The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-28
b d. RIAL


H# Inc Atrglnian would Suggest IN the most Ira
eT1sI spirit that the daily newspapers Of the State
1Thich are rending their garments and throwing
into the air because of the report of the Anti
3 Saloon League Legislative committee simply
81 SIisplaying their ignorance, and it to their
readers to make some study of the Anti-Saloon
B Lcagus-its aims, methods and principles.
These newspapers have started out upon the
utterly ,inwarranted assumption that the Anti
81 Saloon League of Virginia IS organization IN
side Of the Democratic party. and part of the
I Democratic party. The Virginian-Pilot and the
I Index Appeal in discussing some days ago the
uiestion of the future settlement of the liquor
ouestion in Virginia referred to the Anti-Saloon
League OF Virginia as the tail of the Democratic
dog and asked whether the tail should be allowed
& 10 wag the dog, intimating that the Anti-Saloon
{ League is simply part of the Democratic party
and that it was too small part of that party to
4 be allowed TO control it,
The Richmond papers have shown the same lg-
norance of the League, and of its relation to poitl-
cal parties One of them in sensational headliness,
\ an inch high declares May Leave the Party,
and the ..Supre1ne. in Virginia announces that the
niger in the wood-pilc is now fortunately dis
covered and that ''the eat is out of the bag. 1t
Furthermore emphasizes its ignorance by stating
that There is iasHrmeuntable objection to the
III Saloon League or to any other outside or
rauzatien eontestng within the lines of the Demo
cratic party for an issue which is in no sense a
Democratic issue. but which the contrary is
foreign to all principles and policies and history
/ pf the party.
The Baltimore Sun which circuates considerably
In Virginia receives its report from Richmond,
4 Through 'wet'' sources and it announces in its
/ columns ''Away from ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Anti
Saloon League Ends Alliance" and then says The
B League has for the past year two taken
" straight out Democratic course, remaining sepa
/ rate league, but voting the Democratic
ticket
These statements are ridiculous in the ignorance
displayed of the aims and principles of organi-
xaton which is so prominent and influential in the
country to-day, that the editor of every newspaper
should inform himself concerning it, that he
q will not be writing twaddle.
E The report of the Legislative Committee of the
Virginia State Anti Saloon League did not advance
one inch beyond the publicly declared policy of the
q league ever since its organization in Virginia.
hat is the policy Of the Anti-Saloon League in
its relation To political parties? The official de-
eIaration of the League this subject contained
lii pamphlet entitled Aims, Principles and Re
suits Of AntSaloon League Work.. This pamph-
i let contains the address of the President of the
~ delivered at heIsynehhnrg Convention in
February 1905, and adopted by the Convention
\ trihution as a statement of the principles and
policy.
Extracts are given elsewhere this page from
D This declaration of the Leagues policy which
s clearly show the attitude of the League toward
A political parties. These full extracts have been
given because it is important that the editors OF
I the .wet" papers cannot plead ignorance.
IT is evident to any intelligent reader that tbs
principles of the Anti-Saloon League of Virginia
- stated above, strictly adhered to in the
report OF the Legislative Committee which has
called forth such exhibition of ignorance the
u part Of the wet papers of the State. The Leg
isIafive Committee presented petition of 35,006
persons to the Legislature, fas the League prinei
piles demand The Committee pleaded with the
u General Assembly to remove this question from the
political arena TO leave it to the people to settle
as great moral issue. Had the General Assembly
agreed to the reasonable request this issue would
have played no part IN the election of members
" 0f the next General Assembly. But the General
Assembly rejected that request The Liquor lobby
a was There in force opposing it, 1t was unwilling
that the people should be given the right to decide
his moral issue Moreover it wanted to register
he ignorant white and negro element before such
An election was held. The effect upon the reg
istration that would follow postponement Of the
election beyond October, 1910, clearly set forth
n by the Anti-Saloon League workers. But the Sen
b ate OF Virginia rejected the petitions of 5000
persons and by vote of 26 to II yielded to the
quest of the liquor lobby and the "wet" news
papers Of the wet" cities. The Legislative Com
nttee Of the League has reported the facts to the
people Of the State and now calls for action in
direct accord with the declaration of the princi-
pies set forth above. That declaration says II is
istinetls understood that il their petition is not
n granted they propose to vote for men who will
u grant their petition and carry out their wishes
BY following out its principles the result should
n be the election of Democrat and the defeat of