The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-08-15
REPUBLICAN PROSTITUTION
PROHIBITION.
OF

fhOHIB1I1 lion.
In very clear and able editorial analysing
political conditions in Tennessee and North Care
lima, the Roanoke Times refers to the offer o
Governor Patterson 10 submit the question 10
his nomination for Governor to Democrat
primary, and by inference expresses the hop
that this course viii be followed by the insurgen
y Democrats who recently caused the defeat of tn
Patterson judicial ticket. Noting the combine
ton between Republicans and Prohibition Den
ocrats in Tennessee, the Times points ont tha
the injection of prohibition into the political s
uation is making for Republican success at tn
polls, and, by the North Carolina consrast, show
conclnsvely, what every thinking man must Sc,
that the moral phase of State control of the iquc
question is not, and never viii be, even faintl
Understood by the Republicans in on
State favor and in another seek to undermine til
policy, as conditions seem to give them the hop
of political preferTnent We quote
In the adjoining State of North
Carolina the Republicans declare for
local option and invite the local option
Democrats to join them and overthrow
prohibition.
'.The Republicans are using the pro-
libition issue in Southern States to de-
feat the Democratic party and split the
Democratic South. They are for pro-
hibition or against it as conditions may
offer them opportunity TO capture State
governments. Where they capture
State governments they will have con-
trol of election machinery In both
Tennessee and North Carolina this
would give them a vast advantage. 1t
might insure them prolonged rule with
the colored vote becoming more and
more powerful and the colored political
leaders more and more arrogant and
making increasing demands every year
If the Prohibitionist Democrats of
Tennessee help to put in power Re
publican State government they will
rue it. No party depending on the
coiored vote for a great part of its
strength will remain prohibition long
If the local option Democrats of
North Carolina 90 with the Republicans
to destroy prohibition and establish
Republican State government they will
~ rue it. They will live to see their
State politics controlled by combina-
ton of the liquor interests, colored
politicians and white federal office hold
ers: and that combination is a tough
one'
The solution suggested by the Times is tina
I'll matters affecting the question Of liquor legis
\ lafion ought to be left TO the white Tor Demo
cratic) primaries. In these primaries, it con
lends, such Republicans whose character JUST
hes tile course and whose promise is to supper
the ticket nominated ought to be. allowed to vote
a. But. granting that Republicans of characte
20 H. Il.
throngh desire to participate in a moral question
would not the submission of the question to
N democratic primary result exactly in making tn
problem Of liqaer political, instead of moral
assues While we quite agree with the Times il
y Afs contention that. whether Republicans vot
Mith Prohibition Democrats, or Local Option
v democrats vote with Republicans. the tendenc
\ ~ toward Republican control of State politics
I'm still think that it everywhere lies in the powe
5sof the Democratic party to judge the demand o
public sentiment, and, if that demand justify tn
course, submit the question 10 the people at arg
n ~ manner and with freedom from polite
4 Mhieh will leave to the Republicans no poltica
capital In the result.
n |sa We may say that in North Carolina indica
toms are that the Republicans, who .'straddled
s4tR question In their platforms, will find littl
\ eomfort IN policy seeking to look both ways
3nt in Tennessee, 1t would seem that nothin
ssxccpt disaster il TO be gained By continuing i
campaign for the control Of the State an III
afural political fusion, however, and for wha
spd purpose such a coalition was first brongh
boat.
M Pattersnnism must go; but let it receive il
nth blow at Democratic hands.
AN Englah Company has been formed to figh
Standard Oil Company. 1t would be inter
ging 10 know the amount Of John ID. Rookie