Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1905-08-11
BREAKERS AHEAD.

Inc man tnaS dragS the State
Anti-Saloon League into politics has
an interior purpose in yiew-either
ne ia an enemy to the temperance
movement or he is person of
cupidity and design, aiming at
some selfish end. He is no real
friend OF temperance. The people
OF Virginia are not ready for q
Statewide movement on temper.
snce lines, and this has more
than once been emphasized by the
leaders in the League movement.
Reforms, to be permanent must
come about by degrees. The pro-
motors OF the League and wise tenn
persnce people recognized this, and
with that purpose positively de-
ciared the League should not enter
politics; they were satisfied With
moulding sentiment, which is the
strongest lever to use against officials
and politicians. They had the dis.
astrous wrecks of the Good Templars'
movement aud of the Prohibition
party to warn them of shoals. The
nearest they would get to political
organization wac to oppose men un-
friendly to the temperance cause.
That the State convention in Lynch
burg last January should stretch the
Interpretation of our purposes, and
because designing men, with per-
sonsl ends to achieve, should
since have sought to further their
ambitions by unwarranted distor.
tons of others views, ought net
to mislead any as to the true pur-
poses of the temperance movement,
nor deceive any into thinking the
League or the temperance movement
has any particular candidate in the
field now. The League cannot
have such, without violating its
aVowed principles. Unfortunately
there are some who would lead
the people to think there was a
League candidate-or, at least.
only one temperance candidate.
Some of these men are within
the League, and great many are not
members and never have contributed
cent to the cause, but are heard
loudest among the shouters in camp.
The campaign of these persons
means humiliation for the League in
virginia and a setback Of many years
In our temperance crusade. So long
as the temperance people kept out of
what may be intelligibly termed
state politics, 80 long was their in
hnence powerful. We could petition,
and legislators would see the whirl-
wind behind and bend their heads.
The minute We line up as an organ
lzatlon to enter the political field.
that minute our influence is dis
counted fully fifty per cent. In the
open, as political organization, the
politician does not fear temperance
movements. In the past all such
nave demonstrated that the leaders
are Tor personal gair and political
preferment and hence were but a
peg removed from the ordinary office
seeker and political ringster. Against
suck an organization all the other
elements Immediately combine. and
with success. But when a BODY of
citizens within q given party's ranks
demand certain things they represent
large number of friendly constit-
uents that can and should be listened
70 with consideration. They have
not alienated the sympathies of the
party or the officials, but act as a |
good check, and sometimes az a
thnmb-screw upon party and leaders.
And thus are the desired ends
achieved.
virginia was moving along beauti
fully in this way; the legislature and
otner governmental departments were
tumollng over themselves to do us
honor, and Virginia's Anti Saloon
League was to be congratulated prob
ably above all others among the
States; and the future held out much
promise. But to the great regret and
scrrow of thousands who have the
cause at heart, those managing its
affairs have fallen IN with unw;sa
counsel, and today the League ia
threatened with disruption and the
movement has undoubt-
ediy mad such q setback that il will {
take years of wise management I'm 4
restore TO conditions as they are st ,
present. Persuasion, discussion. com.
pulsion and distortion are bringing {
upon US the time that our enemies
time when the pen- [
auium must swing back-and that |
without having accomplished any,
ming like what was in store for us ,
WIN nnseltish and wise management. g
HE Democrats of Northumber- q
and and Westmoreland are to be @
that they are to have
40 night for the Legislative nomina- g
non, and also that Mr.. Geo. e. Ma. +
'ons mayor of Colonial Beach, is a
sentiemsn of ability and high char. S
'cter, upon whom all can unite to a
uccessfully oppose the Repu blican t