Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-02-27
ATTACK ON PETERS
MADE BY DOWNING
Lancaster Senator Presents
Letter on Which Charges
Are Based.
HOUSE ACTION CONQUERED IN
Senate Votes Abolition of Pro-
hibition Department. in 1922
After Long Fight.

SSh A<ShE, tiSAS.
IA That the State Department OF Pro-
hibition has degcneratcd into q polit-
ical machine of alarming proportions
was charged yesterday by Senator T.
y. Downing. of Lancaster. during the
debate which preceded the vote by
which the Senate followed tho action
| OF the House OF Delegates in sane
tloning the abolition OF the department
N two years. Substantiation OF the al
legations OF Senator Downing was
given in a icttcr in which Or. j. Sid
ney Peters. the Prohibition Commits
sioner, Is accused OF having offered
political and financial induce nents to
swing an election in order that his
avowcd platform oc having Legisla-
HSure upon which he could depend
would be fur,hcred.
The charges tby Senator Downing
came as a bombshell in compare
tiyely quiet forum; AS suostaniintion.
ne offered lengthy letter signed by
U Charles y. Smith. Jr.. of Gloucester.
former commonwealths attorney and
an unsuccessful candidate for tho Sen
ate at the last election. In addition no
Iead another letter which had prcyl-
ously been publ shed in q mag gazinc.
and which tended 10 show that tho
Prohibition Commissioner was using
his Office to build up machine Tor the
- b.
Assembly that would vote sufficient
representations for the department even
TO tho extent OF overriding the veto
Smith offered Position.
,Mr. Smith In his letter accused DR..
Peters OF seeking conference in
which no unioided mis-, plan for manipu-
shat only one dry candidate would bo
in the race in doubtful sections. While
disciaiming any intention Of making a
IDEAL. DR.. Petera. accord Ing to Smith,
lhdicateds that tho latter need only
apply M for 2 position IA as proSseeu.oE and nd
bst the job, but tie salary would be
Increased from 1850 to $4,000 year.
md only three-nfths OF she i2enm-
was TO remain in the. race until noti-
lied By DR.. Peters when to announce
e tier attacks on the Prohibition
Department and its conduct were made
throughout the two sessions. Among
tlepartmeut in 1891 as proposed in tho
Oliver substitute to- the House bill.
gs5s = Senator's James T. Cannon: of
1uier; William b. Cooke. of Sussex:
Robert +, Lcedy. OF Page. and Walter
ianins ans +. West. of Nansemond; ian FIVE ". L.
andrews, OF Roanoke: j. Douglas Nit
:hell. Of King and Queen; Louis s.
E6h. OF Scott. and G. Walter Mapp. OF
Accomac. spoke in favor OF the original
Senate Votes JS to j
The vote by which tho Senate con-
;urred in the action of the House on
he abolition of the department was 33
this wbeb he knG nna Of the
abolished the department. one. year
.arlier and would put the prohibition
orney-General after its abolit on. The
oliver substitutes lost by % 10 Ia and
70 TO l2. rcspectively:
he Prohibition Department. after the
lefeat OF the Oliver, substitutes wcre
ginal ii bili offered by senator A viii
Is Robertson. OF Rockbridge, being
ost 10 TO 1s This amendment in Ell
erm OF Prohibition Commissioners from
cur to two years. and would have
Eliminated the clause to abolish the
sAmendments by Senator Louis S.
spes, of ,Nottoway, proposing to sub
SStl1sns lss IN ease faz 'sf o
leath or vacating the Office were de-
eated. Another amendment. however,
~ the Prohibition Comm ssiener in
tate, have common school educa-
vas carried by 2s to G.
Downing lIurls Bombshcll.
TO Senator Downing went the honor
II bringing about the biggest political
General Assembly The letter which
enatoE l II,DS pSwnirE s!nlp,Ei read was addressed
member OF the House Of Delegate
iollows:,
Yours 1s, Of # the the 9th th,, rHesiysd am
e eS ssre. " The facts sae are as folo%
Spa the third Monday in May. 1919.
= ampaign at Mathews Courthousc.
al er' lstter from r Petera teine mHSt e1P me
hat he appreciated the generous po-
ition I had taken in regard to the
|etention of the Department Of Prohibit
aond, If. could, that he wanted to
s 1as ehe alf Of his wIea litter me-
'"To this letter replied that / ap-
rcciated his very kind interest in the
or me to make a special trip to Rich
aond, but il. had an occasion, to come
nd RshmG9a sas m yome gsna Tine s sha n 5one to call
eceivod a letter from an attorney in
richmond asking mo to como to RICH
alton in which, he and were Jointly
nterested, and he also stated that no
tsat 'H he sec Could not o discuss ehrongh
orrespondence.
Cnme,to Richmond.
r made IN appointment to see him
na went to snaeng nien%ond nd, from Tappa.
haoef court sS Gssesy foana eae 1qRe the
entleman wanted to arrange confer,
nee for Mr.. Peters and myself. After
"a had dsg9sstd ta Of ms ofnsr
nd Mr.. Peters and I had several
ours conference. the substance OF
'hich was that heSwanted me to With
raw from the senatorial race, and said
hal there was probably something
luch bettor for, me. from, a financial
'FinallyS he outlined his plan which
as that 7 sh oul ~ Sappl for m position
Gcontinued on Page 'Thres.S I