The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-02-19
THE STROBE BILL.

demand of 20 per cent. of the voters
not $4,000 of them, as was at first
reported-has passed the stage of
public hearings, and Will soon come
before the Legislature for enactment
or rejection Much of Importance to
the future of the state hangs upon the
wav In which this question is decided.
From the standpoint OF the ANTI
saloon League, this proposal is ehtiro-
~ reasonable and legitimate That or
ranization has no political principles,
n is allied with no theory of govern
ment. 1t has no respohsioii'lS
tho maintenance of any set OF govern
mental ideas or institutions. It's one
object and purpose of being IS 10 pan
tsh Tho saloon from Virginia, and
,,,,.tcyer agency or instrument of
government seems TO 1T LOT the NV
ment hest suited to gain that end -
she agency or instrument winch ~
sor the moment desires and upholas'
aut the Legislature of Virginia is III
lutte a different position from the
Anti-Saloon League. The Leslslalufe
: constitutionally- created body fo'
he making Of our laws, MADE up on
nolitical party basis. dedicated 10
no nreservation of certain political
deals and responsible to its seVerai
constituencies for the maintenance Oh
ertain principles and institutions.
confronting the issue raised by the
i.roda hill. the Legislature must,
herefore. ask not as this the best
-av to Danish the saloon?' but rs
his the proper way to discharge our
asponsiblity as law-givers under
,presentative governments? And TO
,nswer this question it seems to us
rat the Legislature must first answer
lese three: d) Ought we to abdlcate
he making power without either
INSTITUTIONAL authorization or evil
ence that the majority of the people
desire? GU In particular, ought We
+, to abdicate when the effect OF the
.oposal is onesided, giving all the
,ople power to legislate chiefly for
ae-fourth2 (3) Are the advantages
be derived from Statewide prohi-
ton such as to warrant our bringing
i bitter strggle for the hope o.
citing them?
The Times Dispatch looks will
ubt upon the proposal to introduce
e referendum principle to settle any
sislative question. In particular II
inks the exped1ent unwise, as ap-
ged to this legislative question: first
cause the decision will not be State
de in any equal true and genuine
else, but Is intended almost solely
override the will of certain commu-
lies; and second, because Is will pre-
Hitate struggle which, will be I'M
'tunate in any case, and which. If 1t
suits in a prohibi!a.oEy law by procla-
Elton. will bring ia benefits to the
tie commensurate with the draw
lcks attendant on its attainment and
orcement. If these benefits were
II e, certain and general the man.
of attaining them would he Of less
oortance. But In view OF the du-
Jus merits OF prohibition, us attest
wherever 1t has been tried. the
uments against opening the way
III by the device proposed seem to
too strong TO be overcome.
ne Times Dispatch is opposed to
e-wide prohibition, however Sc |
I'd II bases its opposition partly
the basic Democratic principle of
~ self government which the
stature has long since declared
@ the sound way 20 deal with the
lem, and which il cannot throw
without disqualification. But
10 is an even deeper basis
this opposition. quite apart from
question of governmental prin-
is and resting on the nature
the human being. State
law would be ineffective In
inia, as it has been elsewhere.
Anti-saloon League has itself
a the high ground that a law will
BE supported unless it represents
will of the majority of the voters.
Anti-Saloon League meant this to
sf only to a State as a whole but
"Opens to apply equally well 10 the
lunities of which a State is made
The officers with whom will lie
enforcement of such law are
state officers. but local officers;
are elected by the communities
they have to serve; and whether
re 1t or not, communities in which
nent is strongly against prohibit
Will not have the law enforced
re same time immediate respon-
is removed from communities
have already voted dry bytrans-
& the decision TO the State, and
who feel O. certain obligation to
towns under the present arrange
viii feel less under the new.
easies would blossom boot
IS would thrive; some communal
re fear. would venture upon more
defiance OF tho law; the mail
points would simply move back q