Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-04-28
TUESDAY EVENING. APRIL %, 1908.

THERE Is evident dissatisfaction
among numbers of the rank and file OF
the democratic party Of the State, and
in numerous instances lifelong voters
If that ticket are uttering words that 1t
is hoped they will in their cooler mo-
ments revise. The troubling Of the
waters is caused by some Of the acts OF
the present legislature, which seems to
be pandering to the wishes OF certain
elements and with singular disregard OF
the wants of the people of the State or
of what will result in good to the larg-
est number. There has at different
times since the civil war been deter
mined efforts on the part OF people
holding certain ideas, who, however,
have but poor conception of political
economy. to have enacted into law i'm
practical notions which the experience
of the world has shown to be utter fail
ures and occasionally their labors have
been accompanied by waves OF fanat-
icism which have had their effect upon
Virginia. The State at present seems
about to be caught in one of those
v5rtexes, as a periodical temperance
wave. on the order Of the seventeen
wear locust. is on us. The new liquor
law which has just passed the legisla-
ture is thought by many to be as I'M
practical a measure as ever emanated
from the representatives of a sensible
people. some of its features, 1t is thought,
SNORING of fanaticism. There will be
but one result-the augmentlng oil
speakeasies and the consequent loss OF
much revenue to the State-whlle IN
cities the legal liquor traffic will be con-
centrated into the hands of few-in-
directly forming trusts-a principle sup
posed 10 be inimical to democratic ideas.
The illusion that such drastic laws will
diminish drunkenness or the consump-
ton of liquor has been exploded so
often by the history Of the past that II
is needless to cite instances. Apart
from this, there is a disposition in some
places to restrict or prohibit everything
The reading Of Sunday newspapers has
incurred the enmity of many and IN
some places in the State the police have
stopped their sale. Officers OF
the law appeared at the depot in
Charlottesville lastSunday and prevented
any person from selling or buying a
newspaper when southbound train
pulled into that place. Weare told that
the blue laws of our fathers made 1t a
misdemeanor for mother TO kiss her
children Cd the Sabbath day-it may
have been hanging matter for man
70 have kissed his wife-and all instru-
ments of music were prohibited except
the drum and jewsharp. The Old
Dominion has had some dismal ex-
perience in the past by the formation
of hybrid parties when issue was taken
with the organization then in power and
at this very time advocates of sOcialis m
are in Virginia endeavoring to organize
branches of the party They are watch
ing the signs of the times and could not
have invaded the State at more OPP
perfume time. They have been in Alex
andria recently endeayoring to put a
ticket in the field at the next election.
Are the times ripening torso moment
Gus change in political affairs in Vir-
ginia? The situation is interesting and
nobody can tell what issues may be
sprung in the State before another cleo
ton day has rolled around. The Old
Dominion has at different times had
slow and tedious convalescence from
% ,Itical menageries, which have come
into power during thoughtless moments
and it is hoped the present Legislature
will remember that the body represents
the people of the Commonwealth and
not certain factions whose impractical
dreams have long since been exploded.