The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-08-11

Special to The Washington Herald.
Purcellville. Va, Aug. 1o-"Opportun-
ity stands now at the door OF Democracy.
and if the Democratic party believes and
trusts in its slogan OF equal rights TO all
and special privileges to none. it will
come forth in this crucial hour and as
sumo leadership"
This was the keynote OF an address de-
livered before the Prohibition and Evan
gelicaI Association Of Virginia this after
noon by former Senator A r. Thomas
lie said IN part:
The greatest danger Immediately
threatening the party is that it will sit
idly by and permit the insurgents 70 re-
generate the Republican party, bringing
it into conformity with Democratic prin-
clples II this is done, the Democratic
party viii disappear. as did the old Wing
parry
The American people need to be re-
minded that man cannot live by bread
alone and that life is more than a mad
chase for the possession of material
things. We may continue 70 sleep, but
some day a rude awakening will come
when we viii have forced upon US a reali-
zation that while we slept the devil Of
special privilege has stolen our goods
and enslaved our children.
Fear of Desperation.
The fear is that when soaded 10 des-
peration The people viii turn 20 extreme
leaders and harsh measures 10 accom-
plish that which might have been better
done had they concerned themselves
about rational and progressive remedies
at the proper time.
There are plenty Of good people in the
country 10 govern It, but. unfortunately.
they are divided. The special interests
do what they can 10 keep them divided
Partisan bias is the instrument used by
speciar privilege 70 create division among
the good citizens who would otherwise
present a solid front against its predatory
policies. Whenever the supreme tests
come between the common good and
special privilege the supporters Of the
latter are gathered from both parties 20
do service in a common cause.
With the United States Senate under
the charge that half OF its seats are
bought with the judicial and executive
departments under the suspicion that they
are In some cases subservient TO the will
Of the money power, is 1t not time that
the people should begin TO bestir them
selves and demand an accounting. that
they may know the actual condition OF
the public welfare?
Money Power Dictates.
THE Democratic and Republican or
ganizations may have power in the dis
position Of patronage, but the larger
policies Of government are those which
the money power dictates. The party
organizations in these matters are but
puppets IN the hands Of their master.
This money power is a composite body,
its members consisting Of every interest
which greed can gather in defense Of IN
Just privilege. It is a plunder-bund con-
sisting partly Of the bank trust, the rail-
road monopoly, the whisky trust. and
the industrial monopolies. all controlled
by the few who have succeeded in placing
the nation under tribute.
! liquor from our borders, and I believe
would have done ii already IL they had
been given a chance ! believe grave
blunder was made at Norfolk when the
! nti-Saloon League took a backward step
when every sign indicated that our forces
should sound a charge Had that con-
vention declared It's purpose TO stand for
Statewide prohibition and the league had
pursued its usual custom Of asking the
positions Of candidates for the house OF
delegates on this question, I have little
doubt that the result would have been
quite different.
Met with n stare.
But It declared for local option after
the reason for it had departed. and so far
as I am advised. made no effort to ascer-
tain how any legislative candidate stood:
consequently, when $500 citizens came
! asking that they might pass upon the
liquor question they were met with a
stare. The petition was denied. and the
cause of prohibition fell a victim 70
political expediency. and the uawisdom Of
It's own leaders. The practical result was
a victory for the liquor trust
Il do not feel discouraged, because an
other time is coming when we will cor
rect our mistakes and present a solid
front to the enemy, and woe betide the
party or organization that undertakes TO
thwart US in the endeavor to drive the
liquor traffic beyond the confines Of old
| Virginia"