The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-02-04
Ell TO RIAL
4 Popular Election on the Liquor Question

The Times Dispatch discusses at length the
position OF The Nirginian that the people have the
right 10 vote the liquor question, and at the end
of column and half winds up with the deliver
ance that there is mo reason imaginable for Civ
ing TO the people the right except that the Anti
Saloon League is, is supposed to be powerful,
and that some legislators lack the courage to show
plainly by speech and vote that the request is en-
{ srely unreasonable. and cannot be considered.
This statement is somewhat. If not entirely. con-
tradictory. II the Anti-Saloon League is powerful
Is SO because it is the clearing house for the views
and is the instrument of thousands of the most sub
stantial people of Virginia If it shall succeed in
4 persuadng the General Assembly to pass an enab-
hing act il will be because it will prove to the men,
bers of the General Assembly that the people desire
TO be gwen the right to vote the question OF a
Statewide Prohibitory Law. The statement OF
ne Times Dispatch that no reason is imaginable,
except that the Anti Saloon League is, or is sup
posed to be- powerful is equivalent to saying that
there is reason imaginable why the Legislature
should give the people an opportunity TO vote on
Z This question, except that the people whom they
represent demand the right to vote on it. To most
persons this would seem to he a sufficient reason,
but the Tiffes-pispateh takes about the po-
sition taken by Senator Sale that il a vote should
be taken the question to-day, the State would
60 dry, but the request of the people is unreason
7 able and cannot be considered. 1t is enough to
say in reply to this antcfimax that the members of
the General Assembly of Virginia still recognize
that they the representatives Of the people, and
that the people have right to inform their repre-
sentatives of their wishes by petition otherwise
! as they may think best, and no representative OF
the people is lacking in courage, the Times
q Dispatch charges when he gives full weight to the
petition of his neighbors upon matters OF public
concern.
The Timcs-Dspatch further declares that if the
Legislature should give to the people the right to
vote on the question 'it should distinctly explain
what are the reasons for making unique and vio-
lent exception in favor of tho Anti Saloon League.
81 Here, as elsewhere. the Iimes-Dspatch ignores
the fact that the Anti-Saloon League is simply a
voice speaking for citizens of Virginia and the
cepton in its favor, if it shall be made, will be made
because OF the number of voters for whom it speak.
But it will not be difficult for the members of the
General Assembly to comply with the demand of
the Times Dispatch and give their reasons for max
ing an exception in their treatment of the liquor
question, Surely the Times Dispatch is not ig-
norant of the fact that the liquor business is a
4 unique an exceptional business, and that the
Constitution OF Virginia and the Legislature Of the
State, and the ordinances of the towns and cities
all recognize the fact
Z Tie Constitution of Virginia in section 62 de-
s CIares.