The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-03-24
THE MANN BILL
Some Arguments In Favor Of It's Pass
age by the Legislature.

i some Arguments ~ TaVOF " 10 : aoo
age by the Legislature.
Editor of Tho Times Dispatch:
Slr,-The amount of editorial space
which has been given by The Times Dis
patch to the discussion Of the LIQUOR
question, and the. greateifort It has made made
to prevent the passage of the Mann Dill
and to justify It's course in so doing shows
that It is aware of the gravity Of the sit
uation.
A multitude of citizens Of the State,
men and women who represent largely
the church, the school and the home, are
thoroughly aroused on the question OF
the licensed saloon. Three great rcll-
gious bodies In the State-the Baptist
Association. the Disciples Convention and
the Methodist Conferonce-and the Bap-
tst, Presbyterian and Methodist religious
press have all spoken out and demanded
the passage of the "Mnnn BILL Ihous-
nnds Of citizens from every part or the
State have petitionod the Legislature to
pass the bill. That tho majority OF the
voters Of the State wish the bill TO be
passed WILL readily be believed, II ono
travels through the country districts. IT
has been matter of great concern that
u paper like The Times Dispatch, usually
q strong advocate OF peace and ORDER anu
OF the right OF local government,
should appear in this instance to array
masses Of the people concerned, and
should strive to prevent them from having
direct control Of their neighborhood llfe
The writer can hardly believe that The
Times Dispatch has heard full state
ment of the reasons for the passage OF
the bill, and having read all the ed'to-
1iuls OF Tho Tlmes-Dispatch, would re-
specially present the position OF some
OF those VINO think the bill should pass.
NOT GOODNESS BY LEGISLATION.
One of the arguments which has been
advanced against, the BIZ Is that 'men
cannot be made sober and good by law"
and 1t is assumed that this Is the pur-
pose Of the bill. The ministers and Chris
tian workers of the State OF Virginia
have given more time and thought to the
3 question Of how TO make men good than
any one class of persons, certainly
great deal more than the saloon-kcepcrs
aud their defenders, and they are fuliy
aware of the fact that the law does not
make a man good, If 1t did, the whole
world would be good, for God has given
laws which would surely save the world,
+ ~ II could be saved by law. The world
will not be saved by law. but still God
has given Ills laws. and although they
do not prevent all law violations they
are not repealed. There Is no thought
in the mind of any advocate Of the mann
Dillp that we are going 10 make men
sober by law. and 1t looks like an at
iempt TO becloud the issue and to arouse
prejudice, when that Idea Is advanced as
The opinion of the advocates of the bill
There Is not one sentence, clause or
phrase fin the bill which aims 10 make
men good by law.
''"s!7 OBJECT OF THE BILL
The object Of the bill Is to better thu
conditions surrounding our country homes
"a remove unnecessary opportunities fo
waste and crime, TO make vice as hideou
3na EpossibIo, and to abolish standing
: menace to tho civil and economic life o
The people. In short, Tho Times pispatcl
Il has utterly failed to understand the spiri
Of the people In the matter, II IT believe
THAT 1t IS nothing hut q foolish, sent
,rsutsl movement to make men good b