The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1909-08-12
DRASTIC TEMPERANCE LECIS-
I.ATTON


particularly the former. the tenn
perance people seem about 10 carry
drastic liquor legislation % such a
point as to do harm % their cause.
Instead Of adopting the conservative
course. which. fortunately. still pre-
walls in Virginia. they have deter
mined TO take advantage Of their
strength and force legislation which.
by reason Of its very harshneSs. Is
destined to cause a revolt Petty
spirits in the Legislatures Of these
States. anxious to please the most
radical and uncOmpromising element
and forgetful Of the future. are pro
posing and forcing through measures
such as perhaps were never before
offered in an American Legislature.
outside of Kansas. Il Is a fair pre-
sumption that the people Of Georgia
and Alabama are more conservative
than those of Kansas. and II neces-
sarily follows that no matter how
temperate they may be. they viii
shortly repudiate laws which are Of
such a sumptuary character As 10
prove offensive TO the traditions Of
the Anglo-Saxon people. The South
has already shown in the past few
years that il Is in favor Of temper
ance. but this does not mean that
the Southern people favor radicalism
in temperance any more than in any
thing else. Local option, as we have
it today in Nirginia.is the best policy
of all those proposed for the regula-
ton Of the liquor traffic. Ii Is a
policy that gives 10 the people and
not to the Legislature the say - in
matters affecting the sale Of liquor
and it is a policy Of majority rule in
each locality. which no man can fair
" complain Of.
Poor old Boston Is getting old and
equity and II naturally makes her
cross and peevish. She with the
rest Of New England has always IN
dertaken TO regulate the affairs Of
other people. even if her own went
unregulated. and to remove notes
from the eyes Of others. while beams
were securely lodged in her own.
Hence the Boston Transcript pro-
ceeds to comment upon the recent
Democratic primary in Virginia
thuswise
Judge Mann. who won the gube--
Material nomination over Mr.. Tucker.
is identified with the Mann LIQUOR
law. whose character Is sufficiently
indicated by the support he received
from the ''drys" throughout South
western Virginia. His victory Is
therefore regarded as the earnest Of
the Tightening Of the local option
system 10 point where il viii be
prohibition in all but name. In Vir-
ginia the Democratic nomination for
Governor Is normally equivalent 70
election, and Judge Mann will in all
probability be the next inhabitant Of
the Executive Mansion al Richmond.
He IS a man Of pronounced views
and Of force Of characer. Il is to
be hoped that they coincide with
Governor Swanson's conviction that
lynching Is lawlessness. always to De
prevented or punished.
In this respect Governor Swanson
has set an example worthy Of general
imitation throughout the South.
He has lived up TO his text that every
man accused Of crime shall have the
rights the Constitution accords him.
and has vigorously used the military
power Of the State To enforce the
law. Would-be lynchers bent on
storming jalls have turned back from
hedges Of bayonets. Governor
Swanson has held officers strictly &C
countable for the sofety Of the pris-
oner, and has not hesitated 10 stiffen
local militia companies 10 the dis
charge of their duties By reinforcing
them with others free from the pre-
JUDGES of the vicinage. Bv con-
sequence, the law takes its course in
Virginia, and the punishment Of
crime becomes all the more exem-
plary.
We wonder how long it will take
New England to learn that Viz
ginians do not advance to the highest
Office in their gift, anyone who is not
capable of enforcing and will not en-
force law. The Transcript should turn
Its attention to Illinois end especially
to Springfield. the home Of Ahrabo,,