Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1920-03-13
SATURDAY. -. MARCH 10, 1890
TWO VOTE MARGIN GUSTS THE
PROHIBITION COMMISSIONER. .
Roll Verified Twice In so4s. Count
GALLERIES CHEER WILDLY.
Machine and Dry Forces Unite But
Go Down Before "Antl" Onslaugh.

orthodox prohibitionists and follow.
erB OF tho machine forces OF Virgin.
In, Rev. J. Sidney Peters, candidate
for reelection to tho Office Of State
Commissioner Of Prohibition. last
night suffered defeat at tho hands OF
Joint Democratic caucus. He was
beaten by n majority Of two yotes by
Harry b. Smith, former member OF
tho House from Culpeper.
SO close and uncertain was tho vote
that second notifications OF tho roll
call was necessary. Even then tho re
suit was in doubt. rs James II. Price
OF Richmond city, who presided an
EOunced that tho vote was n tie-48
to 48.
J. Wilmer Querrant, the Delegate
from Caroline, who had not voted
rose to his feet to announce the fate
ful word-Smtth or PeterB-that WAC
destined to send one OF tho candidates
t. his defeat. At least, that Is the
way It looked to tho man up tree"
1t had been announced that the
vote WAS tic, and many thought
that the ballot Of the Delegate from
Caroline was to determine the result
This already had been decided. as q
checking up OF the roll call later dis
closed that Smith already had a bare
III argin OF ono vote.
Delegate Guerrar" had not intent
cd to "ot". he saif hit after mature
delibrration, felt ths' it was neces
sRry FIR him to cG3t yoto for one
or tho other OF tho lates.
WILD DEMONsTT - RESULTS
A deathly stillncss pervatcd the hall
W. Lated broaths upw' Ia Of
Thousand Persons hung OF tho next
word that. every ono then beloved
was fraught with tho greatest sIgni
fioance. 1t came.
II vote for Smith"
This was tho spark that set off til
greatest decentralization that probably
ever has been staged In the stately.
dignified Capitol Building.
Cheers and yells rent the air. Hate
were thrown about and with their
faces wrcathcd in smiles the
crowd left the hall, most of them ~,
parently satisfied. Handshaking WAC
the order OF tho day--or night. Some
shook hands with others waom the
did not know-And probably had nov
a seen. Some one was heard to OK
plain: II wouldn't take $4,000 for
this
While the result Is an out and out
victory for the antimachine clement
OF Virginia" the defeat OF Commits
fioner Peters was viewed In the same
light by the "wets'-by those opposed
rot only TO the incumbent Of tho of
flee OF Prohibition Commissioner and
to prohibition.
The tumult that followed announce
ment Of Smiths nomination eclipsed
anything that has been seen In eth
or M7E"h Of tie General Assembly
80 far this session and many paat
sessions. 1t resembled moro nearly
scenes that ono might expect to see
enacted Mt n national convention.
The nomination Of Smith makes
his election certain, az tho confirm
alton OF the Senate and House Is a
matter CT routine. Smith will take
over THO State Prohibition Depart.
ment on September l for q torn OF
two years, when the department will
be abolished, unless tho next Genera!
Assembly reverses tho present legis
latfye action In voting for abolition
on September l, 1922.
DID NOT SPARE PETERS FEEL.
INGS.
Neither the Prohibition Department
nor the present commissioner was
spared by those who advocated tho
ousttng OF Peters Then, too, NOM
bers of the House who. favored aboli
ton OF tho Prohibition Depar tment
were accused of having waved the
black flag"
Major E. II. Gibson- Of Culpeper
was particularly denunciatory Of the
department, its chief officer and
everything appertaining thereto. The
Delegate from Culpepor, the first to
nominate Smith. opened for the anti
machine forces, He was preceded by
Senator G. Walter Mapp of Accomac
father Of the Mapp prohibition law,
and stanch advocate Of Commission
er Peters
Prohibition in Virginia, Senator
Aiapp said, while not absolute sue
cess has been attendf y splendid
results. No new rcfor y ia a com
plele success III It's vears. he
declared. Tho PRO .>.! Depart
ment was called upon to naugurate
the cp'"rcemont Of tho most drastic
law that ha' ever 'sen placed upon
tn" stntht2 books OF the State he
said. Tho Prohibition Commits
sioner he believed has sought to
enforce the law conscientiously. Al.
though he has made mistakes they
have been mistakes of Judgment. The
General Assembly itself is not in
fallible he argued.
DEFEAT REFLECTION ON DRYS.
The defeat OF Commissioner pc.ors
he warned, would have two serious
effects First, upon Peters as an IN
dtvidual and, second it. would be q
sorious blow to prohibition. Enemies
OF prohibition In VirofinLa mnnld