The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-02-04

the other, for all the people. But q
election on prohibition would be 8
election OF a very different sort.
.. fact 1t would be precisely like IL
t Hypothetical and preposterous clcctio
: for Governor suggested above.
BY special machinery supplied thei
by the Legislature, the prohibitionist
have banished the saloon from three
fourths OF the State Under these cir
cumstances, they petition for the rigll
to have the people of the whole Stat
say whether or not the saloon slla]
stay In tho remaining one-fourth. Tha
Is tho whole and only question in
volved here. No one inlagines for
moment that the Anti Saloon Lcagl,
workers intend to risk in the battle
any of the territory they have already
! Won They would be mad to do
and morally they would be unpardon-
able. What they desire is an election
plan under which, Il they win they
win all. and If they lose, they lose
nothing. They desire a Statewide
election on a question that can affect
only part of the state. popular
election" which can affect only a
minor fraction of tho people. an odd
and curious election by which tho
voice Of all the people can be called
in to decide. not State question for
all the people. but a local question for
y far nf ha
State votes dry. all of it would be dry;
but if the state votes wet, three
fourths OF it would still be dry.
Now let no one imagine that we
object to this latter provision. or that,
If there should be so-called State
wide election in which the State voted
wet. we should want to see the saloons
brought back into communities which
had elected them. On the contrary, we
should fight such a proposal with all
the strength we possess. We whole
heartedly believe in the right of these
communities to decide the question for
Themselves. We cordially indorse pro-
hibition where 1t has been voluntarily
approved by the desire of the majority
and has proved n social benefit, as it
in many instances has. For people at
q distance to force the sale OF whiskey !
back on these communities, particular
ly In the rural districts, we should re-
gard as an insolent and intolerable
invasion Of their rights. But equally
is it an invasion of the rights of other
communities to override their diff
fering sentiments. We know no prin-
clple that lodges, cavorts. evades and
works but one way. We recognize no
justice which is wholly blind in one
eye. AS 10 morals, there Is indeed
decided difference between forcing the
saloon back upon communities which
are opposed TO It, and forcing it out
of communities which favor ii. But as
exemplifying principle of govern
mental Justice, there is no difference
whatever between the two. Yet that Is
the sole conceivable purpose of the
hemistically-styled popular cleo
ton" asked by the Anti-Saloon League:
TO empower three-fourths of the peo-
pie. who have no local interest in the
matter at all. to tell one-fourth of the
people whether or not they shall
license saloons.
50 we see that a referendum on the
liquor question-already decided for
three-fourths of the State--is not
more. but less fair, just and reasonable
than referendum. say, on the uues-
ton of larger appropriations for good
roads. which is not yet decided for
any part of the State. Why, then,
should the unique request of the Anti
Saloon League be granted? II the
Farmers Institute petitioned for a
referendum on the question Of appro-
Driating s1.o0o,000 for teaching agri-
culture. It's petition would be rejected
with open amusement. If the Virginia
Good Roads Association petitioned for
referendum on the question Of APP
100000 for macadamiz-
ns roads, its petition would be re-
ected with considerable merriment. If |
- ''NoNS h'oiih VI tIlSdltil tuShSu LOT
100000 to improve town sanitation
nd public health, its petition would
e laughed out of court. Why, then,
hould the Anti-Saloon League con-
Give that its own special petition, as
as any of these. and far [
lore one-slded and inequitable in prin-
iple, should be heard with reverence
nd approval? No reason Is imagi-
able except that the Anti-Saloon
league is, or is supposed to be, power
ul, and that some Legislators lack the
ourage to show plainly by speech
nd vote that it's request is entirely
and cannot be consid-
red.
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BARRING THE MUsTACHE.
The decision of the University of