The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-06-19
A SENATORIAL QCARTETTE.


For exact time. close harmony and soul ex-
preston, nothing finer in music has been heard
in Virginia for long while than the song OF
our senatorial qnartette in reply to the queries
of the Anti-SaIoon League From news reports
had supposed these gentlemen to be some
what AT variance with each other; at least, 1t
appeared to our unsophisticated minds that
sort Of singing match between pair of duets
in progress, but recent developments show
that upon the question Of temperance there are
four minds with but a single thought. four
hearts that beat as one.
It was kind of antiphonal service SEX
tette from the Anti-Saloon League asked !
work against. the passage Of the Miller-Curtis
bill. or its equivalent. bill designed to give to
The various States absolute control of the dis
trjbution Of intoxicating liquors within their
own bounds" From the distant stump comes
the soft strains OF this senatorial quartette al
they murmur in music We will vote and work
and die for your MilerCurts bill, oh, friends
Of temperance, in our loved state"
Again the League sextette chants this query:
Would you favor and work for. or oppose and
work against the passage Of the Barthold bill,
or its equivalent, a bin designed TO restore the
canteen to the army OF the United States?"
And from the field comes the unanimous and
harmonious response of the aspiring quartette
sweetly singing in dulcet strains Wen work
ard vote and die rather than the niqutous
canteen restored to the army post
So there you are. Out of this quartette
duet must be selected to represent lis in song
in the Senate. Understand, four are singing
now-only two can shout the song of triumph
by -andbye 1t is up to the voters to determine
which two shall sing the Halelujah Chorus
and which twain shall chant in minor chords
But be of thing. from the face of the
returns, far az the important question of
temperance is concerned, whoever goes to the
Senate will stand for the best sentiment Of the
State.
! These recent developments point out the won.
derful progress that the Anti-Saoon movement
has been making in public sentiment. A dec
! ade ago such questions as these propounded to
candidates would have aroused the party lead
! ers and the party press to the highest pitch Of
Indignation. Reply on the part OF the candi-
! dates would have been yehemently refused on
! the ground that right existed upon the part
OF the public to thus probe into ones private
i opinions Then the temperance movement was
supposed TO be championed by ong-haired men
and shors-haired women-~all of them cranks
and fanatics~-and the grand old parties, nor
/ their leaders, dogned TO yield any considera-
4 ton care for the desires and opinions of the
/ aforesaid enthusiasts 1t is very different now.
/ Party platforms inserting planks anent the
liquor traffic, dealing in generalities thus far,
but still indicating the realization OF the neces-
sty OF recognizing in SOME way a large ele-
ment of the voting population. And party
candidates are courteous, considerate and con
hdent that something should be done to rem
edy this fragrant evil. though they may not
have advanced sufficiently far to declare active
opposition. So rapidly and SO strong has pub
lie sentiment grown. and keen has the party
consciousness of expediency become You may
be sure there are some who greet this new ac-
tiyiy in political affairs with smiling faces and
damn it In tho dark; there is much crashing
OF teeth in some quarters a reluctant recos-
milton Of the power Of the movement grows; but
the forces of temperance are marching steadily
( onward towards the day OF victory.
! on this occasion we hail with JOY the appear
ance of this quartette Two of them have been
singing this same song for long while; two
! others are comparatively recent recruits; but
they all sing like veterans. and We like the
music they make
ADVICE TO THE ALDERMEN