The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-01-31
PEOPLES FORUM /,
Who C0sacetles Jt7


Editor of the virginian:
sir.-4The wet" newspapers pursuing their
usual tacticts OF doing what they can to dis
courage the temperance workers of Virginia.
They admit grudgingly that the enabling act
will pass the House, but the Legislative editor
OF the Times Diapatch declares that. 1T ID.
stated that the opposition to ii in the House
has grown" IL stated by whom? BY delegates
who have themselves changed and gone over
to the "opposition?" Or Is II simply stated"
by these writer's the stan OF these wet
newspapers, which papers are very anxious for
the opposition to increase?
And then this same legislative editor Of the
wet" Times Dispatch from the wet" city Of
Alexandria declares:
1T In generally conceded that there ia Q de-
cided majority against the measure in the Sem
ate"
Who comedies 1t? No doubt the legislative
editor of the wet Times Dispatch comedies 1t?
But has he been given the authority to speak for
a majority Of the Senate? Certainly It has
never been conceded by the workers in favor
Of the enabling act. These workers have under
stood that the senator's would like to know the
wishes OF their constituents before voting on
this measure. and before the vote 10 taken they
will hear from their constituents. The wet"
newspapers and the attorneys for the liquor In
terests may conecde that there 10 decided
majority against the bill in the Senate" but no
It, and the temperance workers deny the &C.
curacy OF the statement
II those persons who favor the passage Of the
bill will convince their senators that they
deeply in earnest about the matter. the temper
ance workers believe that the bill viii pass
The only reason gtysn by tho Legislative sdi-
tor Of the Times Dispatch for the defeat Of the
measure IL that. The loss OF revenue to tho
State OF something over half million dollars
yearly, which would result from prohibition Il
al
perance senator's will not vote for tho refer
endum
OF course, IL II to be expected that a paper.
which acts AZ drummer for the liquor traffic
in its advertising columns when reputable mag
aznes and newspapers more and more
fusing to do 70. Will consider the revenue
from voting for the enabling act Money Il
worth more than morality than manhood.
and In the view Of the wet paper even tenn
perance senators will forsakS their principles
and fall down and worship the mAney god. Why
not 90 further In money worship and license
gambling. nne revenue could be obtaining.
and II revenue can be obtaining what arc .
But does not this legislative editor intimate
very strongly that II the enabling act - passed.
ne ns,p people VII vote out the s.ioon. The en-
TIE revenue Will not be lost unless the State
votes dry" Does the legislative editor Of tina
temperance senator's win vote against the en-
abiing act. because they believe that II II IL
passed. the State will go dry and the reve-
nue viii be lost. and that they ara concerned
the majority Of the people should vote the sa-
loon out even II they desired TO do 20. and lose
thA revenue?
The revenue viii not be lost unless 4 ma
jority Of the voters vote dry and II a ma
jority OF the people will vote dry" what SEN
ators are they who would set themselves up
against majority OF the voters Of virKinis?
JAMES CANNON.
Richmond. Va. Jan. -. 1914.