The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-02-09

Our good friend OF the Roanoke Times IN the
course of a recent editorial upon the question
of Statewide prohibition expresses a number
OF views to which we would give instant and
enthusiastic endorsement, Speed the day when
the policy of Virginia on the temper ance ques-
lion and on every other question shall be die
saled by a majority of the white men of the
state,
Says the Times:
I'VE hope to see prohibition Kept out or our
oolitics because we have seen what II has done
in other States. At the same time, we would
Hike TO see II disposed OF. for a time at least.
Therefore. we would like to see some arrange
ment made by the Democratic State Committee.
IL necessary In conjunction with the Republican
State Committee-snd one marty ia as afraid
Of the question as the other-to let oil the
white people OF the State vote on Statewide
prohibition. with the understanding that both
parties would abide the decision OF the majority
and pledge their legislative candidates to obey
Nothing exactly OF that kind ever has been
done. but that 10 no reason why 1t can not
be done; Such an arrangement would be far
less difficult. complicated and expensive. than
the proposed referendum and far more likely
to bring a practical decision. Prohibition IL not
. party question; We take I, ass general rule
that the white Republicans OF the State have
the peace and prosperity and progress Of yir.
ginia as much at heart as the white Democrats.
If the leaders of the two parties could get to-
gefher in one county, agree on an honest and
clean election and carry out the agreemcnt-as
they did last fall, 70 the honor Of both-we
ace no reason why the leaders and representa-
tive men OF the two parties Of the whole State
should not agree on q white mems election ON
obeyed as faithfully az II II had sanction Of law.
Our great dread in this whole matter lie
bringing on the voting lists a mass OF coiored
voters and undatng thereby all the work OF the
FnnStltntlOnaI convention, We are dong VERY
well without the colorcd vote and the coIored
people out Of politics are prorperins and at peace
ana in gaod win with their white neighbors
more than ever before. We are having here
none Of the blood-curdling shameful, horrors
they have in Georgia. prohibition State. by
the way.
" are ready for a Statewide prohibition
hrht any me. so Il iE fairly conducted and
the thing tested before the people and would
stand TO accept tire result Loyalty. But we want
to s~e II a fair light and q white mans fight
among white men"
We heartily agree In the sentiment that pro-
hibition should be kept out of our politics. The
temperance leaders of Virginia have been at
pains TO impress the fact that this is not a
political question and. In season and out. they
have preached the doctrine of It's absolute nom
partisaned treatment 1t is no more . political
question than Is any one OF the Ten
ments q political question The people OF vir-
ginia, without regard to political Affiliations.
are asking for the bare privilege of a vote on
the question.
So far as combining the settlement OF The
question to the white people Of the State, we
applaud the sentiment. We are ready to live
by and die by the decision Of the white peo-
pie of Virginia on any question OF public pol.
ICY or private morality.
The adoption of the wise suggestions OF our
Roanoke contemporary In no wise need in
terfere with the favorable action on the part OF
the General Assembly on the Jordan Enabling
Act. which privileges the people to vote upon
the Statewide question, but does not require
the vote to be taken forthwith.
we believe that virginia has had enough
Of the flooding Of voting lists with venal.
vicious. ignorant voters for any purpose what
soever. Any party or faction which perpetrates
such a wrong upon the people Of Virginia de-
serves defeat and those responsible for such
crimes against the States electorate should be
severely punished.
- as WuCu N We .WpulN llkE, IO SSE lu6s bAtVpA
rim out OF Virginia. we say here and now
that We would go down In honest defeas rather
than to see one voter ~unlawfully placed upon
the registration books Of the Commonwealth in
the interest OF the movement.
And We are glad to see In the columns OF so
influential a newspaper as the Roanoke Times
10 manly and Straightforward an utterance as
that contained In the last paragraph we quote.
We welcome "a fair fight and a white mans
dght among white men, and the temperance
people OF Virginia stand ready to accept the
Judgment OF such q tribunal.
with our Roanoke friend We would see the
question disposed OF. We believe, however.
that there will be time to discuss the sugges-
tion ~ 10 an arrangement between the parties
sitter the Assembly of Virginia shall have given
to the people Of the State the right to settle
the question by \ popular vote.
The only question before the General As
sembiy now II this: "shall Tire people have the
rfght to decide for themselves a matter Of
public poiicyr' We call the pending question.