Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-31
TELEPHONES.
WORK OF CITIZENS UNION,

At its meeting "Wednesday night the or
nnization heretofore known as the Law
Ind Order League took three very wise
and commemorate steps-steps which it
may rest assured will appeal 10 the better
element of the community. ~ 1t changed
its name TO the Citizens Union, 81 it en-
dorsed the &C ion Of the Council! Finance
Committee looking to placing the liquor
license at $500; 80 it resolved TO Continue
the agitation fer n searching investiga-
ton of the. records Of members of the
Common Couac;l and Board of Aldermen,
50 that the people may know which men
have been faithful to their trust and
which, if any. have been disloyal."
The original name was iistasteful and I'M
fortunate. 1t suggested the existence in
the c.a Of general disregard for law and
order and VAS a bad advertisement for US.
Save for certain abuses which have re
Gently been brought to light. and which
have from time to time obtained in nearly
al cities OF our. size. Richmond has few
EQUALS as law. respecting city; and
there is not more orderly community
in the country. This much can be said
and should be said IN justice to cur .peo-
pie. without attempting to pa1liate in The
slightest the Obvious evils that have de-
veloped, and which cali for reform.
AS to the endorsement of high liquor
license, that is in entire harmony with
the spirit which prompted the orgariza-
ton of the Union and the general OBJ
iects sought to be accomplished
by its members Apart from the
matter Of increasing the munich
pal revenue. high license means the weed
ing out of the dives; the putting of the
liquor traffic in The hands Of reputable
men, and the consequent decrease of the
lnfractions of the law due to the present
system. The convincing arguments that
have been advanced in favor of high
license, considering the question from both
the financial and the moral standpoints,
are SO well known that it is needless to
repeat them. Suffice it to say that, view
ing the movement either in its relations to
financial reSorn or moral reform, the
Union, as representative of the tax-pay-
ers and better-thinlsing element of our
citizenship, was altogether within its
province in endorsing if. Indeed, it would
have disappointed public expectation
had it failed to do so.
But by far the most important action of
the Union was its determination 10 con-
~ i,,,-
pf the record. of the members of the City
Council as contemplated in the Minor res
olution, which was passed by The Board of
Aldermen and defeated in the Common
Council. The action Of the latter body put
upon Richmond's escutcheon "damning
spot" that can never be effaced except
" a thorough exposure which viii hold
ap 10 public scorn the guilty. if any there
Be. and vindicate the innocent. It placed
premium on attempts at bribery and
other corrupt methods of influencing It
Justified the suspicion now broadcast that
The fountain head OF practically all Rich
mond authority 20 grant or deny privi-
ieges and enforce or restrain legal meth
DDS of reform, was polluted already, and
open to further pollution.
Therefore civic price and every other
consideration of good citizenship demands
hat the people rally to The support of the
Union. uphold its hands, and encourage
1t in every other way possible TO force
the Common Council TO Tecede from lis
attitude of contempt towards the public
and provide for a searching investsgation
aelp or hurt whom if may.