The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-08-13
TUESDAY, AUGUST 10, 1912.
NOT A POLITICAL QUESTION ;

There were those who we're looking for the
campaign N ne State OF Maine to put Wilton
tn a hole OF one sort or anotner Maine poll
ics for more than generation have very
largely regoleed abou; the LIQUOR question
Prohibition or no prohibition. has been per
mitted 10 oyershadov the points at differences
between the two parties This has been true.
rot only n state but in national matters
Campaigns in Maine have too frequently started
and ended az the bunehole
Since the coming election for state officers
III September will be no exception TO tue rule
il has been talked that the Invitations 70 the
Democratic candidate 10 speak in me State
would prove most embarrassing on account or
Governor Wilson's we'll known personal views
on The liquor problem Ills enemies chuckled
20 think Of him torn between the desire for
party success and the carrying out Of his own
individual ideas They had HIM a. they
thought. by either horn Of the dilemma but
in good season the New Jersey Governor show
Cd IN perfectly frank statement that there
Was no delmms for him 10 consider He
said
ans favor II local option. SIN. a THOR
oUgh befteyer TIL local SELF government and be
!ieYe that eVet3- SELF governing community
which constitutes a social unit should have the
right to control the matter Of the regulation
~ the Withholding Of licenses Bun the ques-
lions involved are social aud moral. aud are
not susceptible Of being made part of Il party
program Whenever the, have been made The
subject matter vi party contests they have cut
thu lines II party organization and party action
Ath~art. TO the inter confusion Of political
ton IN every other field. They have thrown
every other question, however important. into
the background and have made constructive
party action impossible for long years together.
50 far as I myself concerned therefore. /
never consent have the question Of local
option made an ifspe between political parties
NJ Judgment il very clear IN this matter
DO not believe party programs OF the highest
consequence TO the political life of the state
and Of the nation ought 60 be thrust
side and bopelessly embarrassed for long pc
RODS together hy ms King political issue of
great question which is essentially non political,
non partisan, moral and social in its nature.
This, as The Vugmion has ali along contend
I'd. is the sane and manly course concerning the
liquor problem The sale and manufacture
under Government protection. OF liquor and Its
Allied deriyitiyes is matter that concerns the
people OF all parties Il is an evil that will
In the end yield only 10 the expression OF the
moral sense OF the people whose safety ana
morality are involved It has, primarily no
place Whatsoever IN politics an politics is
understood in the sense OF Il division on ques
tions OF governmental principle The moment
II is injected into such controversy. there
are eliminated men who should favor the sup
preston o. The liquor traffic because Of the
effort 10 make IL the tail 10 party Mite AS
Woodrow Wilson so pointedly says, the decision
OF the question is that is essentially non
political non part san moral aud social IN its
nature.
None better than RE Er0taioy, realizes The
reasons governing party formations the work
which is cut out FOR them to do We believe
that the several parties are he most practical
means yet devised TO ascertain with reasonable
accuracy the wishes OF he people as whole
But in the better view OF parties. they exiet
according as The minas OF men differ they
are concerned with problems Of political econ
my, with divergent views Of the better policy.
Such divisions should be seld rae 10 the differ
ences OUT OF which they are created When
II is sought 10 influence them by injecting an
issue that affects the individual, the household
the moral up-Hft OF the people The man who
does 30 shows himself as Incapable of doing
real service 10 either Of the causes he conYnses