The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-03-07
COMMENT


- D0hoctutic IFtuCIpe ttfpuObhteu
In the Virginia State Senate last Saturday
afternoon the enabling act, which proposed
to give the people of Virginia the right to vote
ou the question OF Statewide prohibition, was
defeated by a of % to Is That such
fate awaited the measure in the .enate had
been apparent for several days
ON February % the enabling act passed the
lower, House of the Virginia Legislature by a
vote of 62 to So---a majority of more than two
TO one. The questn arises then to which of
these two bodies-~the House or the Senate
Is more nearly Representative of the ope OF
Virginia In the verdict of which body has
and recorded? That question doubtless Will
be live one in Virginia for some time to
come, Had the majority in the House in favor
Of the enabling act not been overwhelming
the action Of the Senate might have aroused
less distrust and provoked less criticism; but
in the circumstances the majority of the mem
berg of that honorable body must feel that
that it has has deliSeratet committed serious and
now, it is reasonably safe prediction that
the realization viii come to them in time.
Fer 1t must be remembered that the question
of Statewide prohibition was not before the
Legislature Had that been the issue. and the
Senate had voted against prohibition, there
would have been some justification or excuse
for It's action. But the enabling act merely
proposed to give the people OF Virginia the
right to vote Statewide prohibition. and
this right the Senate has declared they shall
not laster7>hat is ait there is 10 It, 1'erhaps
there persons who will approve Of the
Senate's action--persons who for yarinus rea=
SONS strongly opposed to prohibition that
they would deny the people the privilege of
settling the question for themselves. But even
these persons would, in other circumstances
recognize and deplore the violation of the
principle involved and embodied in the enabling
act--a principle that is Fundamentally and
cternally denocraue-ihe principle az the rule
of tho people, 1t is unfortunate that this
principle should have been repudiated by a
Senate calling itself democratic 1t is unfor.
tunate that the impression should go abroad
that there Is special interest that yields
a more powerful Influence with the peoples
representatives. at Richmond than the people
themselves.
The members OF the Virginia Senate who
voted against and defeated the enabling act
should not make the mistake of imagining that
they have heard the last OF the issue. The
whskoy interests must not hatter themselves
that the matter has been finally disposed of
The question VIII not down. We have no means
Of knowing what course the Anti-Saloon League
will now pursue bnt the public may
sured that the issue will not be abandoned
speak at the ballot box. and their will has be-
come the law of the State, IL it is not now
the law.
II We are not badly mistaken. the people
will assert their right to rule In Virginia.
Bristol Herald Courier.
Waiting to See
Always this newspaper stands against pro-
hibition: and always when there is prohibit
clean people believe in prohibition earn
estly and hopefully. We wish could
NOW AL oil us are face to race with the
fact that Statewide prohibition is impossible
in Virginia in less than four years The State
Senate gave a majority against II of eight anu
the same Senate will he in session and In pow
er two years from now. In opinion the
result is good. Four years is not long In the
life of a State. Let Tennessee and Georgia
and North Carolina try prohibition four years |
more and show how IL works. If II Is
successful in those States in advancing the
cause of religion, in helping educational, moral
and material progress, most OF will favor
IT, Here in Virginia we are practical and
conservative rather than an emotional people. !
ON all great issues we have occupied com |
promise ground and have tried to adjust quar- |
rels between extremists. The State has stood |
for peace and when war was unavoidable has |
done the heaviest part Of fighting and furnish |
ed the men and the generals 10 do it. Tina,
is her record in FIVE And It may be |
noted that II her advice and guidance had
been followed the slaughter from 1861 to 1855 |
and the disasters following would not have |
occurred.
SO it is settled now that we must wait Also |
We Will watch. II the enab bling act had passed !
the editor -in-chief of this newspaper wouiu |
have spent some weeks in the three Southern |
cities and States with open and honest MIND |
and trying to tell the readers of The Roanoke i
Times exactly. what the figures say about the |
churches and schools and prisons and police [
work and the bank and business showing. Now !
this investigation may be postponed nd the |
more time goes by the clearer the light VIII !
be. .*..g.,. -, 4. s.s.e4-.
THUS, We must adjust ourselves to conditions |
Here in Roanoke to he In fairly good
shape. Everywhere in the State, however we
should look over the ground and make the
law and the enforcement and application of
1t as to reduce the evils OF the LIQUOR traffic
and the bad results OF liquor to the lowest
possible point. Then by the fall OF 1915 we
can decide on definite. final, fixed policy |
Until then We must look after details because
general State results are impossible Roanoke