The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-03-23
"WEDNESDAY. MARCH %. 1910.
THE LOCAL OPTION QUESTION.

gWEDN ESDAY, MARCH 20, l9lV.
THE LOCAL OPTION QUESTION.
we believe wholly in the principle OF
local option IN the settlement Of poll
teal or economic questions affecting
the conditions in this community. 1t !:
Democratic, is wholesome. 1t ough
Is be effective But. as we have beel
advised, while all things are lawful
all things are not geXpedient. Yester
day a number of ministers held an i'm
portant conference here to discuss thu
question OF holding an election on thu
liuuor issue There was much differ
ence OF opinion among them as tc
I what course should be adopted. and
after debate, which was at times
somewhat personal and animated, the
subject was referred TO a special COM
mittee to report at a meeting to be
held next Tuesday upon the course to
be pursued. The proposition that news-
paper reporters be excluded from the
meeting yesterday was vigorously re-
sisted and overwhelmingly defeated, q
large majority of the ministers talk
ging part in the conference prefer
ring to do their work out in the
omen instead OF behind closed doors.
This was a wise and temperate dcci-
sion, as there Is no newspaper In Rich
nlond which will deny to the good men
engaged in the work of temperance a
square deal. We must assume that
they are sincere In their purposes; but
at the Same time we must insist that
the newspapers are also we'll disposed
touching any matter of large import
ance to the community in which they
are published.
1t cannot be said that any one OF
the men at the meeting yesterday was
associated with the liquor interests or
influenced by any personal, or political
or, business consideration in his vote
upon the question submitted to the
conference for action. Yet a large
number OF those present expressed re-
\ sonahle doubt as TO the expedicncy of
\ organizing a local option campaign at
this time. one Of the ministers say
IL ing that we should not "go ahead 9th,
public conscience another that a 10
4 cal option election atthis time would b
mista kc. another that defeat woul
be Overwhelming in Richmond If IL,
Temperance people were not prepare
for the contest, another that San cleo
ton now would tend to strengthen tn
liquor forces, another that nothln
l would be accomplished without pre-
paration, and still another contcndin.
that 1t is doubtful that tho condition
4 OF the liquor traffic in Richmond coult
at present be improved by a local OPP
sl8tion election, the number of saloons
4 here having been reduced by one half
q In the last few years. The gratifying
II thing about the expression of these
views vas that no one in The meeting
{ or out of the meeting could attribute
u any unworthy motive to those respon-
q kible for them ~ least ten Of the
II ministers present ,"dissented frankly
f from the opinion Of other equally
Is serious minded men that a local option
campaign should be organized at this
time. and all OF them We're opposed to
intemperance. Really. the conference
yesterday was the most dangerous of
the temperance meetings held in this
town to the liquor interests.
: We do not think that the cause of
true temperance has anything. TO gain
by a local option election now. The
thing is working itself out in very
encouraging way. We do not believe
that prohibition will prohibit or ever
+ has prohibited anywhere; but the cure
for the 3nnauestoned evils of the liquor
traffic is TO be found In the adoption
Of laws that can be enforced ana in
such regulation Of the traffic as will
keep IL under good control.
4 x i /