The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-12-03
Liquor Question in
State Convention
\ Source OF Party Danger.

In Richmond Journal interview Senator
Halsey. of Lynchburg strongly advocates the
calling Of State convention, and in the course
Of his remarks says:
Furthermore, If the Virginia Democracy is
to abandon the doctrine of home rule and the
policy Of local option in regard to the liquor
question. the people are entitled to kno" that
likewise"
That Is to say, the issue ought to be pre-
scented with clear-cut precision before the State
convention as between prohibition and local
option. Truly the program Is becoming more
definite. IL Senator Halsey's view reflects the
purpose that partially or otherwise Is at work
in favor Of calling convention. ana a denVen-
+ ton Is called, then let the tocsin OF war be
sounded. let the vets and drss In the Demo
J cratic party Of Virginia hasten To their respee-
tive campo. Let the leaders OF Democracy de-
clare and take sides one way or the other They
must be either fish. flesh or fowl. they must
either be for or against the cause of state
wide prohibition and the people Will look 10
/ them TO take charge of the opposing battalions.
Demoralizlng all this viii Toe to Democracy.
YOU say Undoubtedly So OF weakening effect
upon It's columns Undoubtedly Serving
iforerunner of Democratic defeat at the polls
Who knows. But Democratic confusion and di-
vision will inevitably be witnessed II Demo-
cratic convention now undertakes to declare
either for or against local option as Senator
Halsey thinks should be done.
Let It be understood favor q convention
provided ii deals with questions other than pro-
hibition. But upon that point at one
with the view Of the Norfolk Landmark that
should il appear that the convention can
srmble and draft good Democratic platform
without creating more strife In the party than
i 1t,
but if 1t is going TO create further dissension
in the party, which is quite probable II would be
much better to forget all about the convention.
Lynchburg News.
\ Menace, to the Party.
Somebody has recently said that if Demo-
cratic convention should be held next year, and
the prohibition question should come up. il
could be disposed of by declaring in general
terms that the Democratic party adhercs to Its
time honored doctrine OF local option. phase
of local sef-government.
That is more easily said than done. Who
can give assurance that the convention would
not be swept off its feet by the Statewide
forces? We have no doubt that it would be-
unless il should be packed against prohibit
tion.
Rut be that it may, the real fgh, viii
be pulled off in the legislative campaign regard
less OF any action that might be taken by
conventicv in advance, and all signs now indi-
! cate that the next Legislature Will have a good
working majority in favor OF submitting the
question to vote Of the people And when
that issue comes before the voters. there is
but argument that will have power to
defeat it. and that ia the question Of revenue
Ii the voters be convinced that the finances
OF the State would be seriously impaired by
abolishing the liquor tax and that it would be
necessary to raise taxes real and personal
property to meet the deficiency, aJority OF
them might vote against prohibition Otherwise
the proposition Will have big odds In its
favor.
First of all. there is strong prohibition sem
timent In the State. That Is to say, there
thousands who are in favor of driving out the
liquor traffic at any cost. because they believe
it to be an intolerabie evil and they hold that
every man who votes for license Ia responsible
, to that extent for the evil
Again. the country districts are already dry
and II is natural that the rural voters should
favor the adjustment Of the traffic in the cities
There Is still another element to be reckoned
with and that is the business men In the cities
and towns that have prohibition under the local
option law. Much money ID sent from dry
towns wet towns for wet goods and
those who go from town to another TO lay
in a supply OF liquors purchase other supplies
Also to the detrment OF trade in the former
1t is said that citizens Of Staunton can order
by telephone Jug OF liquor from a neighbpring
town that Ia wet and get the goods inside OF
two hours by the incoming train. And II n
further said that the traffic Is active
1t 10 also said that Suffolk loses considerable
trade to Norfolk and Portsmouth in the same
way and not liquor trade only.
I.ynchburg 10 dry while Roanoke IL wet.
on the one side and Danville 10 wet ON the
other. Is 1t strange that I4yrc hburg should ear
nestiy desire that Roanoke and Danvilla should
he made to quit selling liquor?
No action OF a State convention could change
this condition. and 1T II should take stand
for or against prohibition. split would be In
evtable. and the Republican party given an op-
portunity to win outI II - q serious question
and the party leaders must give It the consider
alton il demandA-Newp0ft News Herald.