The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-02-28
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY %. 1912.
Is THE PARTY WITCH-RIppEN?

Timcs who is as full of political sense as
an egg is Of meat has taken in iull seriousness
reports from Richmond that the question OF
redistrieting the State congressionally is being
made the subject OF bargain and sale between
the liquor Interests represented in the General
Assembly and the four Republican senators in
the State Senate
In brief the reported bargain is that, in
consideration of the maintenance of the status
7teo ms regards congressional Districts
der which the Republicans at present have
e-s-tre-e4a4ipe-4.i -t4AsAiHs+e 4,-utif- Aepa
or another. tho Republicans in the State Senate
agree to against the Jordan Enabling
Act
In other words practically half of a Demo
cratic Senate arc charged with having far
presiituted party fealty to the special interest
OF The liquor traffic to barter party su~ g
for the certainty of defeat of moral ques.
tion on which tho people demanding the
right 10 express their opinion.
OF course il such bargain struck. II
Was done under ground and out of sight II
Z
damna,ion Of every man who party 10
It, We do not charge that 1t is true, Al the
same time. it must occur to every thoughtful
person that the Democratic policy of SO re-
distrietipg the State as to insure the present
Democratic representation In Congress is be
ing hopefully fought in the Legislature by
Republican minority which is numerically in
significant.
/, remains TO be- seen whether the votes OF
the Democratic senators opposed to the En-
abling Act shall be cast with those Repuhli-
cans who are rumored TO manipulated tnfs
piece of political blackmail.
However that may be- the charge itself is
well In keeping with the methods Of the liquor
interest when public sentiment has chaleng.
ed It's rights 10 existence To such cause.
party is nothing public safety is nothing. poll
tical faith is nothing, personal honor Ia a baga-
teiie. If the liquor interests have conceived
such a loophole through which to escape con
domination by the State at large, neither they
+ nor such legislators by one method or an
other they may have been powerful to enlist
will hesitate at the sacrifice involved. To such
a cause the cry is rule ruin, with rule and
& rain the end in sight There is that about poll
tics ali the best which gives honest man a
analm when he enters its atmosphere. When
politics is contaminated with the fumes of H.
auor. ii is as foul as the breath of the drunk
ard in the gutter whose drink has grown cold
and gone dead"
Thn M
notice as to this reported unholy bargain. If
it be true. they viii find it out II they find
ii out. they will understand that a cause which
comes from them pure has been made the
tainted coin for the purchase Of political dis
honor they will realize 10 what length n
monopoly In the exploitation of manhood win
go 10 keep its grip upon the throat OF human
weakness They will recognize that. beside the
preservation Of a system that feeds on the
dirty dollars of degraded appetite, nothing is
too precious to be risked. nothing too sacred
to he sm,rched.
'-s Neither Prohibition nor the Jordan Act has
place in politics. The Democratic party, as
the dominant party. must. however. face the
responsibility of leaving the decision of moral
question to the people. refusing them the
right Of trial at the ballot box Some Republi-
can politicians doubtless ready to trade
either way. knowing that they have nothing
to lose and all TO gain whereas the Demo
cratic party or those who seek TO II. has
everything to lose and nothing except in
cubus 10 win But the vote proposed by the
Jordan act is a vote under Democratic auspices
open TO all shades OF political opinion. child
& Of no party, threat OF no party advantage OF
no party To attempt TO make 1t anything
else to use II In the Interest of political deal
under the table. is merely TO invite exposure
aud disaster.
Such things do not cannot remain hid
Some things a suffering people will moi
stand
Shall the Democratic party be ridden TO
death By the witch OF liquor politics,
The revolutionary yaudeyiIians are playing
\ Juarez q return engagement