The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-11-11
SATURDAY. NOVEMBER IL. 1911.
ANOTHER LESSON FROM ROCKINGHAM.

ANOTHER LESSON FROM ROCKINGHAM.
Mr. Alfred b. Williams the brilliant editor
of the Roanoke Times whose powers OF reason
ing are only surpassed by his gifts OF railtery.
.s very much exercised about the Republican
victory in Rockingham county Under the
title Rock nghams Lesson he charges the de-
teat 10 the injection into the campaign OF the
wet and dry issue and. with the same paterna
interest that has always characterized his atti-
tude towards the prohbtionists. he takes these
good people 10 task for forcing the liquor aues-
ton into everything regardless Of consequences.
Mr. williams should have learned this
that the question has forced itself into every
thing. II forced into domestic. social, com
mercial and political life by the saloon itself
bent upon making gain regardless of conse-
quenees to character material interests and the
social and political relations of its victims un-
I'll an aroused people in self defense organized
to resist it's encroschments and prevent its In
jurinT An awakened intelligence and con
science have at last placed the issue In a posi-
ton where il presents itself the most vital
moral and economic question Of the times and
from which 1t will not receie az long men
can be found of sufncient intelligence. courage
and patriotism 10 continue the fight against It,
But the temperance question was more TO
the front in Rockingham than elsewhere in thu
State. Wherever candidates we're before the
people they were quizzed TO their position in
\ reference TO this burning issue and the atti-
tube of such candidates toward the matter IN
questionably Influenced in the casting III
their ballots. But no more In Rockingham than
elsewhere.
In the first senatorial district we in
formed that Judge Cummings defeated Senator
Lincoln, the Republican candidate. because the
Democrats were sagacioas enough TO adopt a
plank in their platform declaring their belief
that the Legi stature should pass the enabling
act In this case the meddling of the prohi-
bitionists, We presume. was not Objectionable
and should not be criticised because it resulted
In the election of a Democrat.
The issue in Rockingham. according TO our
adyces. based upon the fact that the coun-
II committee ordered convention TO nomi-
nate candidates instead Of primary the
that evidence was produced towards the close
OF the campaign 10 prove that Mr.. keezell
while a member of the Senate, had appeared be
fore the Corporation Commission and succeeded
In having the taxes Of a railroad reduced and
was compensated to the amount of the reduc-
ton thereby transferring what should have
been a saving to the county from the county
IN 4ba
Rockingham voters appear to have been In
nuenced By these considerations az the returns
would indicate,
The prohibition forces do not fear the ne
cessity of justifying their action whenever the
temperance issue is presented by them and they
never shirk an responsibility for their course,
but they do not think ii fair that they should
be charged with the defeat of Democratic can
didates when other issues in evidence that
contributed to the defeat and for which the
prohibition people in wise to be blamed.
The Times shows amazing lack OF fat
miliarity with the situation. 1t says In
Rockingham the lines were drawn tighter We
believe. 1t was contendad that it was the
solemn duty of good citizens to defeat a reg
War DenOCfhlF nominee II ne nhu Noteu wet
In local option election" If this the
contention of the dry in Rockingham they
took a remarkable method OF acting upon II,
since Mr. Keezel and Mr.. Conra the Demo
cratic candidates. claimed to be dry while
the voters elected their opponents who were
both as We understand, wet.
No, the truth of the whole matter is that
there was uprising in Rockingham against
what was construed by the people 10 be the high
handed manner in which the Democratic COM
mittee conducted the nomination OF candidates,
together with the personal issue In the case of
Mf. KeezeIi and the saloon forces threw their
Votes to the wet candidates. This combination
q disgruntled Democrats, Republicans and sa-
1Don men comprised the defeat OF the Dem
ocratic ticket Personally we deplore the fact
that the Democratic candidates and dry men
we're beaten. but We are not willing that the