The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-05-30
sTATE.WIDE rs. LOCAL OPTION.

A youthful reader of The Richmond Ftr9bn-
ion has asked that give him some Of the
reasons why State wide Prohibition is to be pre-
ferred to the Local Option idea In the limits
Of our editorial space unable to give him
as complete reply would like, bat
briefly as we may. will state the reasons for
our faith
In the first place. as a matter OF principle the
temperance people are opposed 10 anything that
has the appearance Of giving State sanction to d
wrong act. When the sovereign Commonwealth
Of Virginia sells TO one of its citizens for money
an authority to sell whlskey it assumes a moral
responsibility for all tho that follows In
the wake Of such act. and throws around the
hydra-headed monster OF air of legality
claim on the public for protection, to which
from it's very character. it is not entitled Ev
cry man who, either by affirmative vote by in
difference to the welfare Of his neighbors. ap-
proves or fails to condemn such a policy must
share the responsibility for its natural cense
qnences. Heice We favor Statewide Prohibition
because it relieves the State of the odium of par
tcipating in any degree in the traffic
Again We favor the Statewide policy because
ii makes the prohibition law more easy to be
enforced. Under local option, wet town
tends to nullify the wishes Of haf-dozen dry
towns and counties by becoming a source from
which shipments into dry" territory are readily
made This facility for invading dry" sec
tion tends TO bring the law into disrepute and
makes local officials lax in stamping out local
violations Of the law. In so far AS the State is
concerned, Statewide Prohibition would do
.aMay. vita the eoadbng OF the dry sections hy
wet towns in the limits of the Commonwealth.
Al present the whiskey houses in the wet"
towns and cities Of the Commonwealth are ag.
gressive in their efforts procure trade in the
dry" sections OF Virginia and in dry States
in the South
We favor Statewide Prohibition further DO.
# will do away with the perpetual con
aicts in the towns and cities of the Stale We
have had in recent months Virginia cities car
ried wet" By political methods Of the most
questionable character. Hundreds of persons
not lawfully qualified to vote have been added
10 the voting lists, and powerful Northern brew
ing and whisky interests have used money free
~ to re-cstablish the traffic where it had been
where majority Of the honest, qualified voters
have favored the temperance cause. This form
al invasion is of the most despicabe character
ii tends 70 the rule OF the corruptionists and
80 the disgrace OF the fair name of our beloved
STATE. We gee no better way Of putting an end
TO such conditions than to pluck MP the whole
drunkard making business root and branch
This form of invasion is more 10 be feared than
that Of an army with cannon and sword II
cones in secret, il strikes at the very root Of
our system OF government. il would overthrow
b stab In the dark, the very machinery by
which our people give expression 10 their
wishes. No phase of the fight Of the liquor in.
forests demands more attention at the hands
Of the people Of Virginia than this ruthless ef
fort In. deprive yirgintars Of an honest ballot
This conspiracy between allied alien liquor in
terests and the supporters Of the liquor traffic
TO rule ruin must be met by people with
every legitimate weapon. Eternal vigilance is
necessary. The only way to achieve permanent
victory these influences for evil is by State
enough make purpose within our hearts
that we will not defia ourselves or be willing
for any part of our State TO beleorrupted by the
drink traffic and its kindred evils, which blight
the soul and destroy the body? a.~-