The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-11-24
Proposed State
Convention and the
Liquor Question

/ WI SA4NAoAx Al4A lin
Liquor Question
The Lynchburg News, when is owned ny
Representative Glass In leading editorial,
headed The Issues Not IL BE Dodged,' sauarels
opposes the taking OF any aetion Designed to
invoke the power Of The Democratic party or
ganization In an effort To prevent the passage
by the General Assembly Of enabling act
Tor the purpose Ct permitting the people of
Virginia to vote upon the question OF State
prohibition of the liquor traffic. In doing this
our contemporary carefully avoids any express
sien upon the question ef holding a state con-
Tention. urged by certain thermometers.
OF course. 1t must he admitted that in the
event convention Is ordered II /: far more
than probable that effort Will he made by
the dominant element therein to have the
party masses pledged To strictly local option
policy and again the submission even OF the
question of state prohibition FRANKLY. We
believe--nay. are convinced-that such a
for such a convention, OF course. these as-
tators are laboring diligently create the i'm
preston that there many other important
factors to be considered, such the primary
question, the fee system and the convict lease
system, upon each and ali of which it Is as
serted the party should specifically declare it
self But non all Is said 1t Is evident that the
matter about which advocates OF a convention
are saying feast Is the real primary and
thlet purpose of asking a State convention
Of the bemoeracy.-~panville Register.
In the gutleiessness of our sweet and sunny
disposition. had not suspected that the
motive OF the demand for a convention had
ether purpose than 10 deal With strictly po-
litical questions. II. however. the Register con-
lectures Alright. an entirely new situation Is
presented 50 far as The Naws is concerned And
just ST soon We have reason To strongly
believe that through quietly promoted machi-
nations II Is proposed press the Democratic
aatlN-ef -tfae-Sthte- a DECLARE ton upon a
question which We believe should he settled
irrespective Of party ties. then We shall have
81. q Z 4aY4tt,
quite radically different from the view which
mas already been expressed in these columns
circumstances alter cases. you know--and
eheN sometimes demand reversal oi a previ-
ousiy taken position.
Win the utmost respect for the opinions
anu convictions Of contemporaries now adeo-
eating a convention. desire to point out
what appears to us a very obvious conclusion.
II theE are moved to favor convention that
VAL declare the Views Of Virginia Democrats
with reference 70 public matters OF State con-
Germ, including local option, their wishes are
ho' fiSely To 1haterialize. save with respect to
ioeai option In preeonN ention contest your
average Democrat will give practically no at
tenuon To the primary question; or to the In
come tax amendment; or to the convict lease
t}lE or the Zee system His mind. his energies.
his fer'oF. his lighting instincts will be con-
cehtrated upon the Statewide submission propo-
sltion.
Thns the entire movement viii degenerate
hto herc@ Statewide hatred breeding contest
vt democrats against Democrars lpon ina
liquor question And IN last analysis II .
pi""hpiS isHtHi u now compact State poiit.
orsahi2aton swept upon the reefs OF n great
disaster Let as illustrate: Suppose that tn.
democracy or Lynehburg In the present wet
ana dry campaign should have 81 cifv copvep.
ZION and declare Tor or against the sa loon What
foree would the action have? Mhy voters
W"uld sco't at the very notion that being Demo
Gratis, they must put their moral convictions
III 'helr pockets and trot along in support OF
something repugnant to their conscience be-
cause. fofsooth, they party whip was invoked
TO drive them in a certain direction The
cSSentlally fnI ne 7
hurg Democracy II applied to a I.ynchhurs local
option contest; and II would te equally hurifui
10 the Virginia Democracy II applied to Nir-
kiha. fvr Whatever View some may take OF
the question, the truth stands out AS clear
ana niazihg as the noon-day sun that the
masses ~ the people regard prohibition AZ
involving distinctly moral issue and thsv
are not going 10 permit any political orpani-
1atlon TO lead them to the proposition that the
people have not right q settle il at he notis
as divorced from other issues ANY nttamu,
thtreat~~any plan to encompass such an end
WIZ nreea party bitterness and party disorder
ana party revolt. 1t did 90 with the pamo-
cracy Of Tennessee. 1t viii do SO win me
Democracy Of Virginia. North l.artlin, sol :,
tea the question outside OF party lines with
the result of an uninterrupted period OF peu,o-
cratic rule, and the triumph of the popular win
N regard TO prohibition. Virginia Democrats
may Well emulate the example OF their breth
rem in the Old North State
1t won't do, gentlemen Of the state Demo
cratic committee To hurl this hoinbshen of
contention III the Democratic ranks II von,r,
90 10 eat that convention. If prohibition 10 ia
figure as paramount issue in its proe.edtn(s
as 1t viii figure ii Its merits are eonsid.r raj
at an II won't do to call tina, convention
unless Tor the consideration of exclusiyel, M
sltical question and with the understa hiding
that sides will not be taken on the prohiaitinI,
question This can be provided for either IN
formal committee expression embodied In ia
call or bya gentleman's agree m nt between IN a
leaders Of the wet and dry forces in Virginia
When in March, 1908. the News urged Tint
q democratic convention be called IN nrn
neigate creed upon State issues we we're
taxed WIN purpose TO have the Democratic
party commit itself on the liquor question This
was denied We explained that the only course
the convention should formally take in ths
connection would be to meet the ouesfior
seize 1t by the scrufr Of the neck and Giny 4
from the political highways INTO switch Inn -
Mann ana Mr. Tucker were paradinp i,tbts
by declaring II was not properly an issue he
tween the Republican and ljemneratic parties
As 1t Is now, no one Is ohtrudine the matter
upon Democratic consideration and \ STATE
convention has less reason I mentton
the subject. But II Democracy proclairns ght
concerning prohibition. 1t should disnose ~ n
with the Nat that 1t 20 lacks partisan reat,on
as to- be without Just claim for platform
declaration.
Should 1t be no, however that this conven
ton is to be called partly for the purpose
of enun ciating view with respect 10 State
wide prohibition. then let the fact be known
Let tidings thereof ~be flashed to every CITY
and town: to every county and hamlet in tina
State; SO that all may don our fighting
clothes and be ready for the fray For our
selves. we want to get into It right now. il