The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-14

regulate the sale of liquor cannot lie
questioned. and the right to regulate
includes the right to prohibit the
open saloon. Some deny the right
OF the government to close the sa-
loon: others insist that the govern
ment has no moral right to license
the sale of liquor. but with large
majority 1t Is a matter to be decided
by conditions. The people, acting
through the fundamentally OF gov
eminent. have, for their own pr otec-
ton. the right to determine the con-
ditions under which liquor shall be
sold in any community, county or
state. and 1t follows that the people
OF the nation have right to act
upon the question whenever they, In
their wisdom, think Ii proper TO do
SO. for whatever constitutional OBJ
jections may be urged to any pro-
posed legislation, 1t must be renlein-
bered that constitutions are In The
hands of the people, and can be al
tered whenever the people see fit
to utter Them
Ones devotion to popular govern
ment ought not to depend upon his
approval OF any particular policy Of
government Democrats. for instance,
VIII not lose interest In free Insti-
tutions merely because the repupii-
cans obtain control of the govern
ment. The people have right to
govern themselves. and their right
does not depend upon how they exer-
else that right.
mo one doubts the town or city's
right to act upon the liquor question
or the right OF the precinct or the
right of the State, so there should be
no question as to the right of the
country
AT the international congress
held in London in July. 1909. in which
twenty-five nations were represent
ed, Lord Alverstone, chief justice OF
England. stated that 90 per cent. OF
the crime passing under his obser-
walton was traceable to drink: and
Judge Pollard, of one OF the police
courts of St. Louis, and Col. McIIardy.
of Edinburgh. Scotland, put the pro-
portion at So per cent. in their re-
spective communities. Have the peo-
Pile who suffer from the crimes com
mitted. and who bear the burden OF
prosecuting the criminals no right
to be heard when the matter of reg
ulation IS under consideration?
The liquor question has been
made acute In Nebraska by the un-
scrupulousness of the liquor inter
ests. Instead OF the saloon OF former
days, owned by resident and amen
| able, to some extent at least. TO the
| sentiment of the community. we have
the branch saloon, owned and ope-
rated by producer OF liquor. This
system adds the evils OF the trust
| system to the evils OF the saloon tt
| self. Whenever a community at
| tempts to deal with the saloon Ques-
| ton, instead OF having to deal with
| one of its own citizens IL finds it,
| self in a struggle with great cor
| porations- which operate over large
| area. and have a pecuntary interest
/ In cultiyating the appetite for drink;
instead of settling the question by
| consulting its own voters. IL must
engage In war with foreign power.
| THE saloon--not every one. but
as ruie--is In alliance with vice.
1t Is constantly used to debauch poll
| tics. and to prevent the Intelligent
! confederation OF public questions The
| liquor interests interfere in all mat
| ters that may even remotely AFFECT
| their interests. They made them
selves odlous at the last session OF
the Nebraska Legislature. The demos
| Gratis had a majority in both branches
| for the first time in the States his
Legislature has but one blot on II.
and that blot was put there by the
| liquor interests. They controlled
enough OF the senators to prevent the
submission OF the initiative and ref
| erendum They were willing to de-
| ny to the people or the State the
4 right to express themselves on ony
| question rather than risk the use OF
the initiative and referendum for the
submission OF the liquor question. In
| science. arrogance and impudence
| cannot go farther.
| The democratic party cannot af-
ford to act as the mouthpiece OF the
liquor interests. II can have nothing
In common with the selfish. merce-
| nary and conscienceiess crusade that
| the liquor interests have organized
| against the home and the State
| against private virtue aid public
| morals."--The Commoner.
/ GtfIT