The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-02-29

to secure the expression OF sentiment
Of the people concerning the enabling
/ act.
! My Dear Sir,-AThe enabling act be-
fore the Legislature II ocsiSneu TO
give the people me right 10 No.e on
s,tate~iae prVnib,uon. II the State
kUes any II wan pe AL dry: II IT woes
wei local option Will SIN pe In force.
senator ----- desires 10 know the
wis1es OF hts people. II You tavor the
oiii sisn anu mall The attached card at
once.
Very sincerely yours,
! j. ID. McAI.LlSTER.
The reply eide OF the card contain
ed the fonowipg:
: hon. -. itichmond. Va:
+; Lear Sir.--beiieving that the people
| OF Virginia have right to vote On
the liquor question as State Ques-
! ton. most respectfully but earnest
ly request you as my senator TO vote
tor the enabling act"
Is there anything unfair on that
cardf Does IL not present the matter
plainly? Is any argument used. or
any underhand method or trick en-
ployed? The card is sent to the citi-
i zen. and he IL lett to decide for him.
self what he will do. Is there any
reason why any member OF the Senate
, OF Virginia should object to knowing
the sentiments OF his people?
No Oths~ Measure So Testsd.
/ dare assert without fear Of con-
tradiction that no measure before tho
Les isla ture has been petitioned for by
one-tenth as many voters az have
petitioned for the passage Of this bill.
and I do not think I hazard much In
asserting that Nee any other meas
hor al act
liquor interests to receive such tire
F, inendous support. such q bill woui.s
/ be passed by an overwhelming ma
jority In this body just as II was
passed In the House.
And may ! say to this committee
without any intent on of Rejecting
upon the separate identity of the Sen
ate as distinguished from the House
Of Delegates that II does seem to be
! well night conclusive Of tho wishes
OF the people OF Virginia that the
HOUSE OF Delegates mas voted for this
bill by majority of two to one.
Have not the members Of the House
OF Delegates a fair knowledge Of the
! wishes OF the people Of the separate
districts which they represent? Are
they not closer to the people than the
Senators are, In that there are tews.
persona In their districts with whose
, views to become acquainted?
States Best People For II.
Third. This bill should be passed
because Of the standing and charac-
ter OF the PERSONS ASA mt for this leg
isiation. At the nearing before the
House committee l read the resolu-
ton passed by the Virginia annual
conference. the Baltimore annual con.
ference, and the Holston annual con-
terence OF the Methodist Episcopal
| Church. South and the resolutions
F.. passed by the Baptist General Associa-
| ton OF Virginia. the two largest rem
gious denominations in this State.
/ These bodies are not composed OF
| preachers alone. but of the leading
! laymen OF these great churches also,
/ and these resolutions call upon the
| off Gals of the Anti-Saloon League Of
| Virginia to present these resolutions
| to the General Assembly as the wish
! OF these great representative bodies.
) There were representatives OF other
/ churches of the Commonwealth at the
/ hearing OF the House OF Delegates
I These are the bodies which stand for
the highest moral purposes and aims.
! and certainly no set OF men can
claim an audience with more reason
than can such people.
\ OF this State, representing many thou
! sands Of our farmers. passed resolu-
!, ton unanimously calling upon the
4 General Assembly TO pass this bill.
I and from every part Of this Common
I wealth thousands OF the best citizens
are urging the passage Of this bill.
Do character and standing count for
nothing with the Senate Of Virginia
Who are the Puritans. Weddings and
i BlnckIsgs?
/ 1t IN frankly admitted that there
are many people of high social stand.
/ ing and OF excellent moral charac.
ter who are opposed to this bill, bul
In all, kindness and all due Difference
to these gentlemen. 1t must be as
serted that they are in very bad
company. OF course. every salooi
and every dive, the gambling hells, tht
red.liEht districts, the toughs, the
pronigates and all the crimina
classes ase bitterly opposed to tn,
Passage OF this bill. They do no
want the people of Virginia to have
the right to vote upon the question OF
Statewide prohibition. Certainly thu
highly respectable gentlemen OF ex.
cellent moral character who are op
posed to this bill must be thoroughly
ashamed Of the company which they
are obliged to join in order to defea'
this measure Shall not the Senate
OF Virginia consider the fact tina,
the criminal elements of the Stat,
are all Joined together against thi,
bill? Is the. Senate OF Virginia hert
to yield to the clamor OF that eie:
ment Of our population? In Its edi.
toria1 of F'ebguary x6th., he .N.nws.
Leader called upon the Senate ol
Virginia to stand firm against thii
combination OF tho puritan. the weak
Ling and the biackleg." Who are thes.
"puritans. wsaklings and blacklegs? 2
Arc the members of the Methodist
conferences. the preachers and lay.
men OF the Baptist General Associa
ton. are these gentlemen all eithe,
"puritans. weaklings or hlackiegs:'
Are the men associated with tbs
y. Antt-Saioona IseaEue OF Virginia 'spuri
tans. weaklings and blacklexs?" WHO
are some Of these men 90 described
by the afternoon Bryan organ? Chan.
cellor Smith. Professor Henderson
/ Mr.. r. y. Barbour, Mr.. Frank Tai
bolt, w. Fl. Vincent Professor Dun.
| nington, Mr.. Jamea d. Johnston Arr
these men ''puritans7'' Are the gen,
tlemen who stood before the commit.
tee Of the House OF Delegates from
every section Of Virginia. "puritans
weakling and blacklegs?" To which
class do DR.. Young and DR.. Pitt ant
DR.. Chriatian and DR.. Wexford and
DR.. Mcdaniel, leading ministers Of
Virginia. belong? To which class d.
the sixty-six members Of the House