Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1908-02-27
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1908.
TEMPERANCE AND POLITICS"

above heading, from which we quote
the following:
eve think it high time that the in
dependent self-respectiDg men of this
State, who neither fear nor truckle to
the liquor interest, on the one hand.
nor fawn upon and docilely obey the
edict of the prohibition leaders on the /
other, should declare their political in
dependendence of both. The majority /
of men in Virginia are neither degener-
ate inebriates and hangers-on of the |
liquor men, nor wild-eyed and intoler- |
ant fanatics who believe that the chief |
end of man is to reform his neighbours /
habits by the strong arm of the law.
and that the chief duty and function of
civil government is to prescribe by
statute what man shall or shall not
drink. For ourself, we are no more
disposed to submit to the dictation of
one of these Incorporate factions than
to the other.
I'VE hope and believe that there is
yet enough individuality and self-re-
specting manhood in the State ulti-
mately to throw off the yoke of both.
The latter faction-the prohibition
ists-are at present in the ascendant.
All doubts on this subject are removed
by the fact that most of our practical
politicians have thrown themselves
heart and soul into the movement. and
while cynically advocating and granting
every demand of its Incorporate lead
ers, regardless of the rights of individ-
uals, use them and their followers and
the influence of the prohibition move
ment, to retain or to hoist themselves
into political power and preferment.
With equal facility they would ally
themselves with the liquor interest if
that were in the ascendent, as in fact
many, if not most, of them have here
tofore done from time to time.
Our practical politician is a true
servant and executor of what he be-
lieves to be the then will of the major
ity or of the power that for the time
being controls that majority. He COM
Germs himself little about the merits Of
the controlling question, and not at all
about the rights of the minority.
when the railway influence domi-
mated the State our practical politician
was its most Jealous and obedient SER
want and aided and encouraged that IL
terest in those excuses that have called
down upon these great public service
corporations so much reprobation and
punishment, both just and unjust.
But IN these dark days, when it is fash
ionable and popular to hunt the corpor-
ate fox, regardless of whether he has
been raiding the henroost or not, but
just for the pure love of the sport,
there is none that enters more keenly
into the pleasures of the chase.
''One ambitious and aspiring states
man who for years had served the rail-
ways as attorney while representing the
people in the legislature, suddenly real
lied apparently that he could not,
with clear conscience, serve both his
client and his State. Without taking
the trouble to explain which he had
served and which he had betrayed dur
ing all the years he had been in the SER
vice of both, he resigns his railway at
torneyship, is reelected to the Senate
where he assumes the leadership of his
party, and administrator exploits it
IN the interest of the Anti Saloon
League, as prohibition is now called,
and his own political fortunes.
The combination between the fanat-
ic that is obsessed with one idea, and
possessed of one conviction, and the
practical politician who apparently can,
with equal facility, adopt and discard
any convictions that the exigencies of
the moment require, seems to be com
plete. In all matters of legislation re-
lative to the liquor traffic, DIR. Cannon,
of the Anti-Saloon League, is supreme.
and his DEGREES are dutifully registered
by both houses of the Legislature, with
scarcely protest.
In fact, under the threatening eve of
the reverend doctor, the Legislature re-
sembles rather ''bed of justice" than
deiberative assembly.
whether he is any relation of Speak
er Cannon we do not know; but his re-
doubted namesake is not more absolute
in all matters of general legislation be-
fore the House in Washington than is
DIR. Cannon at present in matters of
special legislation before the General
Assembly of Virginia. Presumably, he
leaves his veteran allies a free hand in
all other matters, but it would be inter
esting to know whether he has indicated
his wishes as to the confirmation of
judge Rhea-
s;Now we fully approve of reasonable
regulation and restriction of the liquor
traffic; but that is a very different thing
from devoting all the powers Of govern
ment and surrendering all the rights of