The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-02-02
EDITORIAL
"People of Virginia Have Right to Settle
observation-disclosures

Governor Mann, in his inaugural address, closed
his discussion of the subject OF temperance with
a statement of the true Democratic doctrine. He
declared that the people of Virginia have right
to settle theliquor-question to them shall seem
best" The issue involved is not whether individual
Democrats believe in Local Option or in State wide
Prohibition the best method OF handling the
liquor problem. The question is, Have the peo-
pie OF Virginia right to settle this question as to
them shall seem best? Have majority OF the
bf the State the right to decide what shall be
= the law of the Slater" To these questions there
Irsean be but one answer from the Democratic stand
point. Certainly the people have right to settle
the question.
II the people have right to settle the question
then the people have the right to vote the CUES
ton. If the people have right to vote on the
question, then the General Assembly should make
it possible for such election to be held whenever
considerable proportion OF the people register a
desire to vote.
To pass an Enabling Act is not to favor to
oppose State wide Prohibition. 1t is simply to
leave the whole question where it belongs, namely
= ia the hands Of the people. large proportion Of
the voters OF the State do not register their desire
to vote this question vote will be possible
but if large proportion register their desire then
election will be held, and the people OF Virginia will
decide did the people of North Carolina, whether
they desire to prohibit the manufacture and sale OF
Intoxicating liquor within the State OF Virginia.
The Nirginian- Pilot, day or SO ago, gave in
terview with Senator w w Sale the floor leader of
the Democratic party in the Senate, in which Mr.
Sale is represented as saying, Il do not think the
Anti-Saoon League enabling bill will pass the Leg
islature. | cannot see how the pass
if it ever comes before the lawmakers" Senator
Sale is further reported as declaring that if hne
question OF Prohibition is submitted to the people
now it will carry.
1t is hardly probable that Senator Sale was
speaking in the capacity of floor leader of the Demo
cratic party, but only as individual But whether
speaking as representative OF the position OF the
Il Democratic senator's. an individual his decla-
rations have a strange sound to Democratic ears.
In one breath he declares that enabling act, CIV
ing the people the right to vote cannot pass the
Legislature and then in the next breath he declares
thai II the question submitted to the people now
it will carry In short, according to Senator Sale,
majority of the people want State wide Prohib-
itory Law but the legislature will not allow them to
vote on it.
Governor Mann stated the true Democratic doc
trine when he declared, THE people of Virginia have
right to settle the question to them shall seem
best. Thousands of the best citizens of this State
have declared by petition that they desire to be given
the opportunity vote upon the question OF State
Wide Prohibtory Law. Mass meetings are being held
IN various sections OF the State requesting the General
Assembly to give the people the right to vote. Pc
titions being received daily. The Virginian
holds that the General Assembly of Virginia should
pass bill enabling the people to vote on this ques-
tion We do not sickle for any particular measure.
The principle of giving the people the right to settle
the question is the important thing II such bill
is not passed the Democratic party will not be held
responsible as party. But thousands of the Demo
cratic voters of Virginia will hold responsible the
individual Democratic representatives in the Cen
eral Assembly and individual Democratic party
leaders, who, while admitting that Prohibition will
carry if submitted to the vote of the people now, yet
deliberately decline give the people that right
The people have right to settle this question
as to them shall seem best" Gentlemen of the
General Assembly give the people the opportunity
to settle it.