but I think we should act
now and 60 on TO othsr business, The
governor of the commonwealth in his
splendid message has reinstatea him
aeif In the hearts az the prohibition
people a. VirRfnia nv his frank ac-
Acknowledgement OF the value 81 the
prohibition law and his advocacy OF
national prohibition
The substitute Of the senator from
Richmond City, with all due courtesy
In an ahsurb proposition. IT - not ever
a referendum. Having heard these
same gentlemen utter their srectoHs
argument on the rere~eHdurN IN other
yeers. I was amazed at this proposal
refer them to their previous speeches
az a sufficient answer.
"Conceruiur state soveretEntv there
has been already a full DISCUSS on. and
tA.n~ L. o~l-. AVA