The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-04-27
CONTINUED IGNORANCE. PREJUDICE
AND MISREPRESENTATION on paRI
on THF NEWS LEADER

on TftI NEWS LEADER
Whenever TIE News Lcodcr, the evening or
eau OF the Bryan estate prints anything con
earuing the Anti-Saloon League or Prohibition, !
~ any person connected with the Anti-Saioon
League movement. it displays ignorance or
prejudice or beth. and il Is so determined 70
fight fer the liquor traffic. which gives it large
adsertjstng patronage. that it constantly and
ecljbera;eie uisrepresents the temperance
cause III oraer 10 adversely influence the read
Ing public aealnst st
IN latest feat is performed il al editorial
i'll the issue Of Wednesday. April Goth, entitled
"A Doubtful Device. fron which quote.
"a appears tha; the prohibitionists have hit
upon somewhat novel devic- 10 iiiiuehce~~or
control~-the conscienccs and Judgment and in
directly destroy the independence Of candidaics
Tor The Legislature. ia the coming primary.
The report comes from Notte~ay that Ut eaeh
voting place in that county there will be some
thing in tho nature Of a prohibition ballot box
separate from the regular ballot ooN. into which,
after voting Tor their choice among the candi-
dates, the voters are expected 10 deposit ballots
expressing their wishes 10 the referendum
~ the State wide prohibition question II a
sorty declares for the referendum that is ex-
pected by the promoters OF the scheme. be
binding upon the successful candidate |; is thus
proposed by the prohibitionists in effect actually
10 exercise tho referendum. without reference
% the laws or the Jaw making power Of the
state.
Would ii be better for these rather over
ardent gentlemen to carry forward their cam
paign if carry il forward they must. by the
regular and orderly methods prescribed by law
The possible abuses OF such device prac-
ideally iilinlitable and IL strikes that
claiming TO represent the high moral sentiment Of
abe State should give an example OF lawful sub
mission To the law that provides ample
for carrying out their purpose If it be in accord
with the popular VIII, rather than attempt short
cuts That invite fraudulent practices"
Now here is sample of the accuracy p of
the Bryan organs whenever the cause OF tenn
perance is involved. Nottoway county Is only
aboA fifty miles from Richmond Information
is easily obtainabe. Before writing an editor
ial rejecting upon the temperance people would
not newspaper. which desired 10 be fair have
obtained the exact facts? Certainly ii would
But The Netes Leader. like The Times.Dispateh
the morning organ of the Bryan estate, has no
desire to be fair 10 the temperance people of
Virginia, and especially TO those OF Nottoway
county, in which is located the town of Black
stone. These two papers seize upon any report
rumor. and without any desire TO verify its
ACCURACY but with a mad desire to abuse tenn
perance workers, elaborate into news stories or
editorials Just what the fancy of the writer's
may conceive. knowing that three fourths of the
people who read the false statement will never
see the correction. and hoping to damage the
temperance in way
The device referred to above as having been
hit upon by the prohibitioniss of Nottoway in
order ito influence or control, the consciences
and Judgment, and indirectly destroy the indie
pendence OF candidates for the legislature is
not the device OF the prohibtionists. On the
contrary. 1t has been proposed by of the
candidates who Is opposed to prohibition. He
has declared himself 10 be unwilling to vote for
the Enabling Act unless the people Of the dis
trifi shall, BY separate vote al the primary,
instruct him to do so.
The prohibitionists are opposed 10 the prop,
osition, because they believe that in selecting
"a man TO represent the district in the General
Assembly. one should be selected who will take
his stand d great moral question. on one side
the other and let the people say whether
They want lin to represent them with full
knowledge of his views. They believe that
man should be independent enough to say that
he wj1 not vote for measure which his judg-
does not approve, and they regard the
proposition that tho people shall give him n
vote Of instructions as device to obtain the
tote of tenn people for candidate for
WHOM they would If he declared posi-
tively thai he would under circumstances
vote for the Enabling Act
Many very many Of the temperance people
% Notto#ay viii have nothing to do with this
proposed device. They win not use this unoff
c.ai ballot hox. They DO not think, with the
Bryan organ. that there is any invitation to
fraudulent practices" They believe that the
rlau would be fairly worked by Mr.. Land the
2. gentleman who has proposed IT. He would not
any fraudulent practices But they be-
Iieve the candidates for the General Assembly
should be independent enough to state their
5-Fspfs 1isas ,e- FIRE people. lwefd. ~sh1c
1nan they will select with full knowledge of
his views
NOV, TO be consistent the Bryan organ, which
n interested In Nottoway county, should
turn upon the candidate who proposed this plan
aud give him the lecture which il has read to
the temperance people.
rEgsIcious kEBAr1sG CHARGED