The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-03-16
MONDAY. MARCH 1e, 1905.
TEMPERANCE AND THE nYnp BILL


The Times-Dispatch is emphatically
In favor of temperance. Every meas
ure which appears to be Just and
rational move in that direction Will
have our utmost support But we are
not willing to give our unqualified in
dorsement to every schema of the anti
liquor crusader because, forsooth, he
labels 1t temperance" and denounces
all who question its wisdom as allies
of the rum demon.
The latest enactment upon this sub.
ject, is the Byrd liquor law. It is, in
part, careful codification of existing
laws relating to liquor. 1t has some
excellent new features. such as the
closing of saloons at midnight, as we'll
O. en- Christmas Day and election
days. and the Increased license on sa-
looms. 1t destroys the fake clubs more
effectually than any previous law has
been able to do. But while it pro-
hibits the sale of liquor in the country
districts and in small towns, and prac-
tically destroys the small distilleries,
1t greatly benefits the city dealers,
especially those who sell by the bot
tie or the jug, and will immensely In
crease the business of the large distil-
lers, by the simple device of vastly re-
ducing competition. No wonder the
patron of the bill announced upon the
floor that the anti-saloon people were
in favor of 1t and the liquor people
were not lighting it. Against such a
combination, which we believe has
never before been worked the smaller
interests were wholly helpless.
The bill omits the absurd provision
of the so-called Mann law which re-
CURED Judge to certify that in his
opinion an applicant for a liquor license
in the country had proven that he had
unexceptionable moral qualifications.
and that his saloon would be moral
and material benefit to the community,
or, at least, that 1t would work no in
jury. AS country saloons are abolished
there is no further demand in the bus
mess for such highly moral agencies.
1T is this prohibition feature of the
bill which, as we have already said,
gives lis grave concern. Towns of less
than 500 inhabitants are dried up with
out consulting the citizens, who may
be ten to one in favor OF one or two
well conducted saloons. The town
may have made fair test of local OPP
ton and found it failure, yet under
this bin It must go back to the aban-
doned policy. whether it wishes to do
so or not. I'VE Submit that this is un-
democratic and will. in the end. prove
unwise. No law can be enforced in
any community unless the sentiment of
that community is in accord with 1t,
and II in any considerable number of
cases the Byrd liquor law breaks down
the cause or prohibition Will have re-
ceived severe setback, and the wis
dom OF the Legislature will be open
to deserved criticism. The Tiines-Dis-
patch applauds individual temperance
and rejoices whenever such individuals
are sufficiently numerous to make and
keep a whole community temperate
or absolutely dry, IL 1t so prefers. But
we deplore any contempt of law, and
the sober second thought of this ,coun
try will support us In the opinion that
legislation touching such matters for
example as prohibition, churchgoing or
any other regulation of personal con-
duct in private affairs is better let
alone entirely than framed into laws
and statutes that are CONTEMPORARY
disregarded and openly violated.
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